Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: syoungs on February 06, 2015, 09:07:27 PM

Title: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: syoungs on February 06, 2015, 09:07:27 PM: So I'm starting to really like the satellite radio in my work van, and sense I'll be upgrading my trucks head unit soon, was thinking a sirius built in might be the way to go.

But, I don't know what the reception is like around washington, only right where I work, can I expect to have service at say, rimrock gmu, or around bumping lake, how about over Snoqualmie or in spokane?

Can I use one account on say my truck and a desktop reciever? Or my commuter and my truck?
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: Firedogg on February 06, 2015, 09:20:49 PM: They make a unit that you can move from vehicle to vehicle and use on your desktop. That would be my preference after having one in a vehicle. My truck came with it built in, works great until you drive next to a hill or through lots of big trees blocking the view to the South.
When I make my trips to the east side I love having it and not loosing stations along the way. Over above Clarkston it works great, even all the way up Asotin Creek which is in a canyon, but is open to the south. The only places on the way over there that I lost the signal was on I90 nearing the top of Snoqualmie east bound where you are against the hill and dropping down to the Snake River on Hwy 12 outside of Clarkston. It even worked dropping down the hill into Lyons Ferry and through Starbuck.

There's one channel that plays old radio shows, the ones before TV, that is good to listen to on long drives.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on February 06, 2015, 09:40:39 PM: I have it in both of my rigs. I love it. If your view to the south is blocked you will loose service. So go downtown Seattle, you will have intermittent service. Take 410 from Chinook to Enumclaw, you will have very #$$#%^#% service because of the thick trees.

I love it on road trips. Pick your station and spend all day driving listening to it. No more jumping station to station as you get out of range.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: Roosevelt on February 06, 2015, 09:58:28 PM: If I lived in Eastern Washington then I would love it. I have it in my truck basically solely for road trips because it works pretty well along major freeways or any open highways. I can't stand listening to it normally when I'm out and about though because it cuts out constantly.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: syoungs on February 06, 2015, 10:10:56 PM: Thanks for the help guys! Gonna pick one up here in the next week or so I imagine, sounds like most of my use it'll work just fine, probably go with a removable unit to I can go from boat to camper to truck!
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: Bofire on February 07, 2015, 09:34:14 AM: :) :) I found a channel that does old radio show mysteries and stuff pretty cool for a long drive.
Carl
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on February 07, 2015, 09:43:30 AM: Call Sirius and see if they'll give more than what is offered when you buy it. I always get something out of them. I love my Sirius and listen to the Patriot channel.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: NRA4LIFE on February 07, 2015, 10:01:59 AM: I love mine. The only place I have problems with it in the state is on HY 410 between Enumclaw and Chinook Pass. Coverage is spotty there I think because of the trees. I really like listening to college football and the Packer games in the fall. Mine is an after market unit that I can remove and put in a boom box apparatus which is really cool.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: b23 on February 07, 2015, 10:14:15 AM: Reception with Sat. radio has been somewhat variable for me. In my 09 Rubicon, that thing hardly ever lost its signal. We bought a external plug and play unit with an external antenna from Best Buy for $99 a few years back for out boat and it NEVER lost signal. My wife's MkZ, factory Sat. radio never loses signal either. But, if my 2013 Toyota Tacoma with factory Sat. radio, has a flock of starlings fly bye, it'll lose signal. If there's a leaf in the air, it'll lose signal. If a medium sized child stands to close to it, it will practically lose signal. Had the dealer check it out and they said they could find no problems.

Soooo, I guess you almost will have to take your chances and see if/how well it works for you. I know I wouldn't want to be without it but I sure wish my Tacoma would get/keep a stronger signal.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on February 07, 2015, 10:26:10 AM: Quote from: b23 on February 07, 2015, 10:14:15 AM
Reception with Sat. radio has been somewhat variable for me. In my 09 Rubicon, that thing hardly ever lost its signal. We bought a external plug and play unit with an external antenna from Best Buy for $99 a few years back for out boat and it NEVER lost signal. My wife's MkZ, factory Sat. radio never loses signal either. But, if my 2013 Toyota Tacoma with factory Sat. radio, has a flock of starlings fly bye, it'll lose signal. If there's a leaf in the air, it'll lose signal. If a medium sized child stands to close to it, it will practically lose signal. Had the dealer check it out and they said they could find no problems.

Soooo, I guess you almost will have to take your chances and see if/how well it works for you. I know I wouldn't want to be without it but I sure wish my Tacoma would get/keep a stronger signal.

Did you have Sirius send a reboot signal whatever it's called to the radio ?
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: b23 on February 07, 2015, 10:41:38 AM: Twice :(
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on February 07, 2015, 05:59:14 PM: Quote from: b23 on February 07, 2015, 10:41:38 AM
Twice :(

That's strange. Maybe you have a radio with a flaw. Call Sirius and raise hell.....What kind of Antenna ? I had an antenna on my semi truck that wasn't the best, even though it was a Sirius antenna. Changed it and it was fixed.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: b23 on February 07, 2015, 06:11:42 PM: It's the stock Toyota shark fin looking thing on the roof.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on February 07, 2015, 06:21:06 PM: Quote from: b23 on February 07, 2015, 06:11:42 PM
It's the stock Toyota shark fin looking thing on the roof.

That's what I have on my '13 Silverado.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: grundy53 on February 07, 2015, 06:23:46 PM: I love my Sirius. I use it all over the state.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: Skillet on February 07, 2015, 06:41:45 PM: As a related hijack to the op's question - has anybody used Sirius farther north, like SE Alaska?
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: follow maggie on February 07, 2015, 06:46:11 PM: I love my satellite radio. Get great reception almost everywhere
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: Rick on February 07, 2015, 07:21:36 PM: Quote from: b23 on February 07, 2015, 10:14:15 AM
Reception with Sat. radio has been somewhat variable for me. In my 09 Rubicon, that thing hardly ever lost its signal. We bought a external plug and play unit with an external antenna from Best Buy for $99 a few years back for out boat and it NEVER lost signal. My wife's MkZ, factory Sat. radio never loses signal either. But, if my 2013 Toyota Tacoma with factory Sat. radio, has a flock of starlings fly bye, it'll lose signal. If there's a leaf in the air, it'll lose signal. If a medium sized child stands to close to it, it will practically lose signal. Had the dealer check it out and they said they could find no problems.

Soooo, I guess you almost will have to take your chances and see if/how well it works for you. I know I wouldn't want to be without it but I sure wish my Tacoma would get/keep a stronger signal.

This is my experience as well. My '07 Ram and my '10 Wrangler never lost signal. I could be in the deepest darkest canyons in Eastern Wa. and still have signal. My '11 GM 2500HD loses signal probably as much as it has signal.

I won't even pay for the $20 for 5 months offer that Sirius sends out.
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on February 10, 2015, 11:54:55 AM: Quote from: Skillet on February 07, 2015, 06:41:45 PM
As a related hijack to the op's question - has anybody used Sirius farther north, like SE Alaska?

Yep in Yakitat. In my uncles remote fish camp. Had it hooked up to a 12volt battery and tuned into his boombox. Good times!
Title: Re: satellite radio worth the money in the sticks?
Post by: quadrafire on February 10, 2015, 12:08:52 PM: If you drive alot it is definately worth it. I live on the eastside and there is rarely a loss of signal. Usually heavy trees or downtown tall buildings. A dense fog seems to weaken the signal sporadically as well.
If you get the premium package, be careful with kids in the car as Howard Stern can get a bit racy.