Customer Reviews
would have been five stars but the remote broke in a day 
2004-07-14
I have had one of these units for myself and bought one for the girlfriend. These units provide pretty good reception (much better than FM) and are easy to use. My complaints would be that the display can be washed out in the sun light, and that it is a little oddly shaped for the car dash in some cars, and that there is a need for better filtering on the home unit power supply eliminating the chance for buzzing sounds. I purchased this unit for my girlfriend and she loves it and uses it every day with no complaints.
Review of both Sirius and XM radio:
I have had both of these services. Pluses for Sirius are better sound quality (more sharp clear and "open" music with less clipping distortion throughout the frequency range), and they used to be the only one of the two to offer commercial free music.
Negatives for Sirius. The repeats on Sirius are pretty bad at the moment. Not what one expects to hear after paying 12.99/month There is OutQ (look it up on the Sirius website), which is fine, but this agenda bleads into ALL of the other radio stations, so if you are a person of strict faith, you may want to avoid Sirius as the DJs and commedians seem to have an agenda to push, and can offend sensitive listeners. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE! I was on hold the first time for 25 minutes waiting just to speak to someone before hanging up, wrote and email being "invited to call customer service to discuss my issues" and waited 45 minutes just to speak to a person the second time. Total process the second call was probably around an hour and ten minutes.
Pluses for XM radio:
Great customer service, Used them three times and haven't a complaint. Now with no commercials. Less repeats on the 80s station than the competition, and they have some other fun stations like Sonic Theater where they read books and act out drama. This service is only 9.99 versus 12.99 for Sirius. I beleive XM has more useful equipment. Less offensive and no personal agendas to push.
Minuses for XM Radio:
There is some audio clipping making the music sound a little "muddy" and tiny. The highs seem to be clipped. The audiophile will probably prefer Sirius. The talk on XM sounds a little like that computerized kids game of the 80s Simon. Kind of fake and robotish.
Conclusion:
You decide, I personally picked XM, then went to Sirius, and now I am back with XM. Listen to them in a store and ask friends about them. Good luck!
Do you really need an XM Radio? 
2004-07-11
The answer is yes, and the reason in two words is Howard Stern.
Not that I listen to Howard Stern, but the FCC has made it clear that the free broadcast spectrum is to be filled with nice words. Nor do I object to nice words. I like them. It is just that creativity and spark are going to find other outlets. These outlets will be on subscription radio.
In the meantime, what is on XM is sensational. From comedy (even comedy that is not FCC approved) to music channels without any commercial content to America Right and America Left talk radio (Al Franken is here, folks)to sports.
This receiver will work in your car, home or at the beach with a boom box.
As to XM itself, it is an evolving medium, but the pace of evolution is very rapid. Get on the XM train and enjoy the ride.
Shoddy installation and can't get rid of the hissing sound!! 
2004-07-10
Ok first off, let me say that I LOVE the XM service and stations. I haven't listened to the regular radio since I got it. My problem is with the car installation. I opted for the professional installation via Circuit City. I don't want to give CC a bad name, but my experience was not a good one. First off, it's mounted so poorly that I could literally pull it right off the console ( its installed on my front center console - I have a Toyota Sequoia). I have to be very gentle every time I pull the receiver out and God help me if I bump it - it will come right off. CC told me that's the best they can do for making it sturdy...? XM has GOT to come up with a better way - I paid a lot of money for all the components and to have it done right - I feel like I could have gotten the same results with just the regular plug in vehicle kit!
Ok I could accept that part IF the sound was better. I get a hissing sound and the quality of my XM sound doesn't come close to that of a CD or even my regular radio. I read the review about this, but my FM modulator is made by Delphi so I know it's compatible. I also called Circuit City and they told me there is nothing they can do except to adjust the audio output. Even after playing with this feature I can't get rid of the hissing. Maybe someone out there can help me because I really DO love XM - I just thought that the sound quality was going to be better or at least EQUAL to my stock radio!!
This thing rocks! 2004-06-23
XM radio is great! I feel like I've been living in the dark ages relying on commercial radio. My 30-45 minute commute had become such a drag with endless channel surfing between NPR (and it's left-leaning politics), talk radio (with its constant commercial breaks), or FM music (same songs played over and over). XM is so refreshing, and the sound quality is excellent.
The Delphi receiver is easy to use, and I appreciate it's larger screen vs. the Commander which I almost purchased. Also, I like having the option to hook it up to my home stereo, as I prefer XM's music options over those offered by Comcast digital cable.
Installation was a snap, and the cassette adapter works fine. However, for cosmetic reasons I'm going to permanently hook up the receiver using a Blitzsafe adapter. The adapter is pricey ($99), but I have a new Honda Pilot and don't like having a wire hang from the cassette player.
I highly recommend the Delphi SkyFi receiver!
Thank you - Thank you 2004-06-21
I knew that this product delivered radio by a digital broadcast via satellite so I expected noise free sound without fadeouts and I knew they had over 100 channels and that all the music channels are commercial free, but I was somewhat skeptical about the sound quality beyond the noise free advantage and I was also skeptical about the diversity and depth of the music programming. I had been burned out by the monotony and commercial overload on FM.
What a pleasant surprise. The music is free of annoying digital artifacts providing sound quality comparable to the CD player on my home stereo - better than the best FM stations. The sound fidelity on the many talk shows is not as good and you can detect some digital compression, but it is not annoying and the sound is better than any AM station and the reception reliability is way beyond AM, especially if you are driving some distance in your car - same station and reception quality all the way across the country.
