Dueling Satellite Radios

Chuck Zimmerman

Dueling Satellite RadioHello from Salt Lake City. Yesterday was a long travel day and tomorrow will be too. This morning I had to get organized and find an internet access spot that works. I’m on my 4th location which is a Sheraton hotel and it’s working!

Before we kicked off one of our convoy sponsors, XM Satellite Radio, provided all the convoy participants with radios. I’m sure it was just so we could check news and weather right?

I had brought along my Sirius radio so after talking it over, XM VP Roderick McKenzie and I thought a cross country comparison would be an interesting side line to the highway adventure. I interviewed Roderick so you can learn about some of the interesting data applications XM is working on, some of which are being demonstrated on this trip with some special GPS/Satellite radio receivers.

My Sirius receiver is a Clarion plug-n-play and the XM one is a Delphi Roady. One thing I noticed quickly was that when I go under an overpass I lose Sirius service until I’m out the otherside. I never did with the XM. I’m sure I’ll have more comparisons for you soon.

Here’s my interview with Roderick: Listen to MP3 Roderick McKenzie Interview (11 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

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