FA4UA From United States, joined Nov 2003, 812 posts, RR: 29 Posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 4229 times:
A few little birdies have been chirping about XM satellite radio being added to United's Fleet. Initial rumors stating 100 channels of music domestically and 50 channels internationally.
I wouldn't think it would work anywhere but over North America, but time will tell.
I would imagine XM will help cover part of the cost and write it off as marketing. Nice to have access to a captive audience of 200,000 people a day to show off your product!
I've heard that the 737 fleet will be first! Expect a formal announcement soon! As for now it's just a very LOUD rumor.
FA4UA
The debate continues... Starwood or Hyatt... which is better
2 Greasespot: you mean they need more than Chanel 9? Signed 99% of airliners.net
3 N1120A: It is a satellite radio service. I really hope this doesn't mean the end of Channel 9
4 Wjcandee: Nice to hear that UA is thinking of catching up with Airtran!!
5 RDUDDJI: Ditto. I'd rather have Channel 9 and NOTHING else than 100 channels and no Ch. 9!
6 Gigneil: XM's satellites are geostationary. There will be no coverage internationally beyond Tijuana, Juarez, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver at best. N
7 FA4UA: As an XM subscriber myself, that's what I thought. I also hope we keep channel 9! Passengers really do love it and loosing it would be a pity! FA4UA
8 N1120A: Yeah, UA would lose at least one elite FFer because of it (me)
9 Wjcandee: Fact is, there's no reason while channel 9 couldn't be included in the system. UA would just have to insist that it be incorporated. Heck, in your CAR
10 IADBGO: While a signal from the satellites are limited to the US and a few places in Canada and Mexico...I believe it would be possible to broadcast it direct
11 AirportPlan: No one said anything about Channel 9 going away. One of the main advantages of adding XM is that UA can eliminate the cost of updating audio media mon
12 Flypdx: Wasn't UA talking about getting Wifi on planes a few months or a year ago? Has that happened yet....No.
13 HPLASOps: New guy here - don't get the channel 9 reference - what is UA's channel 9?
14 N1120A: The audio program on Channel 9 is, at captain's discretion, "From the Flight Deck" which is basically a tap into the aircraft's ATC radio feed so you
15 HPLASOps: Interesting - not sure how many pax outside of a.netters would actually care to hear ATC chatter - example: recently my friend and I were going LAS-M
16 N1120A: Actually, you should be surpirsed at the number who do.
17 FriendlySkies: Actually... http://www.united.com/press/detail/0,6862,52964,00.html It has.
18 MarshalN: Actually, there are people who do like it. I sat next to an Aussie on a recent flight and he loves Ch9, and listens to it whenever he flies UA. I don
19 RoseFlyer: Sounds like a great addition. The narrowbody fleet could all have XM satellite radio, and the widebody fleet could have PTVs. It would give UA the bes
20 N1120A: As far as the Wifi thing goes, are they going to keep trying to make it prohibitively expensive or are they going to try and keep it competitive like
21 Go3Team: Sounds like UA is ripping off FL, Tell em Fred. If this is true, at least they went for the better company.
22 UAalltheway: Since when does satellite only cover land? Absolutely not.. United has TONS of pride in being the only carrier in the world to offer the service of C
23 Symphonik: Hoo hoo... I invented radios on airplanes...hoo hoo ROB-IN This would be a welcome addition to UA (still my American carrier of choice, even if it's j
24 FriendlySkies: Since the satellites are only aimed at the continental US.
25 Flypdx: Actually, that article doesn't say anything about it actually being installed on any aircraft/being available at this time on any aircraft.
26 Dw9115: I think it is great that United is going to start offering XM. I love the service when ever I fly AirTran but it will never beat channel 9.
27 Go3Team: It has been said by XM (From the Head of Programming - Eric Logan) that XM Canada uses the same satellites as the existing XM service in the US. XM w
28 Mir: As long as they keep Channel 9. They can move it to another channel, but just keep Channel 9. And another (me - though I'm not elite by a long shot).
