Satellite radio owners: Is the signal better than terrestrial?

[edbermac]

I keep thinking how the cable quality is better than regular TV and want to know if the satellite signal is better quality or just the same...

[GOPisEvil]

1. Do you drive primarily in the same area, or do you travel?

I make a drive from Austin to San Antonio weekly, and XM allows me to travel and never lose the signal. I also drove from Austin to Los Angeles recently. Never a dropped signal. No more hunting for a crappy AM station in the middle of nowhere. I love my XM radio. :)

[ET Awful]

2. Much better quality. The sound quality difference is huge, it's like

comparing AM radio to a CD.

Occasionally you'll lose reception if you're stuck in traffic under an overpass or in areas with huge buildings that block the antenna, but it's usually for a very short period of time and not that big of a deal.

[VaYallaDawg]

3. Infinitely better quality.

Like GOPisEvil I do lots of in-state driving - Richmond-Roanoke-Richmond - a lot - XM radio lets me pick up the same station(s) all the way. I am absolutely devoted to it. Once in a great while, in a very narrow street where there are very tall buildings you'll lose the signal (and this occurs only rarely), but as soon as the car moves back into the open it's right there.

[Hugin]

4. The sound quality depends on how it's connected to an output amplifier.

A direct connection is best... The FM RF transmitters can make the sound a little
grainy.

But, I've yet to find a place where I don't get a signal from the satellite itself.

(Excluding of course garages, long underpasses, and overhangs... But, that counts for
regular radio as well.)

[ucmike]

5. much more consistent

i occasionally momentarily lose signal in some small, rocky, canyons around here, but nothing to complain about. in big cities you might have problems, but i know that in nyc there are some retransmitters that direct the signal to the street. i've found that my xm gets its signal about as well as my gps receiver, there are some spots that just can't get satellite signal but they are scattered.

whatever temporary signal loss you have is offset by the consistency of the signal around the whole country.

[Orsino]

6. Occasional dropouts...

...when surrounded by heavy trees or up against buildings. The signal's much more directional than terrestrial radio's, and the geosynchronous satellites along the ecliptic are occasionally obscured--usually for no more than a couple of seconds, but watch where you park if you want to keep listening.

Great sound quality.

[Beware the Beast Man]

7. Depending on the type of receiver, really.

A home stereo component (I don't own one) should offer superb sound quality. I have a plug & play unit for the car, and it only drops out when driving under overpasses and the like.