XM XPMP3H1 Portable Satellite Radio & Mp3 Player (XMp3i)

This is a really nice little satellite radio. As long as it can "see" the sky it works beautifully. I am amazed by all the features packed in this little thing. I use the record feature all of the time and listen to the recordings when it can't see the sky. It holds hours of recordings so you could use it for days without using an external antenna.

I downloaded the PC app on my XP laptop. I was a little disappointed it won't run on Windows 7. I upgraded the firmware without a problem and the PC app. makes scheduling recordings much simpler.

This is an excellent product as long as you realize it is a satellite radio and doesn't work like standard AM/FM radios.

I just purchased this product and was pleasantly surprised by its features, small size, and sound quality. It activated quickly and worked very well with good reception hand-held outside as well as indoors with the accessory antenna (included) in a window. Unfortunately, it is now fairly useless because I made the mistake of upgrading the firmware from v1.29x to v1.31x. This upgrade inactivates the control wheel of the device which means you can't use it -- you can't selected items like channels, categories, set-up option, etc. The warrantee says the product should not be returned to the retailer from whom you purchased it (Amazon) -- but should contact XM radio. XM radio technical support said they can't help, I should contact Audiovox. Audiovox said to leave an email on their website. I'm waiting for a response. Searching the web, others have had this same problem. I'll wait and see if any fix comes along soon, otherwise I'll return to Amazon. Glad I bought it here. I'll update this when and if I get more info.

Update: Spoke with XM again today. Even though the packaging that came with the unit has an insert that says in capital letters: If you experience problems DO NOT RETURN THIS PRODUCT TO YOUR RETAILER but instead call XM Radio. The XM technician says they now have a solution -- "Please return your unit to Amazon, buy another unit, and don't upgrade the firmware." Clearly that will work, but I think I'll wait until I hear back from Audiovox.

Final update: Audiovox's response was:"We don't provide customer or technical support for our XM radios; you must go through XM." So, I used Amazon's wonderful replacement service and was sent a new radio by overnight FedEx with Saturday delivery, printed out the return slip and sent the old one back. The new radio works just as well as the original but with a working control wheel. I love it. Downsides: every time I open XM2GO software to manage books and MP3s on the unit, it tells me my firmware is out of date -- but I'm sure not going to update the firmware again. This unit is currently running firmware version 1.29x. If a firmware version appears that is higher than 1.31x, I might consider trying it, although I'd do so with some trepidation. I'm going to change my rating to four stars if Amazon will let me.

Fortunately I bought the extended warranty, I'm now on my third radio in less than 6 months. I love the radio and all it does. Recording Live XM for playback later is a great feature for those that spend a lot of time on airplanes. Loading my own MP3s also gives the radio an added function that has allowed me to leave my iPod in the car (the headphone connector quit on that one, another quality problem. It only works thru USB). The first radio stopped working after about 3 months, the second stopped after 7 weeks. I have the warranty, but I feel like I'm paying them extra to compensate for their quality problems.

I've been using XM for years in the car with an XM radio that must be docked into a base which supplies power and an external antenna. In addition to satellites, XM network also has land based stations to supplement satellites in urban areas ("terrestrial signal"). I understood the limitations of satellite but when I saw this advertised as a portable device I expected better reception and figured I could rely on terrestrial signals.

My goal was to use this in the car without having to install an external antenna. It turns out this is not possible. Even in areas with terrestrial signals, no matter how or where I held the unit in my car I was unable to obtain a signal without having significant drop-out every minute or so. This is extremely annoying. Advertising this as a portable unit when it only works in the most ideal conditions is a misnomer. Of course I could have spent an additional $80 for a car dock, but that defeats the portable concept and offers no advantage over my other car unit.

In fact, the car unit is superior to this unit for the user interface since it has quick select buttons for favorite stations. One can bypass a slow interface in the car units. This might seem unnecessary in the age of fast responding smart phones given this device has a color display and seems latest / greatest, but this device is very underpowered in the processor department.

The user interface on this device is painfully slow. It's very dangerous to use while driving (as are any devices, but this device particularly so). The scrolling lags by several seconds so you need to scroll, wait for it to respond and settle, then fine tune until you hit the station you want. A scroll wheel is provided as if you could cruise through the channel listing -- this is not possible to do in a swift and enjoyable fashion.

If there were quick select buttons to choose station favorites it would be tolerable, but you are forced to scroll though channels with the wheel. You can select favorites...but you must scroll through them. In addition, it has very tiny icons for station ID. If you are not familiar with the icon you may struggle trying to figure out what station you are on.

I feel like XM put a color display on this radio to make the buyer think it's a recent model but in reality it's performance is about 7 years behind where it should be.

Given the poor reception and useability issues I have to give it 1 star.

I really like the radio for XM. Sirius has a much cooler radio that will operate over Wifi I hear. Its great for recording music and being able to play back. Dont try to get reception while jogging, biking, walking, or generally not plugged into a larger antennae though.