portable XM radio

[CG]

Anybody have any experience with this?


http://www.myradiostore.com/xm-radio-receivers/myfi-sa10113-refurbished-complete-free-activationsub.html



My wife wants it but I was hoping to get some input before I bought it.

[philsoc]

Not that specific one - I didn't like the look of the Delphi so I got the Panasonic.

It's awesome.

There's some newer ones by Samsung, IIRC, that are even smaller and can be used as an MP3 player as well, but be careful because one of them isn't really portable (you can record, but it won't play 'on the fly' like the others.)

[servotron]

I have a MyFi, and I've loved it for the time I've had it. I think it's been more than a year now. It works pretty well with no antenna if you live in a major metro area. In the car, it's awesome. On a dock on the home stereo it's great as well.

I've been very happy with it... the only problem I've ever had with it is a very seldom, random power-off cycle where it just turns itself off for no reason, usually only when it's very cold.

[CG]

my wife would mainly use it at the gym while she is working out. do you think that would be ok or does it need to be in the dock when it is indoors?

[Iceblink]

I just upgraded from a MyFi to a Pioneer Inno.

If you won't mind the larger size, the MyFi is great. It's not huge, but it's pretty much as big as some of the more recent walkman units that played cassettes. It's not tiny. It is portable though.

What is she going to be doing with it? If she's going to be jogging or something, then I recommend the Inno.

If she's going to just use it in the car and at home, I recommend the MyFi... I've found that the Inno's FM modulator is a bit lacking... plus, now there's a firmware update that requires the car kit.

The inno has some great features that are just amazing.

You can put both mp3s and recorded XM content on it. Plus, with the Inno, you can press record when a song is already playing, and it'll record from the beginning of the song. Full color screen, etc. too. Good stuff.

MyFi's nice too, but I'm glad I upgraded.

I just read that she'll be in the gym working out. She may have some reception issues in there. The myfi might be too big for that. You can get antenna headphones, but I lost reception a couple times riding on a bus. I was surprised. I was even using the headphones.

That's what's cool about the recorded content and MP3 ability. When she loses her signal she can use that. She can record content with the myfi as well... but it's far easier to do and to organize with the inno.

Prices are going down on the inno too. But it'll still cost you double what that site was advertising the refurbished myfi for.

[servotron]

Indoor reception is very hit-or-miss if you're not using some sort of an external antenna. Mine came with a "wearable" antenna...which would be fine for walking around outside, clipped to a jacket, but I wouldn't wear it working out. If/when I were to work out on a treadmill with a full size ipod, XM unit, etc.. I always just rest it on the machine or dangle it from the machine on whatever strap/mount the device is in.

[FearM9]

Another MyFi owner here too. Had mine for about a year.

I wouldn't recommend it for "bouncy" workouts like running. The damn thing is a tank compared to stuff like iPods and small MP3 players.

Reception can be extremely spotty inside unless you want to try out those big honking antenna headphones or wear the small clip on antenna. Just more hassle than it's worth.

For me, the best places for the MyFi are in a car or at the home/office.

[Iceblink]

those big honking antenna headphones or wear the small clip on antenna.


I tell ya. I have the antenna headphones for the myfi and for the inno. The bigger myfi ones are out of the ear, and the sound is really good on them.

I never had any luck with the clip antenna. I didn't think it worked well, but I got great reception with the antenna headphones.

The earbuds that come with the inno are pretty nice. I was happy with the sound... I use those often.

There are new inno-ready XM antenna headphones that have come out that are smaller than the outside of the ear ones. They have some pretty decent sound too. I was surprised, because they're cheap-looking. Kind of old-fashioned looking... but they work well.

[KesOne]

my wife would mainly use it at the gym while she is working out. do you think that would be ok or does it need to be in the dock when it is indoors?

I've had the myfi since it first came out, 80% use in car and 20% everywhere else. I'd definitely recommend it. Havent even considered upgrading yet, cuz chances are my next vehicle will have it built in so I'd prob transfer my account.

As far as using it on a treadmill, as already stated it is a hit or miss. If the treadmill is next to a window then she should be fine. If the treadmill is totally indoors, there may be a problem. Nowadays though, you can stream xm online thru your mobile phone if that was to get better reception indoors:

http://mobile.musicdock.com (Another reason why I'm not so concerned with upgrading to another take with you everywhere satellite radio.)

or with every xm account you can stream online

http://xmro.xmradio.com/xstream/index.jsp