Do you have satellite radio installed?

[autotronic]

Hi, my name is Rich Truesdell and I am an automotive writer working on a story on Corvette owners who have already installed a satellite radio system in their Corvette. I want to correspond directly with owners who have installed aftermarket XM and Sirius systems as well as those who have may already installed the factory sponsored XM tuner to an existing factory system. If you have satellite radio already or know any Corvette owner who has made the move to satellite radio, no matter what the vintage of the Corvette, please contact me directly at autotronic@aol.com. I am especially interested to contact owners of older Corvettes, going right back to the start of production, who have added satellite radio capabilities, especially those who have chosen the stealth route, hiding the components, leaving their vehicle appearing stock and original.

It's my hope to get some photographs of installed systems, so if you have a system, and have access to a high quality digital camera of 3 megapixels or more, I would really like to contact you.

Sincerely,

Richard Truesdell
Yorba Linda, CA
www.richtruesdell.com/Background1.html

 

[tomls1]

i'm hearing a lot about satelite radio and the concept sounds really cool. however, i don't plan on getting anytime soon, because i can't get used to the idea of paying $10 per month for radio.

i know your question was directed to people who already have satelite, but i thought i'd throw in my .02 anyway.

 

[Last Ride]

I have a Sirius system in my Exlporer (work car). I like it a lot, but then again, I am in that car 12 hours a day!

 

[mbnakron]

I am definately interested, but not sure about the 2nd little black unit going on my vette. Is it a must, or are their alternatives.

 

[Rain]

For aftermarket ease, check out the Delphi SkyFi.
99$ for the unit.
Then ya have to buy the 69$ car kit.

But thats it - then its just a matter of signing up for XM radio.

Should be cool. Esp since you can move this unit from vehicle to vehicle . Or even buy a Home Kit for another 69$ to hook it up to your home stereo.

Circuit City has it in stock at these prices - last I checked.

Rain

 

[Rain]

btw, for a more permanent instal.

Buy the RF Modulator on Ebay for 29$ (everyday).
Allows ya to power it via your fuse box, and not have to use the cassette adapter. It runs right to your radio instead.(esp if your vehicle doesnt have a cassette player)

More at Xmradio.com I think.
rain

 

[WhalePirot]

paying $10 per month for radio--NOT!

AMEN.

 

[Rain]

Spose you still use Rabbit Ears with Tin Foil for TV too?

Not personally attacking you.
But, being in the marketing business, When a product has taken off like XMradio has, that means they have done their homework.

There are always early adopters and gear freaks who have to have the latest technology.
But this has moved beyond that. To have two geo sync'd sats up in the sky on the east and west coast of the US, plus the WIDE array of units out in the market, and top that off with 2003 vehicles coming standard with XM radio units, Id say we will see much more of this.

As it is, most of the traditional/conventional radio stations are all owned by a small handfull of companies. You will hear the same songs day in and day out, every day. Same DJs, making the same intros and outros. Same morning DJ and talk shows about the same topics.

Look at what changed with TV after we had options beyond Basic Cable. Or even the guys who opted to pay 20$ a month for cable TV, when others figured a giant antenna on the roof could pick up 3 stations and that was plenty for them.. plus it was FREE.. Why pay for cable? Lots more folks do it today and never think twice about the free stations they could be getting. Who needs 250 HBO stations for 75$ a month??
haha

Everyone will adopt or resist change in different ways. Thats cool. Its an American choice!

To be able to drive 3-8 hours to a job or a vacation, and not loose the station in the middle of a talk radio topic, or Paul Harvey, or simply a favorite song, Thats a nice feature.
To be able to listen to a station, DJ free, commercial free, static free, Thats Cool!

And to be able to select a radio station by category of music: 60s 50s 70s comedy, talk, news, weather, sports, etc. That is cool!

Wonderful to have choices like that..

is it worth 120$ a year. Maybe not right now.
Will it get cheaper as more folks subscribe?
Sure, Cell phones sure did!
Why pay 100$ for a phone, 55$ a month for service. When I can stop at any corner and use a pay phone for 35 cents?
Millions do it every day and never think about it these days.

Anyone know if the C6 comes XM radio ready?

hehe (end soap box)
Rain

 

[WhalePirot]

Rabbit Ears with Tin Foil

Close.

One house has cable; the other has an antenna; gets 4 PBS channels. I enjoy PBS more than nearly any cable channel.

In the vette, I listen to the engine, classical stations and an occasional CD.

My home stereo costs more than most Vettes on the C-5 forum. you wanna talk toys?

nice marketing pitch. I did that in my last life.

mike

 

[Rain]

Not a marketing pitch, Just stating fact and personal in-takes on the technology.

By no means forcing my views on others, but simply stating that XM is entering the world just as Cell phones and Cable TV.

