Some Sirius questions

[Flyer52]

The radio in our recently aquired MH (four year old Ford) is evidently Sirus capable, says Sirius on the front of the radio but I can't receive any signal.
Ford owners manual says I need a dealer installed kit. The questions are:

1. Does a Ford dealer install or can I do it myself?
2. Where else would I get the kit?
3. What's involved in the installation?
4. What's the cost of the kit and cost of service?
5. How does Sirus bill for the service?

Thanks

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyer52 5. How does Sirus bill for the service?

flyer52, Sirrus, XMRadio will normally bill automatically by Credit Card on a semi-annual or annual basis. They will also take a CC over the phone.

[lllkrob]

Here are some answers to your questions:
1. The dealer normally installs these extra tuner units. If you are good mechanically, yes you can install it it's a plug in operation.

2. You may be able to purchase a tuner unit from several after market car radio installers, Pep Boys, Best Buy, etc. You will need to know who your radio manufacturer is and the model number of the radio.

3. Basically you remove the radio and plug in a extra tuner module to the back of the radio and re-install.

4. The tuner modules are around $ 100 to $ 200 and the service is about $ 15 a month.

5. The service is billed to a credit card normally on a semi-annual basis, although you can have monthly or annual billing. One word of caution, trying to cancel your subscription can be a real hassle as Sirius/ XM does not like to stop billing your credit card.

[Flyer52]

Thanks for the information.

[jwomack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lllkrob Here are some answers to your questions: 5. The service is billed to a credit card normally on a semi-annual basis, although you can have monthly or annual billing. One word of caution, trying to cancel your subscription can be a real hassle as Sirius/ XM does not like to stop billing your credit card.

x2 on that. I cancelled service on my last truck and it took 30-40 minutes to get the guy to just do it and stop the "if we give you 6 mons FREE" or "I can let you keep your service for only $4.95 per month" speels. That was over a year ago. I traded that truck 6 months ago and they are still contacting me to renew

[Not a Clue]

You can also check ebay if you are going to install yourself.

[SpursMVP]

Once you go to Sirius you won't want to listen to 'Free Radio' again.

I love the fact that there are no commercials and they have many music types. We've had it for 5 years now and paying annually is actually the best deal.

[Flyer52]

Retirement for my wife comes in about 1 1/2 years so until that happens the MH will be in storage for 6 months out of the year. It makes no sense for us to go to the expense right now, so we'll put that idea on the shelf.

Thanks again for the help.

[SpursMVP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyer52 Retirement for my wife comes in about 1 1/2 years so until that happens the MH will be in storage for 6 months out of the year. It makes no sense for us to go to the expense right now, so we'll put that idea on the shelf. Thanks again for the help.

I have a portable set up that I can take from the MH to our personal vehicle. Save's $$'s.

[cvrvr]

Check with Crutchfields Crutchfield: LCD TV, Car Stereo, Home Theater, Speakers, Digital Cameras They can set you up with the adapter that you need.
George

[JMonroe]

Flyer52. If your unit has the word Sirrius on the face of it - it may already have the capability? I know a few of the rigs I looked at you could opt for a Sirrius ready reciever installed during manufacture. You would still have to buy the service though.

If it's service ready, you should find a small antenna on the roof somewhere that you can not otherwise explain. It will be too small for the 'over the air' radio.

If you do not have a capable receiver, I'd buy one of the portibles. They're very small (like less that 5" wide, a couple inches high, a 1/2 thick, maybe?) and can then be used in any vehicle, or even at home. They plug into a 12V recepticle.

[JJ99]

Just a note on Sirius (or XM).

I have had several Sirius units in our vehicles including the coach for several years. It is worth the small amount of money per month as the service is absolutely fabulous! The more Sirius-XM radio units you have on your account the greater the discount..each one after the first is about half price.