29 Phollingsworth: That make sense, since Geostationary positions really effect only the longitude range over which the signal is available. If a signal is available at
30 MikeTheActuary: While that's correct in theory, most satellites have spot beams, focusing signal in certain areas. XM-1, XM-2, and XM-3 satellites have a CONUS+Canad
31 Srbmod: Equipment-wise, yes. Programming-wise, no. And I don't mean O&A v. Stern either. I am surprised that Sirius has yet to enter this niche of the market
32 RAMPRAT980: Why not Sirius instead of XM this way we can listen to Howard Stern
33 Go3Team: That pretty much comes down to which company would be the better investment. Both companies are losing money, but Sirius way much moreso than XM. No
34 Srbmod: Because Sirius hasn't made known when or whether they're going to enter this niche. XM really has a headstart, not only with FL and B6 putting them o
35 Hiflyer: I would suspect the 100 channel domestic and the 50 channel intl in the original post may be a clue...perhaps a different system other than domestic X
36 Gigneil: Because Sirius doesn't yet have the technology, nor have they officially attacked the space. XM is making the right moves with the right people to ge
37 TOLtommy: Its really too bad that Sirius hasn't jumped into the game. Their programming is much better. I have the portable MyFi XM in my car, wife has Sirius
38 Goaliemn: They're aimed at North America.. I can guarantee you any airline carying any satellite service will block the adult channels. I doubt Opie and Anthon
39 UAORD2000: XM radio is great but what UA really needs is an excellent AVOD system on international flights. UA lacks behind the competition on international flig
I have both XM and Sirius, and I used to agree with you.
Now, I don't. Sirius has been cutting and rearranging a lot of the content I listen to, and I feel like XM's quality continues to improve while Sirius' has begun to stagnate a bit.
They have invested a LOT in content that is not playing out.
Deltadude From United States, joined Sep 2004, 125 posts, RR: 0 Reply 41, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2930 times:
Quoting Goaliemn (Reply 38): I can guarantee you any airline carying any satellite service will block the adult channels. I doubt Opie and Anthony would be on board an aircraft, as well as their uncensored comedy channels.
AirTran does....I tried listening to O&A on the way to/from TPA and had to use the myFi. Punching out.....
Thetuna From United Kingdom (England), joined Sep 2004, 140 posts, RR: 6 Reply 42, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2479 times:
I'd switch to UA if they carried XM. Hoo hoo hoo, ROBIN.
O&A party rock!
He just ate the big one! Hog!...get away from that thing!! Just get away from it!
I have XM and love it, but Im also a Howard Stern listener for 16 years so Im probably going to get Sirius and also keep XM.
I have the XM commander in my Mountainer, Im thinking of taking it out and either putting it in my fiancee's Volvo or using for our house. I want Sirius in my car, also I want Satelite radio in the house and my Fiancee's car. She has a brand new 2005 Volvo S40 but it's the only new Volvo that does not offer Satelite radio, the other Volvos come with Sirius as an option.
Im wondering should I wait and see if Volvo comes out with a Sirius radio I can easily install in her car or should I just take out the XM commander from my car and install it in hers?.
I have a little Mouse looking antenna for my XM commander that is located on my dash board, I get poor reception though in wooded areas (where I live). Is there a better solution for antennas?
"'Brown Sugar' could save the world..." Eddie Vedder 10/14/97 Oakland, California
Goaliemn From United States, joined Sep 2005, 460 posts, RR: 5 Reply 44, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2353 times:
Quoting STT757 (Reply 43): I have XM and love it, but Im also a Howard Stern listener for 16 years so Im probably going to get Sirius and also keep XM.
Have you listened to Opie and Anthony? I was a die hard Stern guy until I heard them on ch 202. It replays alot during the day. Live in the AM.
Quoting STT757 (Reply 43): I have a little Mouse looking antenna for my XM commander that is located on my dash board, I get poor reception though in wooded areas (where I live). Is there a better solution for antennas?
