Sirius Radio Talk

Post by **Fan** » 07-30-2013 01:55 PM

OK, let's discuss the tech and options here.

My first question is do I have to have a vehicle hookup to get real satellite radio (ie: not using internet)?

kbot · Post by **kbot** » 07-30-2013 02:05 PM

Been wondering the same. I have an account for my wife's car, but, honestly, even with the current AM Coast2Coast, I tend it download from the archives and listen later when I can. I'd prefer to listen to Art in the same fashion, instead of being in my wife's car at 2:30AM......

Post by **Fan** » 07-30-2013 02:07 PM

kbot wrote: Been wondering the same. I have an account for my wife's car, but, honestly, even with the current AM Coast2Coast, I tend it download from the archives and listen later when I can. I'd prefer to listen to Art in the same fashion, instead of being in my wife's car at 2:30AM......

Well, looks like it will be easy to hear replays.

from artbell.com:

Launch Monday September 16th (if no anomalies)
LIVE Mon-Thur 7-10pm Pacific (10pm-1am Eastern)
Replayed All Night Until 3am Pacific, 6am Eastern
Replays Friday - Best of the Week, Weekends TBA
Channel Indie Talk Channel 104 (8 Hours/Day)

Plus, apparently Sirius has some way to record and playback later, not sure how yet...

HB3 · Post by **HB3** » 07-30-2013 02:33 PM

No, you can buy portable radios that can play satellite streams.

Post by **Fan** » 07-30-2013 02:35 PM

HB3 wrote: No, you can buy portable radios that can play satellite streams.

I can't find any... they all need an internet connection from what I can see. I am still looking around though.

Post by **Fan** » 07-30-2013 02:37 PM

Fan wrote: I can't find any... they all need an internet connection from what I can see. I am still looking around though.

None offered here http://www.siriusxm.ca/What-is-SiriusXM/Our-Radios.aspx - I mean you can use them in a "docking kit" which is the vehicle hookup...

From what I can gather you have to have a satellite antenna, which is not doable on a portable device?

HB3 · Post by **HB3** » 07-30-2013 02:44 PM

Yeah, I was just looking too, and it's confusing, isn't it? A friend of mine had a boombox that played satellite radio, but now I'm not seeing anything like that.

Post by **Fan** » 07-30-2013 02:47 PM

Seems you have to get a radio device, then get a docking device (there is a boombox docking device). So, minimum $200 for both. The docking device has the antenna you need.

Basically a scammy tie-in afaics.

HB3 · Post by **HB3** » 07-30-2013 02:50 PM

I'm sure it is. Well, I'll listen over the internet, which, now that I think of it, was how I listened to Art half the time anyway. W/o the fee, natch.

Post by **Fan** » 07-30-2013 02:52 PM

HB3 wrote: I'm sure it is. Well, I'll listen over the internet, which, now that I think of it, was how I listened to Art half the time anyway. W/o the fee, natch.

they have both android and iOS apps as well as a browser page for listening, so it can be done over 3g or 4g or whatever mobile coverage is around.

The question now becomes how much bandwidth does it use. I would assume not much since it is audio, but we have low bandwidth caps on mobile usage up here.

HB3 · Post by **HB3** » 07-30-2013 02:57 PM

Oh, my mobile coverage is still pretty terrible. They've got internet streaming, right?

Post by **Fan** » 07-30-2013 03:00 PM

HB3 wrote: Oh, my mobile coverage is still pretty terrible. They've got internet streaming, right?

Yeah, with those apps you get the same thing as if you bought a radio. It is cheaper too, 7.99/mo vs 15/mo

edit: and they have a web interface for desktop use which I assume is the same thing, using Flash or something.

HB3 · Post by **HB3** » 07-30-2013 03:24 PM

Yeah, I'll give it a whirl. Art's been very inconsistent -- I mean beyond not being there, his performance has been pretty spotty. Maybe he'll be up for this and perform energetically again, but I'd say the odds are 50/50. A possible advantage to satellite could be greater creative liberty...political liberty too. Although I don't know for sure, of course. But Art's last few years consisted of very politically neutral topics -- the edge was gone, either through corporate control or boredom...probably both.

Riddick · Post by **Riddick** » 07-30-2013 03:42 PM

So online streaming subs only cost about half as much as the whole works, eh?

If the Internet side came with an ongoing on-demand show archive, my overall Thrill-O-Meter rating might edge up from 3.

Post by **Fan** » 07-30-2013 04:10 PM

Riddick wrote: So online streaming subs only cost about half as much as the whole works, eh?

If the Internet side came with an ongoing on-demand show archive, my overall Thrill-O-Meter rating might edge up from 3.

There is something like it, but not a "Forever" archive from what I can see... however, once you are playing it on your computer, saving it cannot be that hard.