The music programming is top notch. Frankly it exceeded by best expectations. I really hadn't figured you could put together so much great music within a genre on radio, I simply have not heard radio like this before. While they do have stations that play all the hits from various music styles, most go way beyond the hits playing tunes you had forgotten or haven't even heard from some of your favorite artists and you will discover new ones as well.
I had become bored with radio, especially music, and I have started my love affair all over again. I still hit the FM button once in while, but only to listen to NPR; for music, news, comedy and sports chatter you can't beat the XM button.
One sideffect is that you will probably buy a lot fewer CD's since you can now instantly select interuption free music to fit any mood in seconds.
XM Customer Care is Terrible 
2005-10-10
I have been an XM Radio subscriber since July of 2003. My original radio was a SKYFI. It was great. In July my two year subscription expired, and I renewed for three years. In September I decided I wanted to use the service in a second vehicle. In order to use the same radio in both vehicles I was forced to Purchase a SKYFI II. I was told all I would have to do is switch the radio to my existing account. I did as told and for the last four weeks I have had no service.
I have spent at least five hours on the phone with XM's Customer Care and, like a previous reviewer, I have received nothing but blow off answers.
There is a problem with their software that does not allow the switch to the new radio. I have asked them to close my account and refund my money for the subscription, but they tell me they can't do that until they fix the problem with their system software. In other words, when they fix their system so they can activate my radio, then they can refund my money.
I have also asked them to send me a new radio, but they refused.
When I mention that I want a refund so I can switch to Sirius the hang up on me.
I'm stuck with about $200.00 in equipment and $300.00 in a worthless subscription.
Be careful.
Amazing 2005-08-22
I was sick and tired of hearing dj - chatter laughing over inane thing like going to the super market. I would go through my entire commute without listening to a single song. That made my choice clear, I needed music and didnot want to carry out a huge bag of cds with me all the time. I tried ipod with itrip but the fm transmitter never worked.
Finally i decide to give satellite radio a try. Some one told me Sirius was better for talk radio. I had it with talk on radio and wanted to listen to some music. So i went for XM. I absolutely love it. I fell in love with it when the first song I heard was from my favorite artist. It is so cool.
I had a little trouble activating it because i had to call twice to get the job done. But other than that the service has been flawless. Okay if you into tunnels you lose the signal but the 30 minute replay feature is there to save the day.
I love the constant stock ticker, the artist - name and song display. The feature when it beeps when my favorite artist's song is playing on any of its stations. If that is not all I can listen to it online at work for free.
Did I say i love it?? Oh yes I do, my gf hates it, but she will get over it ;-)
Poor quality with no service. 2005-04-06
I purchased one of the these directly from xm. It never worked. XM acknowledged it was defective equipment but refused to refund it. For the most part the xm customer service is absolutely terrible, either ignoring you or providing blow off answers.
Magnetic antenna not water resistant 2004-09-22
I purchased my XM Radio Skyfi system from Best Buy just before a cross country trip. My wife and I love it. However, after losing the signal a few times in the rain and then losing the signal for a few days after a heavy rain. I discovered that the magnetic antenna supplied with the system is "known" to be a problem. Best Buy techs know it. And Delphi, the suppliers of the system know it. When I called tech support at Delphi, I got a curt recommendation to seal the area of the antenna where the wire enters the antenna - then I wouldn't have any more problems. In other words, their problem was my problem. The Best Buy techs graciously told me if I got any kind of replacement antenna, they would replace my antenna at no charge. I couldn't find a replacement. The Delphi people need some customer service training. So, if you buy this system, save yourself some trouble and seal the area where the wire enters the antenna. If it weren't for the antenna problem, I'd give the system five stars.
Service is 5-star, radio is 4-star 2004-07-31
I purchased the Delphi SkyFi radio about 2 months ago. XM Radio is great and I rarely listen to AM or FM anymore -- only when I need to hear local news. I drive a whole lot, so the XM radio service is great to have whenever I drive through areas that have little or no regular radio service. No matter where I drive, I always have 100+ stations to listen to. There's a wide variety of music, sports and talk. And, the weather/traffic stations are great too!
My complaints with the XM radio service: (1) some of the stations, by category, should be arranged more sequentially, and (2) the service only provides something like 16 characters for artist and title, which is really short. Can't understand that.
As far as the Delphi SkyFi radio, it's great too! The sound is wonderful and there are 20 presets to save favorite stations. The only real problem with the Delphi radio is that it is difficult to read the radio face in daylight - daylight washes out the display. Also, the plastic on the display reflects just about any form of light, so during the daytime just placing your hand in front of the radio (and reflecting light onto the radio face) causes the light to be reflected back and further washes out the display. Just before dusk and until just after dawn, it's very easy to read the display. I don't know why Delphi chose two contrasting levels of amber to use in the display. Looks nice, but it's not very functional. Perhaps a standard green on black LED-type display would have been a better choice for making it easy to read regardless of the light level. Of course, when I use the Delphi radio inside the house, the display is very easy to see.
If you choose to connect the Delphi to your home stereo system, you'll be pleased. We turn on the radio and hear commercial-free music inside and outside the house. Forget TV! XM radio provides a better selection of music than the digital cable system. Just make sure when you choose to connect this to your home stereo system that you order the extra XM radio antenna extension cable. It's unlikely that you will be lucky enough to place the XM antenna right next to your home stereo system.
I paid for the XM service for one year in advance for the small discount. 2 and 3 year plans provide bigger discounts. I can't imagine giving up the service. I wonder just how successful ground-based digital radio will be whenever it arrives. Maybe it will be free, but it will have a whole lotta commercials and annoying DJs, and if you travel in rural areas there still will be few stations to listen to.
Also, get a professional installation!
