Sirius radio days are limited

dragonman · #1 06-17-2011, 01:32 AM

I let my subscription expire and have no intention to restart.

I use my smartphone these days. For music, I stream Pandora in high quality mode wired or via bluetooth into my Sync...and it's interactive to boot.

For traffic conditions, Google Traffic is far more real time and accurate than Travel Link.

For gas prices, I access GasBuddy. The fuel prices from the travel link thing is only as good as MapQuest, and sometimes those things are 2-3days out-of-date!!

I consider not subscribing to Sirius a discount on my phone's dataplan!! Secondly, I pay for my dataplan once, not a separate subscription for each car I have. My phone goes wherever I go, my dataplan follows me, not the car.

The only downside of course, is content is not displayed on the headunit, so looking at the phone is a major distraction. But aftermarket guys such as Pioneer is introducing their AppRadio this month; it controls an iPhone via headunit as a tethered modem via app, and I'm sure others including Ford MyTouch will follow soon.

On rare occasions where I don't get cell coverage, I switch over to either of my Sync's USB ports; one has a USB flash hanging on it, the other has my IPod. Or I can continue to stream music from my phone's memory. I definitely have no shortage of content.

JJDH · #2 06-18-2011, 07:32 PM

Sirius aint goin away.. Its a paid service that is successful. I have a phone and resort to satellite the most

RSchnier · #3 06-19-2011, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonman

I pay for my dataplan once, not a separate subscription for each car I have. My phone goes wherever I go, my dataplan follows me, not the car.

Your point is valid. One way around this is to not activate the built-in Sirius receiver in the vehicle, but to buy one of the portable Sirius receivers (e.g. StarMate) instead and pipe it in through the Line In jack. When I get out of my truck, I take the receiver with me and plop it in the docking station by wherever I happen to be, for example by the stereo system in the house. Plus, the display on the portable unit is WAY better than the built-in one in the vehicle, unless you happen to have one of the really snazzy computer systems in the vehicle.

Given the percentage of time the average person spends in their vehicle, activating the built-in unit isn't maximizing the value they're getting for the subscription price.

FireBean · #4 06-21-2011, 01:28 AM

I have noticed a severe decline in their already dismal customer service since the merger with XM. I also canceled mine with no intention to re-up. I enjoyed satellite radio but hate Sirius.

aupanther33 · #5 06-28-2011, 11:56 AM

I tried to stream Pandora via bluetooth to my radio yesterday, the connection was made, but there was no volume, the volume on my Droid was maxed out, anyone have an idea as to what I'm doing wrong? Thanks.

Paul

jcaru · #6 01-31-2012, 10:22 PM

how does it sound when you are playing music off the phone via bluetooth. How about via the 3.5mm hookup with phone music and Pandora?

DSGSTX81 · #7 01-31-2012, 10:59 PM

My iPhone stays connected through the 3.5 jack 85% of the time I'm in the truck, and it sounds excellent to me, whether Pandora/Sirius or stored music. Now, I have the stock non-Audiophile HU, but if I want Hi-Fidelity, I listen to my turntable at home

digitalamish · #8 02-03-2012, 08:00 AM

After over 10 years, I finally dropped my Sirius subscription last month. I was tired of having to fight them every year for the promo rate, and their customer service is awful. All based on keeping you hooked into the service and paying as much as you can.

I had a Starmate for a few years, and it was OK. I even had the boombox so I could take my radio out of the car. However, compared to the sound quality of my fathers built in sat radio, I became very frustrated with the line-in option. I've had both the built in, and the standalone radios, and I found the built in ones sounded much better.

I use my iphone via the bluetooth connection in my pioneer radio now, and I have no complaints. Since it's a digital connection, the quality of the music is the same as when I use the ipod cable, and better than the line-in connection. Plus, I have Siri to be my DJ ("Siri, shuffle play all Aerosmith").

Someday, maybe I'll look to go back. I was on long before Howard, and since Artie left, I have not been listening as much to him any more.