Move it to the outside of the vehicle. I moved mine from the dash to outside and it was night and day. Theres no way around that. Your car is blocking part of the view of the sky. Outside, it has a clear view of both satellites most of the time, and if trees are blocking one satellite, the roof of your car isn't blocking the other one.
Gigneil From United States, joined Nov 2002, 13883 posts, RR: 90 Reply 45, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2298 times:
Unfortunately, I'm a bad source for antenna info... I live inside a major city and therefore I have terrestrial repeater signal 100% of my day.
My move to Sirius was prompted by my lack of XM repeater signal in my basement. Now, I can listen to XM on Directv so my need for Sirius is lower. I was won over at first by Sirius' dance lineup (I'm gay, I can't help it) but its been slashed a fair bit.
Moving your on-dash antenna to your roof is a definite first step. Terk also makes a variety of rooftop magnet mount antennas with better gain and a larger profile you might want to investigate.
FA4UA From United States, joined Nov 2003, 812 posts, RR: 29 Reply 46, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2224 times:
Just read an article on thestreet.com that says XM has slightly more than 5 milion subscribers, Sirius has a little more than 2 milliion... just food for thought.
FA4UA
The debate continues... Starwood or Hyatt... which is better
Kurt From United States, joined Oct 2001, 245 posts, RR: 0 Reply 47, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2143 times:
We have DirecTV and the music channels were switched to XM on Nov. 15, I believe. It was MusicDirect before. Most of the most popular XM channels are there so it's a good thing. My roommate has XM in his car so he's happy to have some continuity.
STT757 From United States, joined Mar 2000, 12033 posts, RR: 54 Reply 48, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2143 times:
I wish XM and Sirius would merge!..
Quoting Gigneil (Reply 45): Moving your on-dash antenna to your roof is a definite first step. Terk also makes a variety of rooftop magnet mount antennas with better gain and a larger profile you might want to investigate.
My fiancee has a new Volvo S40 with a Shark Fin on the roof as her radio antenna, is there some way to utilize the Fin for a Satelite antenna?
Also I got an E-mail from XM offering their Portable Myfi unit for $99 Dollars, is that something I could use in the Home?
"'Brown Sugar' could save the world..." Eddie Vedder 10/14/97 Oakland, California
Gigneil From United States, joined Nov 2002, 13883 posts, RR: 90 Reply 49, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 2102 times:
You can use the Myfi in your house... just get the appropriate kits for it.
As for the shark fin, I don't know. I have a shark fin on my audi that receives fm, am, and xm both the sat and terrestrial, but my audi also had xm preinstalled.
Cactus739 From United States, joined Jan 2004, 2279 posts, RR: 44 Reply 50, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 2067 times:
I think XM would be an awesome addition for United (or any other airline).... every time I'm on a plane and its audio equipped the music never seems all that good so I end up listening to my own. XM has a great product and a lot of good stations (I'm fond of XM81 BPM myself)...
Quoting STT757 (Reply 48): Also I got an E-mail from XM offering their Portable Myfi unit for $99 Dollars
FA4UA From United States, joined Nov 2003, 812 posts, RR: 29 Reply 52, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1684 times:
I noticed that XM is now sponsoring/creating some of our onboard content on our domestic Short Subject Video... makes a boy wonder about this new connection??
Aren't rumors just great!
FA4UA
The debate continues... Starwood or Hyatt... which is better
N1120A From United States, joined Dec 2003, 23431 posts, RR: 88 Reply 54, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1575 times:
Quoting Tu154 (Reply 53): Does that mean those "junk-jets" will be around longer that we thought? I thought they were going to be retired.............damn!
Hmmm, I didn't realize that the best selling plane in history could be junk?
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
FA4UA From United States, joined Nov 2003, 812 posts, RR: 29 Reply 55, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1571 times:
a friend of mine was telling me that we still have 20 planes still under negotiations. I thought they were all done with that, but apparently there's still 20 being worked out. If we lost any of those we might be needing our 737's to fill some gaps here and there! I've heard rumors though that 2008 is when they will be ditching the 737's. That's still 2 yrs and many many hundreds of flight hours away!
