I am directing my query to those of you in the Bay Area ( particularly North Bay commuters) who have Sirius Satelite radio service and ONLY use the FM modulation.
I would like to find out how well the FM modulation works on your commutes, that's it.
I am not interested in how much betterit sounds plugged into auxiliary jacks since I will not be changing the stock head unit out.
If it comes in as good as any radio station I would be happy, I am not looking for CD sound just quality streams, "area 63" in particular.
Any advice could help not waste my money tommorrow afternoon! (99 bucks for a Starmate complete with car kit at best buy)
Thanks
JV

FYI did you know that a search on Sirius brings up only two threads? Maybe that's a dead giveaway.

 

it freakin sucks! the sound comes in all mono and not in stereo using the fm modulator and the stock deck......

i freakin hate it! and the hip hop channels are hideous the guys on there are so stupied and say f*ck every 2 sec. cause they can and they think its cool... freaking pisses me off

not to mention they never say anything great! Basically, its a waste so far i have found it to be useless and id rather bump burned cds...

tia
edgar,

 

I like the reggae channel, as well as area 63, chill, backspin, and faction. Sirius radio is awesome. I dont use the FM modulator.

 

I have XM on FM modualtion and Sirius on the deck and FM modulation sounds like crap, sounds alot like a second recording of a cassette tape, when it comes in clear


Also would like to say Sirius > XM by a country mile

all you have to know is XM is programmed by Clear Channel, the same people that bring you crappy corporate radio bring you crappy corporate satelite

 

fm modulation stinks... i have to switch frequencies constantly when driving on my commute. The quality is terrible... always background static and intermittent interruptions.

 

Wow,
I have a feeling I'll pass on this.
Back to ripping cd's from winmx and screwing the record companies!
Thanks, all

 

Don't know about sirus, but I found a good aftermarket FM modulator for my mp3 player. You can plug it into the mini headphone jack and it gets great reception in the southbay (san jose/santa clara).

Costs 50 bucks, by Monster cable. Bought at radio shack. Works great, only had the slightest hint of static once or twice for a split second, barely noticeable. It even overpowered a station that had a decent signal with the regular antena retracted. Check it out and take advantage of the return policy for both if needed.

tried a belkin first and it faded in and out constantly. worthless.

 

it all depends on the tuner of the stock radio.

for a while, i used the FM mod on my audiovox PnP unit on a sony head unit that kinda has high end tuner.

it was okay.

my biggest problem is finding the right fm freq often.

the audiovox one i have comes with a built-in FM MOD so it may not be as good as standalone FM MODS.

fwiw, check out the STEREO and SECURITY forum. that comes up once in a while.

finally, check out www.siriusbackstage.com for your sirius forum needs...

 

Thanks for listening! Don't forget all of our billboards and Bill Graham Presents!

 

hmm.. I was thinking of getting SIRUS but now, I'm thinking I'll just stick to the the radio.

 

Why not use a tape cassette to headphone jack adapter? It's cheap and works well unless you have a 2005 and don't have a cassette deck.

I'm definately going Sirius once howard stern moves over next year.

 

I'll second that. I listen to him EVERY day and have been since he came to the Bay Area. That's the only reason why i'd buy it.

-rich

 

[hijack]

did you stand in line for his autograph when HS came to san fran in the early 90s?

had the best 8 hours in line... it was a riot...

 

For 99 bucks the worst I could do is take it back.
I only signed up for a month, threw the thing in there and fired it up.
I guess sound quality is all in the ear of the individual, but this unit seems to be very good at locking onto the desired fm station. I will be going into the city tommorrow and see what happens, my usual comute to the hamlet of healdsburg will be the real test.( I bought a cassette adapter for emergency situations and it actualy works pretty good, but the fm modulator in the starmate seems to be the best route)
So far I am very happy, the stations are realy good.
After my test romp i decided to do the clean install and I may even do a yearly subscription.
I want to thank all of you for your input, I just had to try it for myself, maybe my neck of the woods is more conducive to the modulation.

On a side note, and this ish makes me pee myself...101, southbound, 4pm, I am in crawling/stop&go traffic through windsor and this late model Trans Am with the "ram air" snout thingy going on, idles up next to me and starts....get this....
Purging his Naws system
LOLLOLinto his face, Here's this idiot in traffic at a 5mph crawl with a spewing spout of Naws, not just once but like four or five times!!!...

as if I am going to hunker down, drop the clutch and shove my car in the **** of the buick 2 feet in front of me!
And you guys thought I was an assclown for getting a BOV noismaker, this Hombre realy took the cake!

 

Rich , I was running through the channels and I think you'ld get a kick out of a lot more than just Howard.

Now if someone could kick me for paying for radio that used to be free!