SO Satellite radio is now in Canada. I've had a Sirius radio for about a year now, but had to get an american address to subscribe. However, the canadian channels differ from the american ones (no howerd stern...yet, no weather)
I wonder if the americans will ever add some of the canadian channels to thier lists? I dont want to give up howerd stern just to listen to cbc!!
They sure are nice when travelling long distances...and with the unit in the car, with the FM transmitter, you can tune your home stereo into your selected frequency, and hear it inside too.
How many others out there already have one of these systems, or plan on getting one?
....just checked......candaian channels are on the american plan.
Satellite Radio
Moderators: lilfssister, North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako
I've got an XM...I wonder if I can get Canadian channels too. I'd like to get the CBC, given how crappy the US news coverage is. Right now, BBC world service is the only news that I can stand listening to on XM. Then again, I didn't buy it for the quality news programming!
I don't get Howard Stern on XM, but I do like the XM comedy channel.
I don't get Howard Stern on XM, but I do like the XM comedy channel.
Please don't tell my mother that I work in the Oilpatch...she still thinks that I'm the piano player at a whorehouse.
In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield...W. BuffettIV had Sirius for over a year now and am VERY happy with it! I personally have no intention of getting some crappy canadianized version of the service and as far as I am concerned Canadian content laws and the CRTC can go @#$! themselves… (I have a bit of a moral issue with someone telling me what I can and cannot see/listen too…)
Iv found the news coverage to be excellent on Sirius (if you stay away from CNN etc..) WRN is perhaps the best station out there because it rotates from newscasts around the world… Every one is going to give you a biased view on an event, Especially the CBC, but if you listen to the same piece of news told by networks if 15 different countries then you can add up all sides of the issue and make your own conclusion…
Howard Stern is coming in Jan I think, he DID get in trouble with the FCC, primarily because at his old station (in NY I think) his signal was being sent openly and publicly, IE he was at the mercy of FCC vulgarity regulations etc… HOWEVER because Satellite is a PAY service it is not considered public airwaves, therefore the FCC has no jurisdiction over the content of the transmissions, so if you thought he was crazy before
!!!
How well does XM stack up, I almost bought one of those instead, but was under the impression there were a lot more adds and less content, what have you found W squared? All Sirius music channels are add free and the majority of the talk channels are too, there are a few adds on some of the political talk channels, like Talk left, and Talk right; But that’s it for adds.. I have been contemplating getting one of those new Garmin units with XM, but I guess I should win the 649 first!
Iv found the news coverage to be excellent on Sirius (if you stay away from CNN etc..) WRN is perhaps the best station out there because it rotates from newscasts around the world… Every one is going to give you a biased view on an event, Especially the CBC, but if you listen to the same piece of news told by networks if 15 different countries then you can add up all sides of the issue and make your own conclusion…
Howard Stern is coming in Jan I think, he DID get in trouble with the FCC, primarily because at his old station (in NY I think) his signal was being sent openly and publicly, IE he was at the mercy of FCC vulgarity regulations etc… HOWEVER because Satellite is a PAY service it is not considered public airwaves, therefore the FCC has no jurisdiction over the content of the transmissions, so if you thought he was crazy before
!!!How well does XM stack up, I almost bought one of those instead, but was under the impression there were a lot more adds and less content, what have you found W squared? All Sirius music channels are add free and the majority of the talk channels are too, there are a few adds on some of the political talk channels, like Talk left, and Talk right; But that’s it for adds.. I have been contemplating getting one of those new Garmin units with XM, but I guess I should win the 649 first!
How do the two stack up? I can't give you a full comparison, having only owned XM, but here goes.
XM music channels are all commercial free. Some of their channels (talk) do have ads, but there aren't many of them.
If you're working north of 60, I've heard that Sirius offers slightly better performance because they have an extra satellite...but the only time that I've had a problem with my XM is if there are lots of trees close to the south side of the road, and I'm driving. I start noticing that effect when I'm north of High Level. Any time that I'm parked, the signal is great.
About the same number of channels. Sirius has Stern, XM has Opie and Anthony. I think that XM has more subscribers.
One of the main reasons that I picked XM is that you can mount the reciever on your vent. I change trucks about once every 6 weeks (as I rotate in and out of the field), so being able to mount there is a big plus.
XM music channels are all commercial free. Some of their channels (talk) do have ads, but there aren't many of them.
If you're working north of 60, I've heard that Sirius offers slightly better performance because they have an extra satellite...but the only time that I've had a problem with my XM is if there are lots of trees close to the south side of the road, and I'm driving. I start noticing that effect when I'm north of High Level. Any time that I'm parked, the signal is great.
