The Starmate 5. I saw it advertised in my new Crutchfield catalog. Also available here: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_607ST5TK1/SIRIUS-Starmate-5.html ----- The price is very high in my opinion. Would this radio work with XM channels?

I hope they release something cheaper, else I might get wireless net radio instead.

My understanding is the all XM hardware supports A La Carte (you can tell because they used to be able to block the Playboy channel and have premium channels on XM). This is merely the first Sirius receiver that does.

Of course, none of the hardware will receive both signals yet.

My understanding is the all XM hardware supports A La Carte So I can get XM a la Carte right now w/o waiting?

So I can get XM a la Carte right now w/o waiting?

I looked all through the XM website, and they don't show any option for al la carte selection.

Doesn't mean that the information about receiver capability above is inaccurate, though. I would not be surprised if XM radios were al la carte capable, and that SiriusXM has chosen not to offer an XM al la carte plan because of that. Out of fear that there would be wholesale changes to that lower cost option. It's easier to just ignore the capability than to offer the option with untenable strings attached.

The Starmate 5 is the only Ala Carte Radio, which means if you just wanted some basic music channels and stuff a new subscriber could get in for only $6.99 per month. But you could also have the $9.99 plans or the $12.95 plan or the $12.95 plus best of XM plan for $16.99

The Sportster 5 is the most feature rich besides the Ala Carte feature. But keep in mind all the newer radios since about the Sportster 4 are capable of the $9.99 plans. See here. http://www.sirius.com/packages/more
There is a lot to look at on that page. Lots of hidden things about the plans. For example nobody can get Howard 100/101 on the Ala Carte Plan. You have to pay $12.95 to get Howard.

I was thinking of getting the Sirius Ala Carte for 6.99 a month but I saw they said you needed a radio that supported the ala carte? Does my Denon 988 support this? It is Sirus ready as it has the input for the ant. It does not have an XM ant. input.

I would not be surprised if XM radios were al la carte capable, and that SiriusXM has chosen not to offer an XM al la carte plan because of that. Out of fear that there would be wholesale changes to that lower cost option, it's easier to just ignore the capability than to offer the option with untenable strings attached. In order to get approval for the merger, XM-Sirius promised the FCC they would offer A La Carte for $6.99 a month. If they don't offer what they promised, the FCC is liable to come down hard on the new merged company with fines.

In order to get approval for the merger, XM-Sirius promised the FCC they would offer A La Carte for $6.99 a month. If they don't offer what they promised, the FCC is liable to come down hard on the new merged company with fines.

They have $6.99 plan but only with a $130 radio, not the $40 model. What a ripoff! The FCC sort of hung us on out to dry on this one.

They have $6.99 plan but only with a $130 radio, not the $40 model. What a ripoff! The FCC sort of hung us on out to dry on this one.
It's not the FCC's job to mandate a company's product offerings. There should have never been a requirement in the FCC's merger ruling for a $6.99 offering in the first place, so no they didn't hang anybody out to dry.

It's not the FCC's job to mandate a company's product offerings. The FCC does it all the time. They require a certain number of hours for educational programming on OTA-TV. They require cable companies to carry local stations. And they can require A La Carte for Sirius-XM.

They have $6.99 plan but only with a $130 radio, not the $40 model. What a ripoff! I've been told that with XM radios, they all have the ability to do a la carte, even the $40 models.

Is that true or not?

I've been told that with XM radios, they all have the ability to do a la carte, even the $40 models.

Is that true or not?

Yes and no..

Because of the way XM radios add channels XM units CAN process single channels, so yeah they can add individual Sirius stations. On the other hand SOME Sirius units can only add channels in blocks so they can't add individual channels. But both are still receiving the channels 'simulcasts' from their own birds.

The all in one units will be able receive the signals directly from each other's birds. So they will be able to add, drop, be a true a la carte units.

Example.. Now even with a XM unit if you get the music a la carte package you have to take all the channels offered in the package for $9.99... With the new all in one unit it says pick 50 music channels for $6.99 a month. So you'll be able to pick the 50 music channels you want, not what SiriusXM is offering.

With the new all in one unit it says pick 50 music channels for $6.99 a month. So you'll be able to pick the 50 music channels you want, not what SiriusXM is offering.Was waiting and waiting for it to finally get here, and now that it has, I don't even want it, because they don't have the channels I'd want anymore. :(

Oh, well.

Yes and no.. Because of the way XM radios add channels XM units CAN process single channels, so yeah they can add individual Sirius stations. So i other words: "Yes XM radios can do the $6/month a la carte plan to receive XM channels". I don't understand why you added a no to your answer?

So i other words: "Yes XM radios can do the $6/month a la carte plan to receive XM channels". I don't understand why you added a no to your answer?

No they can't.. Current XM radios( and certain Sirius units) can do the $9.99 all 60+ music stations take this music package in it's whole plan..

The newer all in one radios will be able to pick and choose 50 channels out of the 60+ $6.99 monthly package.

I know it's confusing because people are labeling BOTH packages as a la carte. But the 1st package( 9.99 plan) isn't really an a la carte package. If you want the music package you have to take all 60+ stations.

The 2nd plan( $6.99) the true a la carte with the newer units you can pick what 50 music channels you want, that is a true a la carte. And for a higher price pick what news, talk, sports channels you want too. Like if they say for $12.99 pick 75 channels total you can.. You pick the 50 music channels, then 25 other channels of news,weather,talk, etc..( sports and Stern would probably still be separate and cost an extra fee). You can't do that with the current radios.

