XtraMusic, a pay-radio package similar to MCE, has unencrypted some of its channels until December 15th

The unencrypted channels are:
- Popular Classical
- Modern Country
- Beautiful Instruments
- German Schlager
- UK Hits
- Acid Jazz
- Classic Jazz
- Brazil Carnival
- Salsa
- 70's Hits
- 80's Hits
- Classic Rock
- Trends
- Hottest Hits
- Blues
- R&B Hip Hop

The complete package looks like this: http://www.xtramusic.com/service/themusic/themusic.html

They broadcast on Astra 1 (19.2°E), 12051 V, SR 27500, FEC 3/4

Sounds good, i'll check it out, as i do like Music Choice

Ah right i see they don't broadcast on Sky Digital, never mind.

I've been listening to some of the channels for a day or two now. I really do like them and would love to subscribe but IIRC it's something like £50 to £80 per month! Okay it's mainly targetted at businesses but it's available to all.

Here's hoping it lasts a bit longer as it's far better than Music Choice IMHO and in the past they've had quite long "clear" windows.

I remember reading somewhere that they have reduced the price in summer when they merged with AE Music. I may be mistaken, but I think the new price is something like £10 per month for the complete package of 47 channels. But I am not sure about this, as I haven't found any information about prices on their homepages http://www.xtramusic.com and http://www.aeimusic.com

[quote]Originally posted by MusicFreak
I remember reading somewhere that they have reduced the price in summer when they merged with AE Music. I may be mistaken, but I think the new price is something like £10 per month for the complete package of 47 channels. But I am not sure about this, as I haven't found any information about prices on their homepages http://www.xtramusic.com and http://www.aeimusic.com [/QUOTE


14.95 Euros i believe

Mmm, so if this is all it costs now I think I'm might consider getting it. Seems far greater value than Music Choice which is £5 for 44 channels (or thereabouts), plus it won't tie up my digibox as I can use my DVB-S card. The only problem would be getting a CI module for the CAM (they ain't cheap) and getting a Cryptoworks CAM (again, not exactly cheap as they're about the same price as a FreeView box).

I'll do a bit of digging around anyway as I'm sure I heard something about XtraMusic having dedicated receivers.

BTW €14.95 is about a tenner.

Well isn't XtraMusic's website a pile of steamy stuff? There's absolutely no information on how much the subscription costs or how to subscribe (I did manage to find some old pages that are still working via Google, and no it wasn't Google's cache!). According to these pages (which appear fairly old) the service is £30 but I've seen the €15 quoted on a couple of other sites.

It's like they don't want subscribers as the place you're meant to go if you're from the UK is www.aei.co.uk and that just leads you back to the XtraMusic site or AEI's US site which then takes you to DMX which is the US equivalent.

Meanwhile I've found that I can get the CI adapter for roughly £60 but a Cryptoworks CAM will probably set me back just under £100. This would be costing me a small fortune before I even paid the subscription! And to top it off there used to be around 80 channels IIRC, now there's just a couple more than MusicChoice. I don't know if I'd want to risk so much money over a company that by the looks of things isn't doing all that well....

XtraMusic's website is quite a mess! The only useful information I found there is an E-Mail address (info@xtramusic.com) and a telephone number in France ( + 33 1 39 38 67 82). I guess the best method to find out more is to pick up the phone and give them a call...


Indeed. One of the questions I would like to ask them is: Do they have plans to use another encryption system in the future? This would certainly increase the number of their customers.

BTW: I remember reading somewhere that Xtra sells Cyptoworks CAMs cheaper than the ones in the shops if you buy one while subscribing. But I don't know the details on that. Another questions I would like to ask them.


Yeah, that's my main concern as well. You may remember that they went on air about 10 years ago as "DMX" broadcasting in ADR mode. After one year they became bankrupt and didn't broadcast for about two years. Now they are back and one of first things they did is to decrease the number of channels from 80 to 47. All this doesn't make them look as a very serious company, does it?

I had the Xtramusic service since November 2000, but cancelled it recently when I gave up my 19E feed for Sky+.

Anyway, I was paying £29.38 a month for it, but over time I found that I was using it less and less, hence my decision to give it up.

I got it through my Humax F1-CI receiver with a Philips Cryptoworks CAM, the CAM itself cost me around £90. However, I could not get any track info at all, despite the website telling me otherwise. The channel selection was reduced from 88 to around 48 over a year ago, but no reduction in the price! They said that 'new and exiting services' were starting soon. This has not happened.

The name has changed from Xtramusic to AEI Music to DMXMusic, which it what it is called now.

I suppose I was tempted to have it as it was similar to the DMX service which was available on the old Sky analogue service. This was based on the ADR format (which is still going today), and cost me £6.99 a month, with the subscription handled through Sky's subscriber management. However, it closed a year later. However, I still have my Kathrein receiver though for posperity!

Craigw

XtraMusic is in the clear once again. The following channels will broadcast FTA until December 14th

-Symphonic
-Modern Country
-Beautiful Instrumentals
-Euro Hits
-UK Hits
-Indian Pop
-Smooth Jazz
-Brazil Carnival
-Rock n Roll Oldies
-80s Hits
-90s Hits
-Classic Rock
-Trends
-Hottest Hits
-Blues
-Reggae

Sounds good!!!

i heard a bit of Xtra Music last time it was unencrypted (about 8months or so ago i think).

Anyone thats subscribed/subscribes to the package, can you please e-mail or PM me with details of how to get it, plus what bitrate the audio is in... I've tried several times to email the company, but it always comes up as 'undelivered'

Also what cam/card is needed for XtraMusic/DMX.AEI, or whatever the hell it's called!!!

Cheers,
Andy

You'll need a Cryptoworks CAM

i found this website - it may help!

http://www.dmxmusic.co.uk/

After listening to the stations for a few days now, i'm definately considering subscribing... if not just for the fantastic 80's channel

Is anyone on DigitalSpy currently subscribing, who has details of who to contact about this... as previously mentioned, the UK website is useless and crap... the US one aeimusic.com / dmxmusic.com is much better, however it did slightly confuse me why the "what's playing" page didn't corrsespond with what was playing (before I realised that the US and Europe playout is different)

Anyway, I'd be happy to subscribe, as long as the company isn't about to fold soon, and die anongside all the other digital satellite stations of late....

Andy