XM: how do you listen? and to what?

[accguy]

I've had my XM for about a year and I've found myself going through a change in how I listen.

Previously, I surfed and surfed and surfed. I looked for a band I like and would go all over the dial.

Of late, however, I've been sticking with one channel for my entire commute or for an hour on the headphones at work. Now I seem to only change if there's a band or song I hate.

And what are your favorite channels. I've been big into Ethel (47) lately. I do still like Fred (44), Boneyard (41) and Lucy (54). Don't mind 80s or 90s or Flight 26.

Thoughts?

 

[BYH]

I listen very, very happily.

**** terrestial radio. Satellite radio is the greatest invention ever. Even better than electricity.

I listen now the same way I did when I got it at Christmas 2005. I have several presets and very rarely have to search beyond them. In order, it's Boneyard (41), '80s (8), Big Tracks (49), '90s (9), '70s (7), whatever the classic rock station is (46?) and Deep Tracks (40-something). I used to have Squizz as my eighth pre-set, but I turned that to the Xmas station and have yet to find a new preset. The ninth and 10th presets are sports talk, for when I'm really desperate for a score.

It's awesome. I almost never get beyond the '70s before I find something I like.

On a related note, do you know how to get a new remote control for the Skyfox2? I lost mine and I can't find any place to order remotes on the XM website.

 

[Cape_Fear]

On DirectTV (wish they had more channels, but I love the ones they do). When I'm flipping through I go 50s through Flight 26 and then skip to XMU, Ethel, Big Tracks, Deep Tracks, Lucy and Fred (think someone was an I Love Lucy fan?).

 

[mpcincal]

On my Airware, I have the entire A presets as rock stations with BoneYard my favorite, Big Tracks No. 2 and Squizz No. 3. If I can't find anything there, the others presets are Liquid Metal; Fred, Ethel and Lucy (all good when I'm on my '80s and/or alternative fix), and then Top Tracks and Deep Tracks.

For a change of pace, I go to the B presets where I have the 70s, 80s and 90s channels, Cinemagic (love those movie scores) and a couple of classical stations.

My C presets are for Comedy and Talk channels, with the comedy, ESPN radio and MLB Home Plate my favorites.

I am still in the habit of surfing around quite a bit. Having so many channels is almost (I said "almost") a curse, because you might have it on a song you like, but you're so worried about missing something you have to keep checking around.

 

[BYH]

I am still in the habit of surfing around quite a bit. Having so many channels is almost (I said "almost") a curse, because you might have it on a song you like, but you're so worried about missing something you have to keep checking around.

That's exactly what I was like. I used to be like "I love this song! Haven't heard it in years! But...what's on Big Tracks? What if something even better is on?"

Now, I typically find a song I like and stick with it. But I hate it when I catch, say, "Living In Sin" at the tail end. :D

 

[accguy]

A few weeks ago, I was flipping around and heard some of the music from Hoosiers on cinemagic. That was awesome.

 

[Football_Bat]

Put it on 44 and rip the knob off.

 

[Lamar Mundane]

My commute starts with 202 the Virus - Opie and Anthony. When I go out for lunch or on assigment midday it's Ron and Fez (also on 202).

When they break, i scan the 80s on 8, Boneyard, The Rhyme (old school rap), 90s on 9, Fungus (punk) and then down to CNN, Air America.

I can't live without it.

 

[FileNotFound]

Channel 150, uncensored comedy. Love it.

Also X-Country, Bluesville, Boneyard, DeepTracks. CNN, ESPN, local traffic.

 

[Moderator1]

Does anyone have the new portable, the Inno or whatever it is called?
I have one of the originals, the MyFi, and it blows. Boom and I, among others, have discussed its shortcomings before. But I like the idea of my XM being portable.
I have it in the car, the house and the office. Is it baseball season yet? If not, I'll stick to 46, 49, 75 and a few others I check in with here and there.

 

[GuessWho]

I'm a Sirius guy, and it's one of the best investments I've made. Makes my numerous long road trips much more bearable.

