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Step 1
Start with cost first. Both XM and Sirius are almost the same in cost. Both have the same monthly fee and yearly fee although Sirius has a slightly less expensive lifetime fee. XM does not offer a lifetime fee but does offer a 3-year, 4-year and 5-year fee. The activation fees are just slightly different with Sirius being less expensive online activation and both being the same charge to activate over the phone. Cancellation fees are similar but both have different rules on their cancellation policies. Be sure to read the fine print if you feel that you might cancel their services.
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Step 2
Compare the lineup. Sirius has over 125 digital channels while XM has over 160 digital channels. However, you will want to look at the individual station lineup of each company to see which one fits your lifestyle better. If you’re looking for Howard Stern you’ll need Sirius because he doesn’t have a show on XM. Both offer mostly commercial free music and have similar music stations and talk shows, as well as sports and weather.
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Step 3
Decide whether 24-hour customer service is important to you. Sirius offers 24-hour customer service while XM customer service is open 7 days a week but only during specific hours.
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Step 4
Pick your equipment. Both have many styles of equipment to choose from. This will be up to your individual taste and style.
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Step 5
Try before you buy. You can try out both XM and Sirius online to get a feel for while one you’d most likely want to buy. They each offer a trial subscription that can be listened to right at your computer. Regardless of which one you choose, both have a high quality lineup.