The older units again you can get those talk, news, etc. packages BUT you have to take the whole package, you can't pick and choose want channels you want.

Here's an edit.. Take a look at this chart, specifically the Ala carte 1 and 2 package. Then you'll see the difference between the current XM units and the newer all in one units..To get Ala Carte 1 and 2 you'll need a newer all in one unit, the current units will NOT work..

http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/Sirius-Post-Merger-Line-Up-1.gif

What if I don't want any of the ___ty Sirius channels? Can I get the $6 or $9 a la carte XM channels?

What if I don't want any of the ___ty Sirius channels? Can I get the $6 or $9 a la carte XM channels?

What &*$_ty channels are you talking about? As someone else already noted all the channels are the same now.

(sigh)

I don't know why people are having such a hard time answering my question. If I have an XM Radio, and I sign-up for the $7 a month a la carte service, can I or can I not pull the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s channels off the XM satellite? IMHO the answer should be "yes" not no.

(sigh)

I don't know why people are having such a hard time answering my question. If I have an XM Radio, and I sign-up for the $7 a month a la carte service, can I or can I not pull the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s channels off the XM satellite? IMHO the answer should be "yes" not no.

If you're so concerned about having your question answered definitively, why don't you call (or e-mail) SiriusXM and ask them? It seems a little ridiculous for you to expect others to know the answer to your question when you don't know yourself. No one here is an expert, and as far as I can tell, no one here works for SiriusXM.


That said, from what I understand, you can only do the real "a la carte" plans with a new, dual-service player. I'm not 100% certain, but this is what I've gotten from the press releases/charts/etc. But again, if you want a definitive answer, you should ask SiriusXM.

Go here:

http://www.sirius.com/packages/alacarte

You can pick 50 of any of these unless otherwise noted(additional charges apply for some of the premium channels listed).

Go here:

http://www.sirius.com/packages/alacarte

You can pick 50 of any of these unless otherwise noted(additional charges apply for some of the premium channels listed).

From the link you just posted:

Requires an A La Carte-capable SIRIUS radio. Does not include free online listening with SIRIUS Internet Radio.

So far, the only A La Carte-capable Sirius radio listed on the site is the Starmate 5.

From the link you just posted:

Requires an A La Carte-capable SIRIUS radio. Does not include free online listening with SIRIUS Internet Radio.

So far, the only A La Carte-capable Sirius radio listed on the site is the Starmate 5.



That is correct ! XM does not have a 7 dollar a-la-carte package nor a radio to recieve it.

(sigh)

I don't know why people are having such a hard time answering my question. If I have an XM Radio, and I sign-up for the $7 a month a la carte service, can I or can I not pull the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s channels off the XM satellite? IMHO the answer should be "yes" not no.

:rolleyes:

For $9.99 yes... You can get the all music package with any XM unit.( 65 music channels, or however many music channels there are now)

For $6.99, no.....You need the newer all in one unit to receive the true a la carte package. 50 channels of YOUR choosing..

Better yet call SiriusXM, you don't seem to be understanding what we're trying to tell you here.

That is correct ! XM does not have a 7 dollar a-la-carte package nor a radio to recieve it. The documentation they presented to the FCC included a $7/month a la carte package. If they don't offer it, they will be guilty of perjury before the U.S. government.

If I don't understand, it's because a certain mislead me. (see below) My understanding is the all XM hardware supports A La Carte (you can tell because they used to be able to block the Playboy channel and have premium channels on XM). It seems a little ridiculous for you to expect others to know the answer to your question when you don't know yourself. No one here is an expert. Funny. Ye ACT like experts.

The documentation they presented to the FCC included a $7/month a la carte package. If they don't offer it, they will be guilty of perjury before the U.S. government.

I get the feeling all you're doing now is looking for arguments.. So this will be my last post on this issue. If you don't understand by now you never will..

Anyway in that documentation if you look you'll see a * next to the a la carte packages. Then read on the bottom of the page why the * was there..

I'm not looking to argue, just trying to understand the changes. I was looking forward to trying XM satellite radio for $7/month, but if they don't provide the option, then they've lost a potential customer. I can stream music to my cellphone (via shoutcast) for cheap.

I was still correct, I said all XM Hardware supports A La Carte, which is shown by the ability to block certain channels.

As a marketing decision, they still have the ability to not offer A La Carte.

On the other hand, Sirius does not have much Hardware that can support A La Carte, even if they want to offer it.

I'm not looking to argue, just trying to understand the changes. I was looking forward to trying XM satellite radio for $7/month, but if they don't provide the option, then they've lost a potential customer. I can stream music to my cellphone (via shoutcast) for cheap.

They do offer the $7 option. You just need to buy the next generation equipment.

Current XM and Sirius units do not have the $7 option because they can not offer the A la Carte option. It's all or nothing, which is NOT A la Carte.

And this is why I'm confused. STVA and Barbie just gave two contradictory answers:

- "all XM Hardware supports A La Carte"

- "Current XM... units do not have the $7 option because they can not offer the A la Carte option"

???

And this is why I'm confused. STVA and Barbie just gave two contradictory answers:

- "all XM Hardware supports A La Carte"

- "Current XM... units do not have the $7 option because they can not offer the A la Carte option"

???

I addressed that many, many posts ago.

The packages the current units can get isn't true Ala Carte. You have to take the packages SiriusXM now offers. DirecTV offers about 5 different packages, but they choose what channels are in those packages, same with SiriusXM, they choose what channels are in each package. That is NOT Ala Carte.

With the next generation, all in one units YOU will be able to choose what channels are going to be in the Ala Carte package(s).

Look at the chart. That explains it all.