I have listened to my Sirius radio all over eastern North America. Even though my antenna is just on the dash I rarely lose the signal. Ideally it should be outside on the roof. You never drive out of range of the signal as they have 3 or 4 satellites covering the continent. I promise you will never go back to AM or FM regular radio and the idots and garbage heard there. Sirius-XM has commercial free music of all genres from country to classic, from Elvis to Hip-Hop. I love their "Escape" channel 76 (Sirius) or the classics channels. But then I will switch to country in the Roadhouse..Sirius 62 or the 60's on 6 with Cousin Brucie from the big days of 77 WABC New York in the 60's and 70's. News too..CNN, FOX, the BBC..so you can drive along in the coach and listen to live coverage of some big news story.

I recommend the after market Sirius or XM radio(The services have merged for the most part) like the ones available at Best Buy etc. I have the Sportster 5..but almost all of their receivers have a cache of up to 1 hour which means it works like an audio PVR. You can be listening to something..if the phone rings..simply pause the Sirius radio. When you're finished the call..hit play again and the music or talk picks up without missing a split second. You can rewind a favourite song and listen to it over and over and over again. It is so cool..better that the plug in - add on units that can be bought for the factory radios. Easy to install and mount and did I say you will NEVER go back to regular radio. (I listen to the first 60 seconds of the local news station at the top of the hour to see what's up that might interest me, and then BAM I am gone back to satellite radio and the Roadhouse..the jazz channels, classical or the 50's on 5 or the 60's on 6..70's on 7 etc etc.) There are even 2 Howard Stern channels..I am not a huge Stern fan but perhaps you are.

I for one waste more money in coffee in a month than it costs for my Sirius subscription. I have cancelled a radio when I sold a vehicle..and yes they try everything to keep you as a customer. I like that..It got me a free portable boom-box for my Sirius radio which I use outside the coach. All I had to do was keep that radio subscribed for a few months until I received the boom box..and then I cancelled it at a later time with no issues.

Treat yourself..nothing to lose..you always cancel your subscription if you hate it. (go on a month to month basis until you're sure you like it) and you can always return your Sirius radio to Best Buy if you don't like it..Win-Win..I'd say. Give it a try..then you'll be the one writing a big, long enthusiastic note on here like I am doing..You will be so refreshed and delighted by what you hear coming through the speakers in your coach as you roll across America and Canada. (PS your subscription also gives you the right to log into Sirius music channels on your computer/lap top if you're home or parked with a wi-fi hit.) I didn't know what I didn't know until I tried it!

It's just the best!!!

[Grumpytrkr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyer52 Retirement for my wife comes in about 1 1/2 years so until that happens the MH will be in storage for 6 months out of the year. It makes no sense for us to go to the expense right now, so we'll put that idea on the shelf. Thanks again for the help.

When I put my rv up for the winter, I call Sirius and put the service on hold for 4 months. They are not hard to put in, the hardest part being running the antenna wire. I have put them in my pick up truck, in my travel trailer, my wife's car, and friends cars. As said before, they are plug & play units.

[Dave and Jaime]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpursMVP Once you go to Sirius you won't want to listen to 'Free Radio' again. I love the fact that there are no commercials and they have many music types. We've had it for 5 years now and paying annually is actually the best deal.

I am a longtime XM subscriber and found the longer terms more cost effective. If you spend any time traveling and searching for weak radio stations you will love Sirius/XM. XM, at least, will allow up to 5 year or lifetime subscriptions which really bring down the average cost per month. I had initially bought a 5 year subscription on XM for about $375 then after a couple years I learned about their lifetime subscription that was even less expensive so I switched to that plan. The long term plans allow for a pro-rated refund if you sell the vehicle or cancel. The lifetime plan does not allow for any refund if you sell the vehicle or even if the radio goes bad and has to be replaced. You takes your chances. However, for a one-time fee of around $350 you never have to pay again for XM for that vehicle. I now have lifetime prepaid XM subscriptions on 2 cars and my RV. No more billings for me.

If you are more risk averse and worry about selling the vehicle or the radio going bad, you can buy a lifetime subscription for a "portable" XM device and they do allow a 1X transfer of the subscriptoin to another portable radio with no charge.