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Inexpensive Car Outfit

E

elevator_opratr

Guest
I've been trying to find the least expensive XM system. While at Walmart yesterday, I saw a boombox for $94.00, only to then find out that the receiver had to be purchased separately for another $90 bucks. With these satellite radios, there always seems like you need to purchase something "else" to make the first thing work. I want one simple package! :)

So I then discover this car outfit in a bubble wrap for about $49 bucks. It looks like it is a complete car outfit complete with a RF transmitter to play on your FM radio and a very tiny satellite antenna about the size of a half dollar. From what I can see, it is a complete kit. You don't need anything else to make it work. Anyone familiar with that kit? Does it work well? Why is it so inexpensive compared to the other outfits?

I apologize if these are dumb questions. I'm not that savvy with satellite radio yet.
 
> I've been trying to find the least expensive XM system.
> While at Walmart yesterday, I saw a boombox for $94.00, only
> to then find out that the receiver had to be purchased
> separately for another $90 bucks. With these satellite
> radios, there always seems like you need to purchase
> something "else" to make the first thing work. I want one
> simple package! :)
>
> So I then discover this car outfit in a bubble wrap for
> about $49 bucks. It looks like it is a complete car outfit
> complete with a RF transmitter to play on your FM radio and
> a very tiny satellite antenna about the size of a half
> dollar. From what I can see, it is a complete kit. You don't
> need anything else to make it work. Anyone familiar with
> that kit? Does it work well? Why is it so inexpensive
> compared to the other outfits?
>
> I apologize if these are dumb questions. I'm not that savvy
> with satellite radio yet.
>
Are You talking about the Roady2?
this is the cheapest and it does come with all that is needed for car usage(you will need some other stuff for home usage though)
sometime online it is cheaper,but beware some of those deals don't include car kit.
Often CompUSA offers a 25.00 dollar gift card when you buy one,not this week though
I use mine mostly at home,but from what I can gather the cassette adapter gives better sound quality than FM transmitter,FM transmitter should be ok,but if You have cassette use the adapter.
it is cheap because it does not have the features some of the other radios have,it is a good radio to get started with.
 
I believe you're referring to the Roady2. I have one of those units, and it comes complete with the car kit in most packages. I was able to install mine and get it working in a matter of less than 15 minutes. However, that only applies to in-vehicle listening. If you want to listen to it in the home or carry it with your Walkman when exercising, you have to buy a separate kit.
 
Re: This will solve your problem

If you don't the home base kit yet, buy it. Then go to the C. Crane website at ccrane.com, and purchase the FM transmitter. Screw the boombox. At home, hook the cord of the transmitter into the back of the home base output jack. Tune the transmitter to a desired frequency, and tune the other radio's in your house to the same frequency. This transmitter will cover the average house. For outside use, get a 25 ft. headphone extension cord with male/female mini-plugs, hook it into the back of the home base and move your transmitter outside with a portable radio. You may also have to move the home kit setup to another room. Only you know for sure. Viola, you have just eliminated the need for the boombox. Since the FM transmitter runs on DC as well as AC, you can use it in your car as well. If your going to be away from home, but still want to listen to the XM signal outside, take a battery powered radio, the headphone extesion cord if necessary and the transmitter with batteries installed in it. Plug the transmitter or the extension cord into the output of the car kit, tune to a desired frequency, and tune your portable to the same frequency. Once again, you have eliminated the need for the boombox.

No matter what, this whole satellite accessibility issue is going to cost more than standard terrestrial radio. Get used to it. I think the set-up I have outlined for you is the chepest in the long run, because most of it is permanent, with the exception of the actual receiver. Like most technology, today's satellite receivers will probably be obsolete in the next 5-10 years. It's the one factor in this whole equation that will continually change. Good luck, and stay away from the Evil Empire when it comes to sophisticated technology.
 
Briefly...

The $49 Roady2 pack in a complete in-car system. Activation/subscription is an additional charge that can be done over the phone or online http://www.xmradio.com . You'll need the radio id that should be on a sticker on the packaging or Channel 0 when you turn the radio on.

You should visit the website to print an updated channel guide as it has probably changed a bit since the product was packed. Preset your favorites then explore the diversity at your fingertips.

Enjoy!
 
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