Question: I remember reading somewhere (here, maybe?) that satellite radio (XM, Sirius) are in difficult financial straits and something drastic might be on the horizon. Anyone know anything about that?

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

Music wise, Sirius is exponentially better than XM.

 

[Cosmo]

When I'm sitting at home in the morning, drinking coffee, playing cards online, whatever, I usually put it either on XMU or the real jazz station and keep it there.

In the car on long trips, I tend to surf a little bit more.

My presets (I've only set preset A)
Boneyard
80s
ESPN radio
X-Country
The Rhyme
The Joint
The Mix
XMU
Big Tracks
Ethel

***
Jackie, why do you say Sirius is so much better in terms of music? I got XM because I wanted the ACC, MLB and golf versus SEC and the NFL on Sirius. I haven't been disappointed at all in the musical selection on XM's commercial-free stations.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

My MyFi resides mainly in my home these days, very little commuting. Katrina ate up my remote, so it stays on either Fred or CNN most of the time. Occasionally, I'll listen to Ethel or Lucy, but I don't surf much anymore.

 

[Boom_70]

I have been using my record mode a lot more on my Mofo. You can put 5 hours of music on it and it will play anywhere. You don't have to worry about reception then. Have also been using the function that allows you to project music from MYfi to local fm station on stereo .

From everything I've read reception is still issue on newer models so I am waiting for better technology

 

[doubledown68]

I tend to surf a bunch, even though I've had it for a few years.

I start at the 60's, and work my way up to No. 30. Then I scan 45-54. If there's nothing there, I'll usually switch to ESPN, where there used to be solid stuff all the way to 6 p.m., but not anymore. They pulled Kuselias to NASCAR stuff on TV, and the 3-6 p.m. slot ain't what it used to be.

If it's baseball season, all that gets trumped at least for a few minutes to listen to the Royals game... and if they're playing at home, I listen to the dulcid tones of Denny Mathews no matter what.

If all else fails, there's 150, the comedy station. Fan-freaking-tastic.

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

Jackie, why do you say Sirius is so much better in terms of music? I got XM because I wanted the ACC, MLB and golf versus SEC and the NFL on Sirius. I haven't been disappointed at all in the musical selection on XM's commercial-free stations.

I was an XM subscriber for more than 4 years, almost from the very beginning, before switching last summer.
I guess it comes down to personal taste.
I simply was never hearing music by my favorite bands, nor was I discovering new artists that I would come to enjoy.
I'm a big college/indie rock fan, so I naturally steered toward XMU, but was greatly disappointed, for the reasons I just listed.
I can turn on Sirius' Left of Center (college/indie channel) and not have to change the channel for an hour.
Also, I enjoy what's loosely called alternative country, and I found X Country's nonstop playing of Texas singer-songwriters to be tiresome.
Sirius' Outlaw Country isn't perfect, but is a definite upgrade.
Sirius' First Wave (80s alt) is much better than Fred, Alt Nation is much better than Ethel. It's just across the board better, IMO.
Like I said, it comes down to personal taste.
I have even come to enjoy Howard Stern's programming (Bubba The Love Sponge moreso than Howard himself).

The only drawback was losing the MLB package. It will be interesting to see what happens with programming should the two merge, as has been rumored.

 

[da el g]

I have become so addicted to the World Music channel, stumbled upon it around Christmas, some of the most amazing music I have ever heard is coming from Northern and Western Africa

 

[Norman Stansfield]

BONE ME!!!

I'm usually between that station, The Rhyme (old-school rap) and the 80s.

I haven't even bought an iPod yet because I can listen to XM in my car as well as on my laptop.

 

[Cosmo]

Jackie, good post. I like golf too much to give up XM ... and my ACC sports. I dunno. When I put it on XMU in the mornings, I can listen for about three hours and hear maybe three or four artists that I know. I kind of feel like I'm always in discovery mode on that station. That's enough for me.