Please note: With the release of Replay A/V 8, Replay Radio is no longer offered. Replay A/V does everything that Replay Radio does, plus it includes a superior recording technology, and can record streaming video clips as well.

We will continue to support Replay Radio, and existing customers will be able to use Replay Radio as they always have.

If you're interested in recording radio shows, Replay A/V is the best solution in the world.

Click here to learn more about recording XM Replay A/V.

Replay Radio

With the popularity of XM Radio, the Replay Radio team has been working on making it easy to record your favorite XM shows and stations. As more people use devices like TiVo DVRs to record and time-shift television, the promise of being able to do this with radio becomes very attractive as well. Replay Radio has long been the most popular recorder for online radio, and now it can also record XM broadcasts, too.

There are two ways to record XM broadcasts: You can use Replay Radio to record from the XM Online service, or directly from the satellite feed using an XM Direct™ Tuner and a special adapter cable from Hybrid Mobile.

Recording from XM Online

With a subscription to XM Online and Replay Radio, you can record any programming broadcast over the Web. Subscriptions to XM Online are free if you already have XM service.

The available channels might be slightly different than what's available on your XM Satellite radio, but they usually match closely. Also, the quality of streamed music is 64 Kbps, which may not be nearly as good as what you can get by recording the XM Satellite signal.

When you sign up for XM Online, you'll choose a username and a password. You'll need these to use Replay Radio to record.

Here's how to record from XM Online:

1. Click the Options button.
2. Select Enter New Show from the menu. The Edit Show dialog appears with a blank show:
   
   
   
3. Change the Type to XM Online. The Edit Show screen changes to this:
   
   
   
4. Enter the XM Channel to record.
5. Enter your XM Online Login and Online Password. (Once you enter these, they are saved for future recordings.)
6. Enter the Name of Show.
7. Set the Audio Recording Method: choose Stereo Mix, Wave, Wave Out Mix, or What U Hear as the Recording Source. (If you've installed the Enhanced Sound Card Driver option, you should choose Enhanced Sound Card Driver instead.)
8. Click the Schedule tab. Enter the time and days to record.
   
   
   
   
9. Click OK.

Recording Using an XM Direct™ Universal Tuner or an XM PCR

Replay Radio is able to control XM hardware. You can schedule recordings for any XM station, and have your Replay Radio record them from your PC.

Hardware Requirements

XM used to sell a device called the XM PCR, but has discontinued it. This connected to your PC, and could play XM stations on your PC and use your PC as a tuner. You may be able to find one on eBay.

If you don't have an XM PCR, you can still record from the satellite signal. Here's what you need:

• An XM Universal Tuner or XM Direct™. Terk sells a good one. As of January 2005, they were under $50 at Circuit City online.
  
  
  
  
• A Satellite Radio Interface Cable from Hybrid Mobile.
  
  
  
  
• An RCA to Mini-Stereo cable. (Available online or at stores like Radio Shack.)
  
  
  
  

Getting Set up to Record

Once you have all the necessary hardware, here's how to hook it all up:

1. Attach the serial port of the Interface Cable to your PC's serial port. (If you don't have a serial port, you can purchase a serial to USB adapter.)
2. Plug in the power to the Interface cable.
3. Connect the Interface Cable to the Universal Tuner box.
4. Attach the RCA/Mini Stereo Cable to the XM Tuner.
5. Plug the other end of the RCA/Mini Stereo Cable into the Line-In port of your PC. (Line-In will work better than the Mic port.)

Next, open Replay Radio, click Settings, and choose the XM Hardware tab. You'll see this screen:

First of all, make sure Replay Radio can find your XM Tuner. Click Check XM Hardware Interface. After a few seconds, a message will appear with the ID for your XM tuner.

Activating Your XM Tuner

Next, you'll want to activate your Tuner. You can call XM to initiate your subscription (1-800-XMRADIO), or do it online from http://www.xmradio.com/activation/. During the activation process, you'll be asked to tune to channel 1. You can do this from Replay Radio as follows:

1. Enter 1 for the channel.
2. Click Tune to Channel (Test).
3. A message will appear with some data about the channel if this is successful.
4. Leave the message box on-screen for 30 minutes or so. This will keep the XM Radio tuned to channel 1, and allow the activation process to complete.

Once your XM Tuner has been activated, you should be able to listen to various channels using the Tune to Channel (Test) button.

Recording XM Stations

You're now ready to use Replay Radio to record XM Stations. Here's how to set up a scheduled recording:

1. Click the Options button.
2. Select Enter New Show from the menu. The Edit Show dialog appears with a blank show:
   
   
   
3. Change the Type to XM Hardware. The Edit Show screen changes to this:
   
   
   
4. Enter the XM Channel to record.
5. Set the Audio Recording Method: choose Line In as the Recording Source. (If you attached the RCA Stereo Cable to the Mic port, then choose Mic.)
6. Enter the Name of Show.
7. Click the Schedule tab. Enter the time and days to record.
   
   
   
   
8. Click OK.

Congratulations! You've just scheduled your first recording.

Summary

As you can see, with the right setup, Replay Radio makes it easy to record and time-shift your favorite XM shows and stations.

Applian Technologies is not affiliated with XM Satellite Radio Inc. The end user is fully responsible for ensuring that their use of Satellite Radio Tuner Interface Cable does not violate any XM Satellite Radio Inc. subscriber agreement. XM PCR, XM Direct and XM Commander are registered trademarks of XM Satellite Radio, Inc.