Free alternatives to XM radio?

[php111]

I'm sorry if I'm in the wrong place asking. If I am then please move my thread or if my questions does belong here then keep my thread here. Thank you!



Hey everyone,


What are some free alternatives to XM? I know a few alternatives but with my system I don't know if it could be done and I don't even know how to do it? I have an Integra DTM 5.9 receiver with a pair of B&W 686 speakers. I have my DVD player connected to the receiver, my computer is connected to a receiver, and the cable box is connected. I don't have a HD computer. I don't have HDTV, or Dish, or DirecTV, or nothing like that. One alternative would be send the music service to my receiver? How? I don't have Dish, or DirecTV. I only have basic cable using a cable box. So, may I please ask what free music service alternatives are there to XM? My receiver is XM ready, and I don't have the extra equipment toys to play with and I don't have a subscription either.


Thank you,

 

[markw]

FM radio is the only "free" alternative I can think of. All it takes is an antenna.

 

[php111]

Thank you! I do use FM radio and I didn't know it was an alternative to XM. Btw that's a lot easier then sending services via DLNA. It's a lot easier in my opinion.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Have you considered picking up a streaming box such as AppleTV or Roku? These boxes are about $100, or less, and can provide online radio streaming options. Pandora, radio, etc. A lot are genre based, and many are commercial free or minimal commercials which can be very cool. It's obviously not free to get the device, but many of the streaming services ARE free and do not require a monthly subscription at all. Roku may be a better way to go as it isn't so iTunes centric...

Channel Store | Roku Streaming Player

Oh, and it starts at $50, which is great if you have no use for the video aspects or extended features that it can give you.

Most of these streaming services are things which are available to your computer by the way, so if you have your computer connected to your A/V receiver, then you can get audio from it right now using various free services. Pandora is one I use often, but there are a ton out there which are free.

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm sorry if I'm in the wrong place asking. If I am then please move my thread or if my questions does belong here then keep my thread here. Thank you!



Hey everyone,


What are some free alternatives to XM? I know a few alternatives but with my system I don't know if it could be done and I don't even know how to do it? I have an Integra DTM 5.9 receiver with a pair of B&W 686 speakers. I have my DVD player connected to the receiver, my computer is connected to a receiver, and the cable box is connected. I don't have a HD computer. I don't have HDTV, or Dish, or DirecTV, or nothing like that. One alternative would be send the music service to my receiver? How? I don't have Dish, or DirecTV. I only have basic cable using a cable box. So, may I please ask what free music service alternatives are there to XM? My receiver is XM ready, and I don't have the extra equipment toys to play with and I don't have a subscription either.


Thank you,

First of all the audio quality of Sirius/XM is atrocious and not worth five cents for a lifetime of service.

They won't be around much longer as streaming is coming on a pace, including in cars. The bandwidth cost of mobile streaming for most is less than the cost of a subscription to Sirius. I was experimenting with streaming from Spotify to a car on the move last weekend and the quality was much better than Sirius.

As others have pointed out FM is free, though apart from public radio the offerings are banal and quality awful.

Public radio is free, but really you are on your honor to support it.

The BBC streams to the US at 180 kbs AAC3 and the quality is pretty good. It is comparable to analog FM and in many aspects better. Occasionally digital artifacts intrude.

I'm listening to an archived program from Canterbury Cathedral right now from the BBC.

The BBC has lots of goodies on offer. I have offered to pay, but they don't seem interested in overseas licenses.

I'm going to do a VPN hookup, so I can stream video and get audio at 320 ks AAC3.

I can stream audio from my audio workstation and my HTPC. I have been streaming a lot of AV from my HTPC of late.

This useful device which I also have, will stream anything, and you can open up an Internet Browser from Google Chrome. I thoroughly recommend this little device. The remote is a masterpiece of ergonomics.

 

[Hobbit]

I have, and really enjoy, this:

Amazon.com: Grace Digital Wireless Hi-fi Internet Radio Tuner featuring Pandora and NPR (GDI-IRDT200): Electronics

The user interface is a little antiquated, but Reciva's features and functionality blows away DLNA (I find DLNA to be junk). You can run the GD wifi tuner wireless or wired, and the listing of features is behind what they have available. It has both coax and toslink digital out as well as RCA stereo. There's a phone remote app that's available too.

Check it out.

 

[afterlife2]

I agree with BMXTRIX get this: Roku 2 XS Digital Full 1080p HD Media Streamer w 6ft HDMI Cable Angry Birds 082961088242 | eBay
Ton of Music, Talk, Podcast and of course free unedited movies with limited commercials. If you are a Amazon Prime member you get tons of movies and tv shows for FREE. No Howard Stern though. There are cool radio stations on Roku that play only Beatles or Elvis 24/7 in great quality.

 

[TLS Guy]

I agree with BMXTRIX get this: Roku 2 XS Digital Full 1080p HD Media Streamer w 6ft HDMI Cable Angry Birds 082961088242 | eBay
Ton of Music, Talk, Podcast and of course free unedited movies with limited commercials. If you are a Amazon Prime member you get tons of movies and tv shows for FREE. No Howard Stern though. There are cool radio stations on Roku that play only Beatles or Elvis 24/7 in great quality.

I guess the Op should define his needs. ROKU would be absolutely useless for me.

I really do endorse that Sony unit, HDMI out and it goes direct to lots of sites without opening a browser. I don't think there is a stream out there you could not grab with that.

Some of the reviews say it locks up. Mine has locked up once, and was fine after a reboot.

I still think nothing beats a good HTPC, and my grandchildren agree! They have had so much fun with it.

 

[Irishman]

I'm sorry if I'm in the wrong place asking. If I am then please move my thread or if my questions does belong here then keep my thread here. Thank you!



Hey everyone,


What are some free alternatives to XM? I know a few alternatives but with my system I don't know if it could be done and I don't even know how to do it? I have an Integra DTM 5.9 receiver with a pair of B&W 686 speakers. I have my DVD player connected to the receiver, my computer is connected to a receiver, and the cable box is connected. I don't have a HD computer. I don't have HDTV, or Dish, or DirecTV, or nothing like that. One alternative would be send the music service to my receiver? How? I don't have Dish, or DirecTV. I only have basic cable using a cable box. So, may I please ask what free music service alternatives are there to XM? My receiver is XM ready, and I don't have the extra equipment toys to play with and I don't have a subscription either.


Thank you,

Internet radio. If your Integra has a v-tuner in it, you can do it with what you have. Otherwise, you can add a streaming box like an AppleTV or Roku and get the channels for free.

 

[jcunwired]

First of all the audio quality of Sirius/XM is atrocious and not worth five cents for a lifetime of service.

They won't be around much longer as streaming is coming on a pace, including in cars. The bandwidth cost of mobile streaming for most is less than the cost of a subscription to Sirius. I was experimenting with streaming from Spotify to a car on the move last weekend and the quality was much better than Sirius.

Agreed. We signed up for a year of Sirius/XM after the trial that came with our new auto because my wife wanted it, but I found both music selection and quality to be horrendous. My wife has finally taken the time to learn Spotify, and while it's not free the subscription account allows for offline playlists which work perfectly with smartphone and auto sound system integration. Spotify is a much better solution for both home and mobile, at least for music, and for everything else there are podcasts.