When XM Radio first came out, they featured a radio that connected directly to your PC. This wonder allowed you to capture the audio stream directly to your PC, which could then be edited or converted in any way. Needless to say, the recording industry was not happy with this, and those XM products have been discontinued.
XM is a great service. It is way better than traditional FM radio, and offers hundreds of commercial-free music, talk radio, comedy, sports, news and other channels. It is just begging to be put on your Media Center PC, but how? Here are a few options on how to receive (and even record) XM radio on your Media Center PC.
Use DirecTV
If you have the Choice package from DirecTV then you already receive a lot of XM channels, and this is included with your monthly subscription. If you can live without the premium XM channels then this is one of the best options for Media Center. Not only can you timeshift, but you can record and stream to a Media Center extender.
The disadvantages of this is that you have to do some major editing if you want to convert a song to MP3. XM Radios that support recording often allow you to record just the song you want, and preserves the artist and track information. If you record this using Media Center, you are essentially recording a video with a black screen (although song information pops up when the song changes). You can’t just automatically record one song… you have to record the channel (so you must start and stop recording manually).
Once you have the raw video file, you must extract the audio from it. You must convert the dvr-ms file into a standard MPEG file using Auto DVR Converter. Auto DVR Converter basically just strips out the meta-information included within the DVR-MS format, so conversion happens very quickly. Once you have the unedited MPEG file you can then extract the audio using your favorite MPEG editor. You can select and save particular tracks, but you must reference the video portion to see the artist and title.
This is a highly manual process if you want to actually save the recorded files, but it is possible… and it’s free.
You can also use XM Radio Online, which is a program that delivers 68 of XM’s most popular music channels, and most of them are commercial-free. A regular XM subscription will get you an average of three channels of every genre, but the Online version offers the most popular one for each genre (which is really all you need).
You can login to XM’s website (once you’ve registered your radio and created an account) and stream their online offerings, but this doesn’t help the Media Center user. Fortunately XM has created a plugin for Media Center which allows you to access their Internet streams using the 10-foot interface.
You can stream XM radio over the internet using this Media Center plugin, but you still have to pay XM Radio a monthly service fee ($7.99 per month if you are a non-subscriber, or $3.99 if you already have an account). You don’t have the full XM lineup, but it is very similar to what is available via DirecTV. This plugin reportedly doesn’t work properly with Media Center extenders, so it’s really only useful on the host PC.
Connect XM Radio to your PC?
While it is possible to connect the headphone or analog out jack of your existing XM Radio to your PC, Media Center cannot directly interface with it, meaning that it cannot change channels. You’re really better off just connecting your XM Radio to your Home Theater’s amplifier and tuning using your remote control.
If the reason you want to get XM radio working on your Media Center PC is to schedule recordings or timeshift, then you can look at Delphi’s SkyFi3 XM Radio. It allows you to timeshift, schedule and record shows, but unfortunately doesn’t let you transfer the recordings to your PC.
This is a great option especially if you want to record a channel that isn’t part of XM’s streaming lineup. I like to record interviews with comedians on “Stand Up, Sit Down” on XM’s Comedy channel (150), but this channel isn’t available on DirecTV. I can easily schedule the recording, but unfortunately this requires that the XM radio be docked during the session (as there is no internal XM antenna included in the unit).
There may be other creative ways to get XM content on your PC, but these are the easiest options. If you’re lucky enough to actually find one of the first-generation XM radios for the PC, then you might be able to use it, but XM might not allow the device to register. Even still, there may not be any software that allows you to use the radio from Media Center’s 10-foot interface.
Let’s look at the channel lineup between the different options…
Depending on the service you choose, you may be missing out on a few channels. Here is a list of the available XM channels available via different services. AOL offers a streaming option, as well, and there are some minor differences in the lineup, but overall is the same as XM Radio Online.
There are about 10 “exclusive” Online-only channels, but you don’t get any additional genres that isn’t available via DirecTV. If you already have satellite television, why would you care about the C-Span and CNN audio feeds? The only channel you might actually care about is the Comedy channel, which is uncensored stand-up comedy 24-7. There’s also a dedicated Led Zeppelin channel, but I would imagine that a fan that is willing to pay an extra $4 a month for that problably has all of their albums.
