Dennis T wrote::thinking: with all this talk about XM radio I was wondering about Sirius Satellite Radio?
I just picked up a Sirius system.
XM has smaller receivers than Sirius (well, at least some of them are smaller). Sirius equipment is less expensive than XM.
XM service looks cheaper at $10/mo, but they have several extra-cost channels and services that raise the cost to $19/mo for everything, where Sirius includes everything for $13/mo.
Both services offer discounts for multiple receivers, with Sirius offing the deeper discounts. XM does not offer any of these discounts on the extra-cost channels. Both services also offer contract (1/2/3/4/5 year) terms, but Sirius is alone in offering lifetime subscriptions for a flat fee $500.
XM has Baseball (but only one feed for each game) and NASCAR, Sirius has NFL and NHL (two feeds for each game so you get your team's own announcer.)
Morning shows: Opie & Anthony are on XM for $1.99/mo, Howard Stern will be on Sirius 1/2006 free.
XM plays more b-side type music, Sirius plays more hits type music.
XM uses 2 satellites in equatorial orbits and more prone to being blocked by land obstructions, Sirius uses a superior configuration of 3 sats in a "figure-8" obit high over North America that are much less likely to be blocked by obstructions.
Currently, XM has 2.4M subscribers, Sirius has 900K.
A good forum for sat radio is
http://www.siriusbackstage.com/forum/ (for some reason, it's down as I type this message)
ED: added NASCAR to XM's credits.