Satellite Radio traffic reports

[ktrwe]

Hey

I am trying to decide what satellite radio company I should go with, XM or Sirius. One of the reasons I want to get it is for the traffic reports. My commute is from calvert (rt4) through PG county (suitland parkway or stay on rt 4), through South East DC, and finally into Arlington. Yea it is a long commute, but I love my job. I don't expect the traffic reports to cover SOMD, but I was wondering if anyone uses Satellite radio for a similar commute, and if so what do they think of the traffic reports, and the service in general.

Thanks for any info, or help

 

[willie]

I use XM for just that. They alternate with the D.C. weather report. My only gripe is they talk too fast and the quality is not that clear. Thanks for reminding me of this weekly irritation, I'm going to email them my opinion to slow it up. They also have a habit of jumping around the beltway without indicating the state, ie, Telegraph Rd. Va? No, Maryland.

 

[marianne]

We use XM traffic reports when traveling on vacations but not commuting. The last time we used it we were stuck on I-95 for like an hour. The traffic report never announced that tie-up. We don't use it much...

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

I use sirius to travel from mechanicsville into almost downtown. They seem to be as good as the radio for the most part with traffic reports.

 

[ohstate]

I have Sirius - their traffic reports are pretty good, and repeated every 4 minutes. (Alternates w/ Baltimore traffic). They cover more than WTOP does, (more time), but WTOP seems more up to date than Sirius. For example, WTOP will tell you something has been cleared, and Sirius will repeat that it is closed. I also try to catch the 98.3 traffic reports as they seem to specifically focus on the routes in/out of southern md. Between those three, I get a pretty good picture of the route I need to take - usually Rte 4 to the beltway, to St. Barnabus rd, then back roads from there to SW DC. All I care about is

1) is Rte 4 closed, so that it makes more sense to cut over at the Benedict Bridge? (if I'm past that point, no point in turning around, just wait it out)

2) how far is the beltway backed up at the Wilson Bridge. If past Rt. 404, then I take Suitland to Naylor, unless of course, Suitland is a mess, too.