If you’re a sports fanatic, then a true XM radio is the way to go. Nearly every baseball, basketball, football and hockey game is broadcast, and they are included with your XM radio subscription. In contrast, DirecTV wants hundreds of dollars for a single season. The SkyFi3 XM Radio also supports Sports Tickers, so you can get the scores as they happen without having to tune in.
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| Hits |
XMX* |
2 |
Exclusive Music |
|
x |
| Decades |
The ’40s* |
4 |
Thirties and Forties Hits |
801 |
x |
| Decades |
The ’50s* |
5 |
Fifties Hits |
802 |
x |
| Decades |
The ’60s* |
6 |
Sixties Hits |
803 |
x |
| Decades |
The ’70s* |
7 |
Seventies Hits |
804 |
x |
| Decades |
The ’80s* |
8 |
Eighties Hits |
805 |
x |
| Decades |
The ’90s* |
9 |
Nineties Hits |
806 |
x |
| Country |
America* |
10 |
Classic Country |
|
x |
| Talk and Variety |
Nashville |
11 |
Today’s Country |
|
|
| Country |
X Country* |
12 |
Americana |
810 |
x |
| Country |
Willie’s Place* |
13 |
Traditional Country |
811 |
x |
| Country |
Bluegrass Junction* |
14 |
Bluegrass |
812 |
x |
| Country |
The Village* |
15 |
Folk |
813 |
x |
| Country |
Highway 16* |
16 |
New Country Hits |
814 |
x |
| Country |
US Country* |
17 |
Superstar Country Hits of ’80s and ’90s |
|
|
|
| Hits |
20 on 20* |
20 |
Top 20 Hits |
816 |
x |
| Talk and Variety |
KISS |
21 |
Top 40 |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Mix |
22 |
Variety/Adult Hits |
|
|
| Hits |
The Heart* |
23 |
Love Songs/Lite Pop |
819 |
x |
| Talk and Variety |
Sunny |
24 |
Soft Pop Oldies |
|
|
| Hits |
The Blend* |
25 |
Adult Contemporary |
821 |
x |
| Hits |
Flight 26* |
26 |
Modern Adult Hits |
818 |
x |
| Hits |
Cinemagic* |
27 |
Movie Soundtracks |
822 |
x |
| Hits |
On Broadway* |
28 |
Show Tunes |
823 |
x |
| Hits |
U-Pop* |
29 |
International Hits |
824 |
x |
| Hits |
XM Hitlist* |
30 |
Contemporary Hits |
817 |
x |
| Hits |
XM Hitlist* |
31 |
The Torch |
829 |
x |
| Christian |
The Message* |
32 |
Christian Pop & Rock |
826 |
x |
| Christian |
Spirit* |
33 |
Gospel |
827 |
x |
| Christian |
enLighten* |
34 |
Southern Gospel |
828 |
x |
| Rock |
Deep Tracks* |
40 |
Deep Classic Rock |
840 |
x |
| Rock |
Boneyard* |
41 |
Hard Rock/Hairbands – XL |
830 |
x |
| Rock |
XM Liquid Metal* |
42 |
Heavy Metal – XL |
841 |
x |
| Rock |
XMU* |
43 |
Indie/College/Unsigned |
831 |
x |
| Rock |
Fred* |
44 |
Classic Alternative |
839 |
x |
| Rock |
Starbucks XM Café* |
45 |
Adult Album Rock |
832 |
x |
| Rock |
Top Tracks* |
46 |
Early Classic Rock |
833 |
x |
| Rock |
Ethel* |
47 |
New Alternative |
834 |
x |
| Rock |
Squizz* |
48 |
New Hard Rock – XL |
835 |
x |
| Rock |
Big Tracks* |
49 |
Later Classic Rock |
837 |
x |
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| Rock |
The Loft* |
50 |
Acoustic Rock |
836 |
x |
| Rock |
The Loft* |
51 |
Music Lab |
|
x |
| Rock |
The Verge* |
52 |
Emerging Artists |
|
x |
| Rock |
Fungus* |
53 |
Punk/Hardcore/Ska – XL |
|
x |
| Rock |
Lucy* |
54 |
90s Alternative |
838 |
x |
| Rock |
XM LED* |
59 |
24/7 Led Zeppelin |
|
x |
| Urban |
Soul Street |
60 |
Classic Soul |
842 |
x |
| Urban |
The Flow |
61 |
The Flow |
|
x |
| Urban |
Suite 62* |
62 |
Adult R&B Hits |
843 |
x |
| Urban |
The Groove* |
64 |
Old Skool R&B |
844 |
x |
| Urban |
The Rhyme* |
65 |
Old School Hip-Hop – XL |
845 |
x |
| Urban |
RAW* |
66 |
New Uncut Hip-Hop – XL |
846 |
x |
| Urban |
The City* |
67 |
Urban/R&B/Mix Shows |
847 |
x |
| Urban |
The Heat* |
68 |
Hip-Hop/Crossover Hits |
825 |
x |
| Jazz and Blues |
Real Jazz* |
70 |
Traditional Jazz |
850 |
x |
| Jazz and Blues |
Watercolors* |
71 |
Contemporary/Smooth Jazz |
851 |
x |
| Jazz and Blues |
Beyond Jazz* |
72 |
Modern Jazz |
852 |
x |
| Jazz and Blues |
High Standards* |
73 |
American Standards |
853 |
x |
| Jazz and Blues |
Bluesville* |
74 |
Blues |
854 |
x |
| Lifestyle |
Fine Tuning* |
76 |
Intelligent Musical Design (Broadcast in HD) |
855 |
x |
| Lifestyle |
Audio Visions* |
77 |
New Age |
856 |
x |
| Lifestyle |
Escape* |
78 |
Beautiful Music |
820 |
x |
| Lifestyle |
