Best portable XM player

[kdubya]

I want to buy a portable XM player. What is the best one to buy?

[Chigworthy]

Don't buy shit until after the merger.

[Fallon]

But if you do, get the Inno or Helix. Whichever you can get cheaper. They are the same unit.

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[MobCounty]

My inno has been pretty good. The interface is wonky and it is hardly as portable as they would like you to believe. It usually won't get a channel though walls or ceilings. If you don't live in an area with repeaters, it still needs an antenna to get unbroken reception in a car. That said, it's still much better than my Roady. I really like recording shows to play back while I am camping.

[ozzie]

They blocked listening to xm online at the office, so I finally broke down and got the Pioneer Inno last month.

There was a little sticker shock at the cost of the unit, but more so after I added the car kit, installation from the Geek Squad, and realized the portable reception was shit, unless I stood still or faced the little antenna towards the South all the time.

Belkin makes a headset with a built in antenna which solved the problem. I went on eBay and got the headset a lot cheaper, but I paid retail for everything else, because I really wanted the warranty. The headset is a little bulky and cumbersome, but it does the job.

Still no chance on picking up a signal at work, so I went yet ANOTHER step and signed up at Audible.com, and subscribed to the show so I can come in and download yesterdays show to my Inno and listen at work. They're available the night after the show around 8 pm or so.

Since you can download any mp3 file, I also have been raiding the file library here (thanks Mikey and Jon). You can store up to 50 hours.

The other option is to program it to record a program, like setting it to catch the midnight replay of R&F, but it has to be docked and powered on, and hooked to an antenna while it records.

I also realized that you can record songs you are listening to, after they've started. While you're listening to live xm, it's like tivo, and recording the last couple of minutes, so a song can come on, and you can record it from the beginning.

The sports and stock tickers on the face are another nice bonus.

I did do some checking about the merger before I committed to buy, and both Sirrus and XM claim that current receivers will work with whatever the combined service will be.

I still can't believe I'm paying this much to listen to radio. I made a point of letting XM know that the only reason I was subscribing and buying all this shit was because of the buddays. I couldn't function at work without them, even if it's the previous day's show, or an older bit, it's worth it for my sanity.

[SouthSideJohnny]

But if you do, get the Inno or Helix. Whichever you can get cheaper. They are the same unit.

I have a question about them. I have an older Tao XM2go unit, but I'm thinking of upgrading. When I'm listening it to the Tao in certain rooms, I use the FM transmitter so that I can pick up the broadcast on a radio over the air. I read something about them tuning down the signal strength on the Inno2. Does anyone use this function, and how does it work? Is the signal strong enough so the radio can pick it up?

[KnoxHarrington]

I have a question about them. I have an older Tao XM2go unit, but I'm thinking of upgrading. When I'm listening it to the Tao in certain rooms, I use the FM transmitter so that I can pick up the broadcast on a radio over the air. I read something about them tuning down the signal strength on the Inno2. Does anyone use this function, and how does it work? Is the signal strong enough so the radio can pick it up?

As part of the smackdown that XM and Sirius got for overpowered FM transmitters, the firmware on the Inno was changed so that the FM transmitter only works in the car cradle. If you can get your hands on an old Inno, and don't upgrade the firmware, however, you'll be fine.

I'd also add that in the newer units, the FM transmitter is much weaker anyway. That's why they have that SureConnect thing included; that's so it can broadcast much closer to the car's antenna.

[SouthSideJohnny]

the firmware on the Inno was changed so that the FM transmitter only works in the car cradle. If you can get your hands on an old Inno, and don't upgrade the firmware, however, you'll be fine.

Thanks Knox! I'll stick with the Tao and Audible d/l on the ipod.

[pittphantoms]

Just a word of warning - do not buy the Skyfi series - they are AWFUL. I just got duped two months ago into buying one - and got so sick of it already I just bought an Inno on Woot.com yesterday.