FA4UA
The debate continues... Starwood or Hyatt... which is better
Tu154 From United States, joined Dec 2004, 306 posts, RR: 4 Reply 56, posted (3 years 11 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1562 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 54): Hmmm, I didn't realize that the best selling plane in history could be junk?
You have obviously not worked a UA 737..................old, dark, run down, no entertainment to really speak of........former shuttle a/c that are very difficult to work, very narrow aisle, and galleys the size of a broom closet. Since this thread is about UA...I'm talking about UA 737's. A very unpopular aircraft within our ranks. Flight attendants at least.
Now let's not get off topic...this is not an anti 737 or UA topic.
FIRST ON THE ATLANTIC.....FIRST ON THE PACIFIC.....FIRST IN LATIN AMERICA...FIRST 'ROUND THE WORLD.....PAN AM!!
ATA753 From United States, joined May 2005, 22 posts, RR: 0 Reply 57, posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1459 times:
that may explain why some of the Ted a/c has diffrent nose number. Recently i saw at ORD a new nose number for Ted a/c, which is 48xx. After taking to managment , they told me that it is same a/c like 49xx nose but diffrent IFE system. So that may be an answer....
Hiflyer From United States, joined Nov 2004, 1619 posts, RR: 6 Reply 58, posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1451 times:
Couple mechs I know at UAL say that the 4800 series has had the IFE moved to the forward galley to free up overhead bin space. Also a bit on interior upgrade...not much....new wall panel in the rear...orange trim on the overhead bins....etc etc. FYI guess TED is going a lttle international as they said the new 4500 series has the 4800 interior with life rafts for extended overwater. No new aircraft just rearranging the exisiting 320 fleet is what I am told.
Now since Direct TV just dropped Music Choice and went to XM for their music delivery perhaps XM on United may bring on Direct TV as well? hope hope...at least for aircraft that stay in North and Central America? Cept that Jet Blue owns the rights to Direct I thought.
Tu154 From United States, joined Dec 2004, 306 posts, RR: 4 Reply 61, posted (3 years 11 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1372 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 60): Quoting Tu154 (Reply 56):
former shuttle a/c that are very difficult to work
Not all the 737s are ex-Shuttle
Quoting Tu154 (Reply 56):
old, dark, run down, no entertainment to really speak of
They have full audio (including Channel 9) are not all that old, have the same interior as most other UA planes and are not in bad shape
Quoting Tu154 (Reply 56):
You have obviously not worked a UA 737
I have flown on a lot of them
As posted earlier......this view is from the stand point of a UA flight attendant. Ask any one of us which plane in our fleet is disliked the most, and you will always hear the 737. One of the models now retired was refered to as "the nasty!" At my domicile it is rare that we get the 737 because the bulk of our flying is x-con.....but it is refered to as "the junk jet."
I also referred to the former shuttle a/c as being very difficult to work, I did not say that all 737's were shuttle configured. I also stated that there was no entertainment to speak of...not all people listen to channel 9 and the audio does not always work. On a three hour flight there is not alot to do on that a/c....so xm radio will be very welcomed! (the a/c is not video equipt.) In my years of flying....many frequent flyers also share the same love/hate realtionship with the 737.
Anyway, back to topic.
FIRST ON THE ATLANTIC.....FIRST ON THE PACIFIC.....FIRST IN LATIN AMERICA...FIRST 'ROUND THE WORLD.....PAN AM!!
If you had read the entire thread then you would have noticed this;
Quoting N1120A (Reply 14): The audio program on Channel 9 is, at captains discretion, "From the Flight Deck" which is basically a tap into the aircrafts ATC radio feed so you can listen to what the cockpit hears on your flight.
Channel 9 is great.
Would it be feasible for Ted to introduce XM satellite radio first. If it doesn't work then its no big deal to rip it out.
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