Escape* |
79 |
On The Rocks |
|
x |
| Dance |
The Move* |
80 |
House/Progressive |
858 |
x |
| Dance |
BPM* |
81 |
Dance Hits |
859 |
x |
| Dance |
The System* |
82 |
Electronica/Trance |
860 |
x |
| Dance |
Chrome* |
83 |
Disco/Classic Dance |
861 |
x |
| Dance |
XM-Chill* |
84 |
Smooth Electronic |
857 |
x |
| Latin |
Fuego* |
90 |
Reggaeton (En Español.) |
870 |
x |
| Latin |
Viva* |
91 |
Latin Pop Hits (En Español.) |
876 |
x |
| Latin |
Aguila* |
92 |
Regional Mexican (En Español.) |
871 |
x |
| Latin |
Caliente* |
94 |
Tropical |
872 |
x |
| Latin |
Caliente* |
95 |
Luna |
873 |
x |
| World |
Air Musique* |
100 |
New & Emerging Music en Français |
|
x |
| World |
The Joint* |
101 |
Reggae |
863 |
x |
| World |
Sur La Route* |
102 |
Pop Hits en Français |
|
x |
| Hits |
Holidays on XM* |
103 |
Holly |
862 |
x |
| Hits |
Holidays on XM* |
104 |
Special xmas |
848 |
|
| Hits |
Holidays on XM* |
105 |
|
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| Hits |
Holidays on XM* |
106 |
music by holiday |
809 |
|
| Hits |
Holidays on XM* |
107 |
holiday traditions |
849 |
|
| Hits |
Holidays on XM* |
108 |
Classical Christmas |
|
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| Classical |
XM Classics* |
110 |
Traditional Classical |
864 |
x |
| Classical |
Vox* |
112 |
Opera/Classical Vocals |
865 |
x |
| Classical |
XM Pops* |
113 |
Popular Classical |
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| Kids |
Radio Disney |
115 |
Radio Disney |
867 |
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| Kids |
XM Kids* |
116 |
Children |
868 |
x |
| Talk and Variety |
XM Live |
120 |
Concerts/Festivals/Special Features |
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| News |
FOX News |
121 |
FOX News |
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| News |
CNN |
122 |
CNN News |
|
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| News |
CNN Headline News |
123 |
CNN Headline News |
|
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| News |
ABC News & Talk |
124 |
ABC News & Talk |
|
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| News |
The Weather Channel |
125 |
The Weather Channel |
|
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| News |
CNN en Espanol |
126 |
CNN en Español |
|
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| News |
CNBC |
127 |
CNBC |
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| News |
Bloomberg Radio |
129 |
Bloomberg Radio/Business |
|
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| News |
POTUS ’08* |
130 |
Unbiased Presidential Campaign News |
|
x |
| News |
BBC |
131 |
BBC World Service |
|
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| News |
C-SPAN Radio |
132 |
C-SPAN Radio |
|
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| News |
XM Public Radio* |
133 |
XM Public Radio |
|
x |
| News |
The Agenda with Joe Solmonese |
134 |
GLBT Community News |
|
x |
| Sports |
ESPN Radio |
140 |
Sports |
|
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| Sports |
ESPNEWS |
141 |
The Definitive 24-hour Sports News Network |
|
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| Sports |
FOX Sports Radio |
142 |
Sports Talk |
|
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| Sports |
XM Sports Guide |
143 |
All of XM’s sports schedules |
|
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| Sports |
XM Sports Nation |
144 |
Sports |
|
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| Sports |
IndyCar Series Racing |
145 |
IndyCar Series Racing |
|
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| Sports |
PGA TOUR Network |
146 |
Golf Talk |
|
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| Sports |
XM Deportivo |
147 |
Spanish Sports Talk |
|
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| Comedy |
XM Comedy* |
150 |
Uncensored Comedy – XL |
|
x |
| Comedy |
Laugh USA* |
151 |
Comedy |
|
x |
| Talk and Variety |
Extreme XM |
152 |
Extreme Talk |
|
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| Comedy |
Laugh Attack |
153 |
Uncensored Comedy – XL |
