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What are the pros and cons of using satellite radio on boats? SaltyDog,
via PMY Electronics forum
Beware, you’re
asking a satellite radio convert. I tested and wrote about XM a couple
of years ago (“More Marine Media,” July 2002) and got hooked.
I went on to purchase the PC receiver version of XM and am listening to
classic jazz on channel 73, Frank’s Place, right now as I work. If
I want, I can see a list of what’s playing on the other 70-plus music
channels or have the software notify me if a favorite artist is playing
on any. The programmers are the best in the business, and instead of competing
with each other for my attention, they’re working as a team to provide
a smorgasbord of music that competes with archrival Sirius. And there
are almost no conventional commercial interruptions (though there are
a lot of annoying cross promotions). Finally, XM also offers some 30 channels
of news and talk ranging from Fox News to BBC, Family Talk to raunchy
comedy (the FCC doesn’t monitor satellite radio). Obviously I’m
pleased with XM content, and I know that many Sirius subscribers feel
the same way about their service.
I’ve heard from
a number of boaters who say satellite radio is all they need and good
riddance to the onboard clutter of CDs or tapes. Time has also shown that
range is quite good; cruisers report good reception from western Newfoundland
to the mid-Bahamas, Acapulco to Juneau, and hundreds of miles offshore.
And, of course, they don’t have the issues with tall buildings or
mountains that some drivers experience. Most reports are coming from XM
users because there are a lot more of them, but Sirius supposedly has
better range to the north. There are lots of hardware options for either
service, including marine-quality antennas and stereos with built-in satellite
receivers. Some seasonal boaters use gear like the Delphi SKYFi, which,
though not marinized, lets them carry the small receiver component—along
with its dedicated radio subscription—from boat to car to home.
Cons? I can’t think
of any once you’ve gotten over the hurdle of paying for something
that we grew up listening to for free. However, nice as it would be to
cruise almost anywhere in North America with the reliable companionship
of some good DJs and a fair selection of news, sports, and talk channels,
I’d take along a regular AM/FM receiver, too. Local radio news and
weather can be really useful, plus exploring the dial for unique, even
oddball, regional programming can sometimes be a cruising pleasure. —B.E
Got a marine electronics
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