You’ve got many choices today for listening to music through your computer. Streaming audio. MP3s. CDs. A new one being offered by XM Radio has the potential to be one of the best: satellite radio. Using a small receiver and antenna, XM claims you can tune into the same quality stereo music and entertainment available to drivers through their car stereos, all for the small monthly fee of $9.99. Does the XM PCR provide another viable PC music option, or is it another fancy gadget with no future?
Pros:
- Ease of setup
- Choice of content
- Software interface
Cons:
Appearance:
The XM PCR kit consists of a receiver, antenna and several wires. The stylish receiver is square shaped and measures in at a mere 5 inches (width) by 1 inch (height). It is very light as well, being a little less than 7 ounces. It has three outputs on the back for the antenna, audio and USB. A green light on the front of the receiver lets you know it is getting power and has a stable USB connection to your computer.
The antenna is mountable either on flat surfaces or on the wall via mounting holes found in its base. It, like the receiver, is very small in size and won’t look like you have a giant satellite dish in the middle of the room. It comes attached to a 20-foot cable and can be placed in most locations, though a window sill is the ideal spot for optimal reception.
Setup
Setup of the XM PCR is not too hard and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Installation of the software off of CD comes first, followed by connecting the receiver to either speakers or the sound card of your computer, XM antenna and a USB port or hub. Positioning the antenna is next and it can be a little tricky trying to find that one spot which gets the best signal. XM luckily thought of this and provides a signal level detector in the software which gives you real time information on signal strength.
Once you are up and running, activation of the service comes next. It is relatively painless, requiring you to record a serial number from the receiver’s bottom and then going to a website or calling a number to start your service with a credit card. An option to do all of this through the software would have been nice. After the XM service is flipped on at the cost of $9.99 per month, or $6.99 if you already own another XM device, you are ready to begin.