|
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| Comedy |
National Lampoon Comedy Radio |
154 |
Comedy |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Take Five |
155 |
Talk & Entertainment |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Oprah & Friends* |
156 |
Oprah & Friends |
807 |
x |
| Talk and Variety |
ReachMD |
157 |
24/7 Channel for Healthcare Professionals |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
America’s Talk |
158 |
Legendary Talk Radio |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
WSIX |
161 |
Nashville Country |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
E! Entertainment Radio |
162 |
Entertainment |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Sonic Theater |
163 |
Books & Drama |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Radio Classics |
164 |
Old Time Radio |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Talk Radio |
165 |
Experts Talk |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
America Right |
166 |
Conservative Talk |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Air America Radio |
167 |
Progressive Talk |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
FOX News Talk |
168 |
FOX News Talk |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
The Power |
169 |
African-American Talk |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Family Talk |
170 |
Christian Talk |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Open Road |
171 |
Truckers’ Channel |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
Radio Parallele |
172 |
Talk radio for men en Français |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
WLW |
173 |
News Talk |
|
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| Sports |
MLB Play by Play en Espanol |
174 |
Play-by-Play MLB Action en Español |
|
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| Sports |
MLB Home Plate |
175 |
24/7 Major League Baseball Channel |
|
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| Sports |
ACC |
190 |
ACC Sports |
|
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| Sports |
Pac-10 |
193 |
PAC-10 Sports |
|
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| Sports |
Big Ten |
196 |
Big Ten Sports |
|
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| Sports |
SEC |
199 |
SEC Sports |
|
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| Talk and Variety |
The Virus* |
202 |
The Virus – XL |
879 |
x |
| Sports |
Big East |
203 |
Big East Sports |
|
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| Sports |
NHL Home Ice |
204 |
NHL Talk and Play-by-Play |
|
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| Sports |
NHL PLay-by-Play |
205-209 |
NHL Play-by-Play |
|
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| News |
Traffic & Weather |
210-230 |
|
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| Sports |
NHL PLay-by-Play |
237-239 |
NHL Play-by-Play |
|
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| Sports |
Big 12 |
241 |
Big 12 Sports |
|
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| News |
Canada 360 |
244 |
News & Information |
|
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| News |
Quoi de Neuf |
245 |
News & Information en Français |
|
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| News |
XM Emergency Alert 24/7 |
247 |
24/7 Emergency Information |
|
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| Rock |
1 Hit Wonders |
300 |
Flashbacks |
|
x |
| Rock |
Metalcore |
301 |
Hardcore punk |
|
x |
| Rock |
New Indie First |
302 |
New release mix for Indie |
|
x |
| Rock |
Late Night Mix |
303 |
Downtempo after hours |
|
x |
| Rock |
Sessions @ AOL |
304 |
In-studio performances |
|
x |
| Rock |
Shuffle |
305 |
Various stuff |
|
x |
| Rock |
New Rock First |
306 |
Romorrow’s Rock Music |
|
x |
| Country |
New Country First |
307 |
New Faces |
|
x |
| Hip Hop |
New Hip Hop First |
308 |
Discover Tomorrow Hip Hop Today |
|
x |
| Pop |
New Pop First |
309 |
Tomorrow’s Pop Today |
|
x |
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