<p>I needed a new radio/CD player (CD part didn’t work) in my car so broke down and got an XM satellite radio ready Panasonic model on sale. I have been researching Sirius vs. XM for a while and decided that XM was more to my music tastes.</p>
<p>The funny thing is that I got XM because it had a world music and an African music channel. Well, both channels changed to French music. One is more pop/rock and the other mellow pop/ballads. I thnk XM is wooing French Canadian customers. I love French pop music so I’ve been listening to that channel the most.</p>
<p>I don’t drive for more than 20 minutes at a time but I had been getting so frustrated by the local radio stations. The oldies station here became Boss Radio–whatever that is. Even the San Francisco oldies station has changed its format.</p>
<p>If you have satellite radio in your car, what do you listen to the most? Do you still play CDs and listen to local stations?</p>
<p>On XM I listen most to Fred, channel 44. Alternative/new tracks from the late 70s through mid eighties. Also the Loft. </p>
<p>Red Sox games when they are on. And Air America on occasion if I’m around Fox new too much (just for balance)</p>
<p>Wife listens to Fourties station.</p>
<p>HS senior D list to Soul station.</p>
<p>I still listen to CDs, my 20GB ipod and local radio, athough it’s mainly sports talk or NPR. My cassettes have been mothballed (for the most part).</p>
<p>I admit to listening to XM150 (the “adult” comedy channel) whenever I have to drive when I’m tired. I’m so busy being shocked that I don’t feel tired any more; it REALLY keeps me awake.</p>
<p>Mostly we listen to XM75 (the Starbucks channel).</p>
<p>I received XM for Christmas last year (kids wanted Sirius - NFL) since we are avid NASCAR fans…now NASCAR is moving to Sirius in 2007…anyone wanna XM? j/k - I love it. Right now there are 5 stations with all Christmas music…but like dmd I listen to the comedy channel, especially on the miserable commute to work.</p>
<p>I’ve been playing with the idea of getting both kids subscriptions & hardware to either XM or Sirius. Anyone have any thoughts on which to get? I must admit I’m having a hard time figuring out what makes one better than the other (if you’re not into sports).</p>
<p>I went with Sirius because of its superior news feeds (three NPR channels). XM’s news offerings consisted mostly of audio feeds of cable news channels, back when I made the selection.</p>
<p>On the music side, I listen mostly to the traditional jazz station, with the “Outlaw Country” feed a close second, followed by the blues station, “the Underground Garage,” "the Vault (album oriented rock from my youth), the Jam Band feed, the all-Elvis feed, with occasional forays into “Swing Street,” the reggae station, and the bluegrass station.</p>
<p>Channel lineups are subject to change, as I discovered (see post #1). I signed up for free 3 day online trials of both services. Sirius’s channel 98 was listed as world music, but it was all Rolling Stones. I e-mailed them and they said the world music would be back Jan. 1. They are getting good feedback on the Stones. I doubt world music will return.</p>
<p>Kinsasha, I have XM and drive and hour each way to work. In the am i listen to NPR (that, NY Times and The Daily Show is about as much “news” as I can handle). On the commute home, I used to roam from the latin stations, through World, reggae, to african. My entire routine has been rudely disrupted with the recent loss of Ngoma (102). I was hoping that the world and african music just moved and I have to get out the manual and reset my stations. Are you saying they are completely gone? The occasional french music is ok but 2 entire stations? I guess maybe you’re right and they are wooing Canada.</p>
<p>I’m going to go to XM website and check it out I will send and email to complain if Ngoma is completely gone. As far as Sirius compared to XM, I recently rented a car with Sirius and I lost signal WAY more than I do with XM. I think XM has been around longer and it may have better coverage.</p>
<p>I also listen to 21, 22Mix, 29Urban, 45, and 48.</p>
<p>XM came on my car, I’ve had it about a year and a half. I’ll never have a car without satellite radio or whatever comes next. I virtually never listen to local radio any more, and rarely to CD’s.</p>
<p>As a channel surfer I listen to a variety of channels depending on mood and how long the trip is.</p>
<p>Mostly I listen to 40-46, slightly offbeat rock, soul-type stuff (like EarthWind and Fire, the Commodores) in the 60’s (62 and 64), 75-76 and 77 are interesting (Starbucks to weird acoustic stuff), 83 for disco (yeah sometimes), 110 and 113 for classical, not 112 because it’s vocal opera, not my thing, and if you’re in the mood Cinemagic (27 I think) is awesome (old and new, like you could get Wizard of Oz soundtrack, followed by Nemo, great if your stereo is a good one); so is Broadway (I think 28) if you’re in the mood.</p>
<p>Weekends I listen to the 140’s…a variety of sports (ESPN, ABC, etc).</p>
<p>My favorites might be the world channels (sad about the loss of Ngoma), and the gospel music channel (I forget what it’s called). I’ve also avoided tie-ups by listening to whatever city’s traffic channel.</p>
<p>Enjoy it, if you love music like I do you will.</p>
<p>I just got a new car and Sirius was the satellite radio offered in the package upgrade. I drive D to ballet (round trip = 3hr/day, 4 to 5 days/wk). I usually listen to audiobooks (mysteries) but I also listen to CDs and Sirius radio jazz café mostly.</p>
<p>Im afraid the world and African channels are gone. You can still listen to them online, though. From the XM website:</p>
<p>Pop Hits - Broadcast in French - Channel 102</p>
<p>Sur La Route is a blend of modern and classic pop, folk, rock n’ roll, “chanson” and soul featuring the stars of yesterday, today and tomorrow. You’ll hear artists like Dany Bedar, Marie-Chantal Toupin, Gage and Dobacaracol.
Sur La Route replaces Ngoma on XM 102.
Ngoma continues to be available with XM Radio Online - Channel 104.</p>
<p>New & Emerging Music - Broadcast in French Channel 100</p>
<p>Experience the leading edge of the world music scene. Listen in for a fusion of punk, hip-hop, metal, electronic and alternative rock music.
Air Musique replaces World Zone on XM 100.
World Zone continues to be available with XM Radio Online - Channel 103.</p>
j/k - I love it. Right now there are 5 stations with all Christmas music…but like dmd I listen to the comedy channel, especially on the miserable commute to work.</p>