About the same number of channels. Sirius has Stern, XM has Opie and Anthony. I think that XM has more subscribers.
One of the main reasons that I picked XM is that you can mount the reciever on your vent. I change trucks about once every 6 weeks (as I rotate in and out of the field), so being able to mount there is a big plus.
Please don't tell my mother that I work in the Oilpatch...she still thinks that I'm the piano player at a whorehouse.
Sirus and XM remind me of the battle between Beta and VHS years ago. Sirus works better in the mountains, whereas XM will fade out more often. Up north Sirus is the only way to go. After all is said and done, it depends what you prefer listening to and if so, then you pick the one with more of what you want to lsiten to and screw the other one.
I listen to what I want to listen to and not what 5-7 members of a CRTC Panel dictate. I also have "C-band satillite TV because of the same reason. The satillite radio and my TV both have channel changers and "On/Off" buttons. Therefore they can put out on the prgramming whatever they want and if I don't like it I'll change channels or turn it "Off" when I please.........and I won't call up the CRTC to ask permission to do that either. If I find Canadian artists good to listen to, then I'll do so and no government agency is going to make me listen to them if I don't want to. The good Canadian artists can and have made it on their own many times without anything to do with the CRTC involvement....and we can all name a bunch of world famous singers and groups who have done so. Therefore, until the CRTC stops trying to tell me what I can and cannot listen to on satillite radio, I'll have my satillite radio registered out of Blythe, CA. where the FCC doesn't tell me or anyone else what they can or cannot listen to.
I listen to what I want to listen to and not what 5-7 members of a CRTC Panel dictate. I also have "C-band satillite TV because of the same reason. The satillite radio and my TV both have channel changers and "On/Off" buttons. Therefore they can put out on the prgramming whatever they want and if I don't like it I'll change channels or turn it "Off" when I please.........and I won't call up the CRTC to ask permission to do that either. If I find Canadian artists good to listen to, then I'll do so and no government agency is going to make me listen to them if I don't want to. The good Canadian artists can and have made it on their own many times without anything to do with the CRTC involvement....and we can all name a bunch of world famous singers and groups who have done so. Therefore, until the CRTC stops trying to tell me what I can and cannot listen to on satillite radio, I'll have my satillite radio registered out of Blythe, CA. where the FCC doesn't tell me or anyone else what they can or cannot listen to.
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Dust Devil
- Rank 11
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- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:55 am
- Location: Riderville
I also notice a difference once you get north of high level. once you get down the zama road it's in and out especially if your on the south side of the road. Heading back to the highway it's usually better. Once you get into significant tree coverage it's pretty well gone.
That's because the satillites are about 25 degrees off the horizon that far north. You get some higher timber or highewr ground that blocks out that direct line of site and you loose the signal. Get your antenna attached to some higher object and "your back in business" again. Remember....it's FM and that's "line of sight" only.
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Hotel Tango
- Rank 4
- Posts: 241
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:49 pm
I think im paying $8 a month, billed quarterly.... for sirius at least its a flat rate, IE no options you either get nothing or everything... I picked up a unit that plugs into my Clarion deck and paid about $30 can after exchange and shipping on ebay... but there is a large variety of units available...
If your going to get one, buy it from the states online and register it with a US addy.... when the unit arrives, register online you CAN use a Canadian CC, all you need is a mailing addy. Just use a relative or friend, then while your registering change your account so no paper bills are sent. Then your good to go!
BTW DO NOT get the Canadian one, it’s a striped down version that’s more $$ not to mention then you’d be caving into the CRTC and shitty Canadian artists…
-walk
If your going to get one, buy it from the states online and register it with a US addy.... when the unit arrives, register online you CAN use a Canadian CC, all you need is a mailing addy. Just use a relative or friend, then while your registering change your account so no paper bills are sent. Then your good to go!
BTW DO NOT get the Canadian one, it’s a striped down version that’s more $$ not to mention then you’d be caving into the CRTC and shitty Canadian artists…
-walk
NO thank you very much, I have no intention of living in that fundamentalist religious shit hole of a country… I just have no desire in supporting the government sponsored inefficient & unconstitutional(CHRF) entertainment industry that presently exists here in Canada. I have an inherent problem with having “Canadian Content” shoved down my face with no authorized alternative. As far as I am concerned if you can’t compete in the global economy then it is a waste of resources to support you. Not to cause a stir here but I feel more practicality learning Mandarin or Punjab than French. (FYI, I was raised on the Left Coast) And it is for that reason that I really don’t enjoy listening to some folk singer from Nova Scotia belting out something about fish on the CBC. Not to put such things down, I simply do not choose to listen to it. If someone came along and said all you can listen to is Hip-Hop, and Jap-Pop how would you take that? I simply want a choice of what I listen to, and the moment someone comes along and says I have to listen to there trop I take offense, and will direct as many people as who will listen to an alternative.
