Yes it uses data and all varies based on your cellphone carrier. Radio doesn't use much bandwidth, unless you play high quality songs nonstop then it is only about 100mb per hour.
That is why I podcast many talk shows. I can listen to them on the iPhone at my leisure and use no bandwidth. I download show podcasts and then stick them on the phone. I use iHeart app for the occasional station back home I want to listen to, to keep on things thru the week. Satellite offers none of these features or the shows and home stations I want, and sure not interested in Stern.
Well, this was before smartphones were a thing that I subscribed to Sirius. I was too particular for the stations, also, but it was more bearable than nothing at all, especially when driving through a state like Montana, the Dakotas, Texas, etc.
if you can wait til mid american truck show they will be there with really cheap units.I dont have XM anymore but am best friends with local libarian.I get audio books and cds.I can call if Im not going to make it home before they are due and they renew them for me over the phone.
I had access to satellite radio for a couple months for free and didn't find it worthy of spending money on it. It's just like TV these days, nothing worth a crap on there. I listen to audiobooks mostly. There are nights I look forward to driving purely because I get to continue my book. Our radios have USB slots in them so I can put a lot of books on one USB, saves on storage.
Siriusxm is a must. If I didn't have it I'd lose all sanity. I listen to the rock stations, opie and anthony, and a little Howard Stern. Mostly O&A, though, because they're five days a week and haven't lost the mojo as much as howard has.
Cost $285.00 five years ago for life time, At the time sounded like a lot for radio. Not so much now.