I too used a Terk T-50 under the eave antenna, plugged into where the cable enters the house. That way I had 3-5 Free stations at all TVs in my home.
But eventually needing such things as the weather channel, and high speed internet access, getting pay cable was not such a waste of my funds.

Good to hear you've been in marketing - think most of us "whore" for someone at some time in our lives. Economics - making the pennies to buy the beans and rice! haha

Home audiophile : love it. bang and olufsen
here. Great gear.

Very easy to drop 50k$ so I know where you are. Can just as easily have someone make the argument of :
"Pay 50k$ for a home stereo?" "No way- Amen etc etc."

Different Strokes - Some folks want audiovox and radio shack. Its their world!

Take care
Rain

 

[Villain]

I installed XM in my Vette. I have the Pioneer head unit and the digital unit. The antenna is inside the car and can receive the signal thru the composite body without a problem. The variety of choices is very good and the sound quality is much better that AM or FM.

 

[Blade]

Sat Radio would be great for nationwide tunes. However, what about local weather or traffic conditions? Therefore, you are going to have to continue to access your local stations. These are the same type of discussions we had twenty+ years ago about Cable TV and DSS.

As a owner of Radio and Television Stations, we found out long ago that the three secrets to our success and future was Local, Local & Local. Anyone can play your tunes or entertain you. It’s the “where I live” information that is important.

 

[Eric]

I'm with Rain on this 100%! I bought XM stock at around 1.50 and now I'm happy as can be with it hovering in the 13.00 range.

 

[atmmac]

Satellite Radio no way! Why pay for radio, the commercials dont bother me that much. What a joke!

 

[Rain]

not to be a pusher here on the CAC, but have you tried Sat. Radio?

You pay for cable I assume? Why?
So you can enjoy the shows you want to watch, wide range of show types, at multiple times a day, etc etc.

Its the same way with XM radio.
you get every imaginable category of music, talk, broadcast, etc 24 hrs a day and You get to select the types of material you are listening to, not some local DJ who just plays HIS favorites.
The music library available on XM is HUGE!

Its not for everyone, and neither is Cable TV.

So , again, not being pushy here or claiming this is the next technology "given" product. Just saying, Dont be so closed minded about something youve never used.

Might spoil it for someone else

Rain

 

[torchred]

I purchased Sirius and have been very pleased with the service with one exception. They seem to plug themselves excessivly. I can understand the plugs if I were listening to the preview channel or some dealer channels but on every channel there are a ton of Sirius advertisements between songs.

Didn't regular FM have non stop music blocks?? What happened to this idea with satellite radio? I don't mind so much hearing the DJ every once in a while announce things like the band I was just listening to touring or where they are playing soon but they really need to lay off the Sirius plugs... I already bought their damn service!!

The quality and reception of the radio is remarkable. I mounted the antenna on the trunk deck of my FRC and it's not to bad looking. Does anyone know where/how the XM antenna is mounted when it comes as a stock option?

To anyone complaining about the monthly fee... have you ever seen what it costs to launch & maintain a satellite? If you can't justify the cost of one CD a month to get unedited and (mostly) commercial free music then don't go that route. For me, it made sense because I commute around 30 miles to work (one way) almost every day. I can say this, ever since I got the satellite I have not even had a CD in the player. There is always something I like playing, be it a new band or something I already know. In my opinion, like my C5, Sirius was worth the $$$.

Matt

 

[ezover]

To all of you with xm radio, I was able to mount the antenna inside the rear bumper. I had to remove the 2 right tail lites, and fabricate a metal L shaped bracket. It works great and no visible indication of an antenna. If anybody has any questions email Me at ezover@cox.net

 

[Z51 Coupe]

For those of you bad-mouthing XM you need to try it. I have it in my '03 PT Cruiser and will be putting the XM Delphi unit I bought for the Delphi boombox, in my new '04 roadster next week.

You need to to try a 200-500 mile drive through the Nevada desert sometime with only one station playing local "buy and sell" items and playing "who knows what music". XM is the way to go. I've gotten so I listen to it even when I'm in So. Calif now also.

Only wish GM had offerred it as an option in 2004 like they do with the XLR. I'm anxious to see where they put the antenna in the XLR. For now mine will set in the trunk as I think the quality will not be inhibited through the plastic. If so I will put it on the dash or console or elsewhere until I find the perfect, convenient spot.

I'm with you RAIN. Its one of the electronics of the future. Look how many new cars now offer it as an option. By the way XM is $9.95 for the first unit and $6.95 for the second unit on their family plan.

 

[Blade]

You need to to try a 200-500 mile drive through the Nevada desert sometime with only one station playing local "buy and sell" items and playing "who knows what music".

Ah the old days of Mom & Pop Local Radio! I sure as He77 enjoy missing it!

Did they annouce any Obituaries or missing dogs? Did they let some kid on the air, from the only elementary school in town, and take 10 minutes to read his paper that he received a "A" on?

Long live the XM!