And then lets look at the whole logic of Canadian Content, here is a policy that was put into place to:
A) give Canadian artists a monopoly on sales irrespective of quality
B) Protect Canadian Identity (which is a highly questionable motive to begin with IE “good excuse boys”) Not to mention does it REALLY protect our identity? As I clearly stated above I have no love for what the US has become and Iv immersed myself in all forms of media from around the planet. I still think of myself as a Canadian (I will save my soapbox speech on patriotism and its dangers for a later date…)
C) Give the Canadian recording and broadcast companies a monopoly irrespective of economic efficiency. (Interesting note, who do you think REALLY got the legislation passed in the first place.)
In my opinion what the CRTC has done here is just about as wise as what’s happening with GM in Ontario. By all accounts GM has proverbially “screwed the pooch” when it comes to automotives on a macroeconomic scale. What is happening now is JUST AS BAD AS WHAT HAPPEIND WITH THE US STEEL INDUSTRY!!!! They have lost the race to the bottom, they have legacy costs of well over $2000 per car, their sales are declining, they are trying to support a unionized workforce who is being overpaid by well over 1000% (as opposed to the global cost of similar labor) and their quality is highly suspect. They simply can no longer compete in the global economy. Not even “an act of God/Bush“ can save GM from bankruptcy with the decade. SO what do we do here in Canada when the market manages to come up with an efficient solution?(IE they fall apart and something new is born of the ashes) Well we go and waste $$ on some harebrained scheme to save the day, by trying to bail them out… what will this accomplish in the long run?
1)
We (the tax base) spend a VERY sizable amount of money which goes into keeping an unproductive plant operational beyond its means. When these resources could have gone elsewhere…
2)
The workers and their family think all is well and do not seek alternative employment.
3)
By subsidizing something inefficient the market responds by putting undue pressure on efficient producers, IE Asia which artificially creates unnecessary competition.
4)
The Canadian automotive industry is NOT forced to adapt and become competitive, as a result we eventually reach the point when the teat of the Federal government runs dry and the gap between Canadian motors and motors built aboard becomes unbridgeable and the WHOLE market collapses.
Let the market run its self, people will innovate and compete themselves. By building a shield around artist, factory workers etc… we are Stifling innovation and only building a bigger gap between ourselves and the rest of the planet. Like it or not we DO live in a global economy, and as such we should act accordingly, before it’s too late to.
As a side note there ARE Canadian artists that I do support morally, (Financially is another question, but best to leave THAT for another day)
-Rant ended
Im STILL in an argumentative mood, looking for a good retort!
-walk
And then lets look at the whole logic of Canadian Content, here is a policy that was put into place to:
A) give Canadian artists a monopoly on sales irrespective of quality
B) Protect Canadian Identity (which is a highly questionable motive to begin with IE “good excuse boys”) Not to mention does it REALLY protect our identity? As I clearly stated above I have no love for what the US has become and Iv immersed myself in all forms of media from around the planet. I still think of myself as a Canadian (I will save my soapbox speech on patriotism and its dangers for a later date…)
C) Give the Canadian recording and broadcast companies a monopoly irrespective of economic efficiency. (Interesting note, who do you think REALLY got the legislation passed in the first place.)
In my opinion what the CRTC has done here is just about as wise as what’s happening with GM in Ontario. By all accounts GM has proverbially “screwed the pooch” when it comes to automotives on a macroeconomic scale. What is happening now is JUST AS BAD AS WHAT HAPPEIND WITH THE US STEEL INDUSTRY!!!! They have lost the race to the bottom, they have legacy costs of well over $2000 per car, their sales are declining, they are trying to support a unionized workforce who is being overpaid by well over 1000% (as opposed to the global cost of similar labor) and their quality is highly suspect. They simply can no longer compete in the global economy. Not even “an act of God/Bush“ can save GM from bankruptcy with the decade. SO what do we do here in Canada when the market manages to come up with an efficient solution?(IE they fall apart and something new is born of the ashes) Well we go and waste $$ on some harebrained scheme to save the day, by trying to bail them out… what will this accomplish in the long run?
1)
We (the tax base) spend a VERY sizable amount of money which goes into keeping an unproductive plant operational beyond its means. When these resources could have gone elsewhere…
2)
The workers and their family think all is well and do not seek alternative employment.
3)
By subsidizing something inefficient the market responds by putting undue pressure on efficient producers, IE Asia which artificially creates unnecessary competition.
