Re: Welcome to alt.radio.satellite!

[steamer]

Mark S. <vo1one@gee-mail.com> wrote:
: Well, assuming that you're in North America, if you're looking for something
: that works in the car there's not only XM but Sirius, as well. You could
--Last I heard there are only something like 130 channels; is this
no longer true? What I like about the service I'm using is that there's a
choice of better than 2,000 stations (last time I checked, which was a
while ago)..

: rich for that. You could also use GPRS/EDGE/1xRTT etc etc which also would
: add up real quick but still be cheaper than Inmarsat. I think the selection
--Hmmm. Greek to me; I'll ask a techie I guess, heh. Thanks for
the ideas. :-)


--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : Just another fart in
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : the Elevator of Life...
http://www.nmpproducts.com/intro.htm
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

[Mark S.]

"steamer" <steamer@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:Hu9hd.2553$_3.33248@typhoon.sonic.net...
> Mark S. <vo1one@gee-mail.com> wrote:
> : Well, assuming that you're in North America, if you're looking for
> something
> : that works in the car there's not only XM but Sirius, as well. You
> could
> --Last I heard there are only something like 130 channels; is this
> no longer true? What I like about the service I'm using is that there's a
> choice of better than 2,000 stations (last time I checked, which was a
> while ago)..

Yeah probably around that with each service so you could double it by having
both services. While Live365 may have 2,000 stations, are they all
professionally programmed? The last I checked anybody could pay $10/mo and
upload their mp3's to the server and let it play your mp3 jukebox to the
world. XM and Sirius are not iPOD's. There is actually some
professionalism to the songs chosen and their order, as well as DJ's. Can
you assure me that all of those 2,000 channels are different formats? I
didn't know there were so many different types of music and talk programs to
have so many channels. Do you actually listen to all 2,000 of them? What
do you think of the audio quality? If you seriously are looking into
getting mobile internet just so you can use this service, you should know
most providers will charge you by the kilobyte. Here, we can get
"unlimited" EDGE access which is about 150kbps for $100 a month, however
there is a 100Mb cap on that. Let's do some quick math. There's 8 bits in
a byte so 100MegaBytes is equal to 800MegaBits. What's a decent quality
stream, 128kbps? Alright then, 128,000 bits per second. Now we just spent
$100 so we'd be allowed to download 800,000,000 bits and we're using 128,000
bits up every second listening to Live365. That means we can listen fot
6,250 seconds or 1 hour and 44 minutes. Is Live365 really worth that to
you? Remember EDGE only works where GSM cell phones work so if you've ever
had your phone cut out on you driving down the road, the same thing is going
to happen to your Live365 stream. If you want continental coverage you
still got to go to a satellite data terminal which is exponentially more
expensive. You could listen to a crappier bitrate streaml ike 32kbps, then
you can listen for almost 7 hours per month. Considering the sound quality
you get from satellite radio and the selection and quality of programming
plus the cost benefits over mobile internet, I think that satellite radio is
a no brainer for your mobile commercial free radio desires.

[steamer]

Mark S. <vo1one@gee-mail.com> wrote:
: Yeah probably around that with each service so you could double it by having
: both services. While Live365 may have 2,000 stations, are they all
: professionally programmed?
--Some are, some aren't; i.e. anyone who wants to start a "radio"
station *can*; it's anarchy and very kewl. Lotsa stuff you'd *never* hear
on FM...

: you assure me that all of those 2,000 channels are different formats? I
: didn't know there were so many different types of music and talk programs to
: have so many channels. Do you actually listen to all 2,000 of them? What
--Yea verily I say unto you there are. I'm fairly far out on the
fringes in my tastes and it's great to finally have access 24/7 to the
kind of drivel I prefer, heh.

: do you think of the audio quality? If you seriously are looking into
--I'm not a subscriber to Absolute Sound if that's what you mean;
it's plenty good enough for my needs..

: getting mobile internet just so you can use this service, you should know
: most providers will charge you by the kilobyte. Here, we can get
--Yeah, that's the rub. I've got DSL at home and pay a fairly
low flat rate per month for the whole magilla.

: "unlimited" EDGE access which is about 150kbps for $100 a month, however
: there is a 100Mb cap on that. Let's do some quick math. There's 8 bits in
: a byte so 100MegaBytes is equal to 800MegaBits. What's a decent quality
: stream, 128kbps? Alright then, 128,000 bits per second. Now we just spent
: $100 so we'd be allowed to download 800,000,000 bits and we're using 128,000
: bits up every second listening to Live365. That means we can listen fot
: 6,250 seconds or 1 hour and 44 minutes. Is Live365 really worth that to
--Yeah, that sucks I agree. In other words if I'm on the road I'm
outta luck. OTOH I've found and ordered quite a few of my favorite groups'
CDs and I can now play them on the road. It certainly is a change from all
of the *awful* country music one normally gets on the road, heh.

: plus the cost benefits over mobile internet, I think that satellite radio is
: a no brainer for your mobile commercial free radio desires.
--Yeah, there's the other rub. Guess I'll have to wait til
the station count goes up by an order of magnitude and variety of
programming by two orders...


--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : Just another fart in
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : the Elevator of Life...
http://www.nmpproducts.com/intro.htm
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

[Mark S.]

Personally, I have many free choices of audio to listen to at home with a
satellite dish and the internet. I don't blame you there. Some people like
the programming on XM or Sirius so much that they buy an extra receiver for
the house. Many just have one satellite radio receiver but have a docking
station for both the car and the home stereo so they bring it back and forth
with them to avoid the extra monthly and equipment cost. The only thing XM
and Sirius have to compete against in the car is AM and FM, which there is
no comparison. While you may have found all you're looking for in the house
with Live365, maybe satellite radio will one day find a spot in your
vehicle. As far as buying CD's, the monthly fee for XM or Sirius costs less
than buying one CD a month, unless you're shopping in the bargain bin down
to Wal-Mart ;-) You'll hear far more than 12 songs a month, too, new or
old. Like I've said before, give their online streaming trials a shot and
see if you'd be interested in any of the stations. They might grow on you.
Check out www.xmfan.com towards the top in the left column where it says
AudioLibrary search. Put in your favourite artist or song title and you can
see what channels and how many times XM has played your favourite artist or
song, and that can give you a guide to see what channels you may enjoy on
XM. The same thing is available for Sirius at
http://www.itsonsirius.com/search/search.htm so you can see if maybe they
have more of what you like.

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