XM MyFi Satellite Radio Isn't Cutting It

I posted a short review of the Delphi MyFi XM Satellite Radio at the end of 2005 after playing around with it for a week. Now that I've had a few more months to get used to it, I have a few more things to say.

Mobility is limited: While it has an internal battery, making it portable, don't plan on listening to uninterrupted music, sports, or talk radio if you plan on going somewhere with trees. Biking to work on a tree lined path causes the radio to generate more hiss than content. Since mobility is supposed to be one of the great selling points of this unit, it's disappointing to find out that you basically need to live in the desert to get decent mobile reception.

Pre-recording shows while the MyFi is plugged into the home or car antennae is an option, but that turns it into an over sized iPod that only holds five hours of content.

I don't know if any portable satellite radios can deal with the foliage issue. Let me know if you've had better luck with your MyFi or with a different radio.

Remote Control Marginally Helpful: You can do just about everything you'd want to do to you MyFi using the remote, but the screen on the MyFi is only legible from arm's length, so the remote is really only good for power and toggling between preset stations. It can't be used for volume when plugged into a stereo, so you'll end up with two remotes for home audio rather than one.

Awkward Interface: The majority of the controls are on the face of the MyFi except the scroll wheel used to select stations. It's actually not that different from the layout of a Treo. However, I find the scroll wheel to be easiest to use with my thumb while holding the MyFi in my right hand. Unfortunately, that's a very awkward thing to do when it's nested in the home or car cradle.

At this point, the radio isn't doing justice to the content I'm trying to access. I'm 50:50 on dropping the XM service in favor of podcasting or picking up a different portable satellite radio if one exists. Any other suggestions?

I have been unable to find a SATRAD portable that never fails....and I'm a biker also. Equally, thinking people can't give up their SATRAD nor, unless you're so time and technically inclinded is the Ipod a real solution. I'm the only one in the world that thinks Ipod is for children or the under employed.

My advice ..... keep the SATRAD and go to a recordable version like the S50 or the INNO. No perfect solution, just a reasonable balance of both worlds.

Limited mobility - You should consider purchasing the ClipXT. MyFi ClipXT You will find a significant improvement in reception in those hard to reach areas. Yes, I wish it was included in the package as the original "tampon" antenna was worthless but this 2nd generation antenna is significantly better.

Remote control marginally helpful - I use the remote 99% of the time (even when I am only 6 inches away from the unit. I use it so much that the labels have worn off the buttons and from the unit itself. It comes in very handy when I am driving and can't/shouldn't be looking at the screen. The more you use it the more familiar you are with it (just like your TV remote). I couldn't live without it.

Awkward interface - Two things...1) my mother who is so technologically inept she can't even send an email has a MyFi and has no problems with it. I'm serious. My mom still has problems figuring out the play button on her VCR yet the MyFi has been no problem for her. 2). use the remote more. Once you get your stations preset you'll find yourself bouncing from channel to channel with no problem. It really is no different than working the remote on your TV and going from channel to channel. It even has an onscreen guide which can tell you the name of the channel/the name of each song on each channel/the name of each artist on each channel.

I hope you stick with the MyFi and XM and find yourself posting a new article highlighting the joys of XM soon.

Plowboy1, the INNO looks pretty slick. 50 hours of playback is much more reasonable than the MyFi's five. I'm an XM subscriber, and prefer XM's channel choices over Sirius, so I guess the S50 is out.

rude, interesting suggestion on the ClipXT. I'm not sure it's be best solution for me on my bike, but I may pick one up for better reception in my office. I do like the remote for switching between presets, but haven't found it useful for moving up and down the dial since I can't see which channel I've browsed to. The MyFi design reminds me of the Treo 300 phone. While the functionality was there, and it was a big leap forward, it was a strange device. Then the Treo 600 came out with a better design that they've basically stuck with through the 650 and now 700w and 700p. I think the same thing will happen to the MyFi.

You should really check out XM's new receiver, the Pioneer Inno. It is a world of difference. Where the Myfi was about a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10, the Inno is easily a 9. It address most of the points that you raised including the user interface, better remote control, better reception, etc. It also allows you to store your own content - including podcasts and make playlists with XM content.

I had a myfi before an Inno.....no comparison really. Inno reception is much better but is still limited by being satellite radio. However the really big difference is being able to record 3-4 hours each of your favorite channels, put them into a playlist and listen on the go. You get to bypass stuff you don't like, and relisten to stuff you really do like.
Interface is very easy and it takes about 10 seconds to put all the songs from a channel or a genre onto a playlist. Whereas I used to split my time 50-50 between my myfi and Ipod, my inno is now used for about 95% of my listening time.

The Inno which launched a week or so ago blows the MyFi away. the MyFi is a outdated product. Perhaps you shoud offer a review of an up to date product.

Good point, Gazdagreat . While the MyFi isn't the latest and greatest XM radio on the market, there are plenty of people trying to figure out why they should spend twice as much on some of the newer models.

Surely people looking at the portable radio options on XMRadio.com would wonder what justifies the price difference between the MyFi and Inno? I imagine my review of the MyFi will give some the information they need to justify the higher cost. Would I buy a MyFi today considering what's on the market today compared to when I received the MyFi as a gift in December? No.

I only review products I have first hand experience using. Send me an Inno and I'll be happy to review it. However, Buddyw and Harry's comments above did a great job explaining the differences already.

I NOW HAVE OVER $500.00 IN 3 BATTERIES & MANY DIFFERENT ANTENNAS, EARPHONE ANTENNA, CAR ANTENNA, ETC ETC ETC. UNLESS YOU ARE HEADING SOUTH ON A CLEAR DAY THE SIGNAL FADES ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME.
THIS UNIT HAS BEEN SUCH A LET DOWN I WILL NEVER TRY SATELLITE RADIO AGAIN SUCH A RIP-OFF...!!!

I have myfi first came out on the market and that has been 5 to6 years and still have it and enjoy it completly with the options and the capabilties it has, It is worth bying the same or another simular product. loved the built in transmitter via to your radio at distance car or home, as for reception - it is a line of sight reciever from the satalite for that particular technoligy. I loved it period

Comments

1. Posted by: Brendan on May 22, 2006 1:56 AM:

Drop it in favour of podcasts.

You'll find much of what you want within the podcasting sphere, which is an easier medium to work with..

Download, sync, go.

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