4)
The Canadian automotive industry is NOT forced to adapt and become competitive, as a result we eventually reach the point when the teat of the Federal government runs dry and the gap between Canadian motors and motors built aboard becomes unbridgeable and the WHOLE market collapses.
Let the market run its self, people will innovate and compete themselves. By building a shield around artist, factory workers etc… we are Stifling innovation and only building a bigger gap between ourselves and the rest of the planet. Like it or not we DO live in a global economy, and as such we should act accordingly, before it’s too late to.
As a side note there ARE Canadian artists that I do support morally, (Financially is another question, but best to leave THAT for another day)
-Rant ended
Im STILL in an argumentative mood, looking for a good retort!
-walk
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The Old Fogducker
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1784
- Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 5:13 pm
Excellent rant Walker ... and right on the money except for the belief the Cdn broadcasters were in favour of the CRTC's move in 1971 to impose the 30% CANCON reg.
The program was rammed down the throats of radio stations much to their disgust & dismay. The unfortunate part is the Cdn Association of Broadcasters has never done anything substantial to get it removed. I think they should have gone on a national campaign to get it thrown out ... get some of the scumbag politicians thrown out of office.
The esteemed Mr. Juneau (now of JUNO awards fame) sold a fake bill of goods ... that the program would last 5 years as a regulation to kick start the Cdn music industry, then decrease as economic forces took over.
Now, 35 years later, we are subjected to 35% CANCON and there is strong talk the industry will have 40% imposed on it following the CRTC's Radio Review scheduled to begin next year.
Welcome to the Central Planning Bureau of the Communist Radio & Television Commission.
Fog
The program was rammed down the throats of radio stations much to their disgust & dismay. The unfortunate part is the Cdn Association of Broadcasters has never done anything substantial to get it removed. I think they should have gone on a national campaign to get it thrown out ... get some of the scumbag politicians thrown out of office.
The esteemed Mr. Juneau (now of JUNO awards fame) sold a fake bill of goods ... that the program would last 5 years as a regulation to kick start the Cdn music industry, then decrease as economic forces took over.
Now, 35 years later, we are subjected to 35% CANCON and there is strong talk the industry will have 40% imposed on it following the CRTC's Radio Review scheduled to begin next year.
Welcome to the Central Planning Bureau of the Communist Radio & Television Commission.
Fog
Great comments and right-on!. I register my Sirus south of the border with the company that sold it to me in Blythe, CA. I so it because I want to listen to what I want to listen to and I'll not be dictated to by Ottawa concernng that. I'm not big fan of Howard Stern, but if others want to listen to him, who am I or some "self-important" politican in Ottawa to say differently. If I want to have that attitude, then I don't want some Canadian idiot suggesting that I move south over the border to do so........I'll do that also whan I choose. If I so choose to do so, I may well be inundated on the radio by Celine Dion........another card-carrying F'in Canadian.
I also take grave and angered exception to ANYONE telling or suggesting to me that Canadian artists in ANY sector of the entertainment industry can't stand on their own and need support to do so. The record of the last 95 years proves differently. Hollywood was started by the Max Senate's, Mary Pickfords, Louis B. Mayer's, Warner's, etc were ALL Canadian. The music industry there and worldwide is exactly the same. Winnipeg's 'Guess Who' didn't get any government support nor did Neil Young. How much hand-out did Gordon Lightfoot get? I went to school with a guy born and raised in Halifax, NS by the name of Dennis Dougherty of 'Mammas and Pappas' fame and he didn't get "diddley" from the Feds......and didn't need that "crutch" either. He didn't stay in the US either after the fame receded.......he's living in Halifax now and has for years.
Listen to what the CRTC mandates or move south over the 49th.........give us an F'in break buddy.
I also take grave and angered exception to ANYONE telling or suggesting to me that Canadian artists in ANY sector of the entertainment industry can't stand on their own and need support to do so. The record of the last 95 years proves differently. Hollywood was started by the Max Senate's, Mary Pickfords, Louis B. Mayer's, Warner's, etc were ALL Canadian. The music industry there and worldwide is exactly the same. Winnipeg's 'Guess Who' didn't get any government support nor did Neil Young. How much hand-out did Gordon Lightfoot get? I went to school with a guy born and raised in Halifax, NS by the name of Dennis Dougherty of 'Mammas and Pappas' fame and he didn't get "diddley" from the Feds......and didn't need that "crutch" either. He didn't stay in the US either after the fame receded.......he's living in Halifax now and has for years.
Listen to what the CRTC mandates or move south over the 49th.........give us an F'in break buddy.
