So I bought a new[to me] 14' Honda CRV last week. Thanks to those that gave input on that a while back.
Apparently the previous owner has paid for XM satelite radio and yep I'm enjoying it while it's free. But if I were paying for it, I'd be trying to get a refund! Reception is awful at best here in the mountains of Appalachia, especially with the trees fully leafed out. Even on many four-lane roads I've tried moving into the left lane and it's still intermittent at best. I suppose if a person traveled the interstate or was out in the wide-open spaces it would be different. It is also very intermittent when I'm in town around these massive 3-4 story buildings.
Just wasn't expecting so much 'no signal' time, but hey It's free, until it isn't[which may be the next time I get in the vehicle].
My Mom bought a new 2011 CRV and got the initial free XM. She wasn't that motivated to pay a subscription after it expired. I drove her around some and it was OK, but I agreed with her that it wasn't worth paying for considering that her errands are close to her house and she doesn't travel far at all.
No issues here.
They sometimes will negotiate rates. But that does not help reception.
I have had it in new cars but never take it beyond the free period. If I traveled cross country or drove a lot of long trios, it might be a good deal.
We turned on the free trial for our trip to NM and back. Will not be paying for it once the free trial is over.
It's all good, until it isn't free, then it won't be a problem.
do you have the "shark fin" antenna?
I have found that those lose reception pretty quickly when there is a wall or bridge or whatever blocking it.
The alternative is a small "pole" antenna.
Secondly, XM negotiates on rates all the time. I think a normal yearly subscription is in the $140 range.
Every year just before the expiration (and the cost rolls over onto my credit card) I call them up, explain to them that I am cancelling my service, they ask why, I tell them too expensive and they offer to cut it in half to $77 or even a lesser 5 month introductory deal for like $25.
I honestly can't say if its worth to me or not, but I do it for my wife's birthday as she listens to it all the time.
So I bought a new[to me] 14' Honda CRV last week. Thanks to those that gave input on that a while back.
Apparently the previous owner has paid for XM satelite radio and yep I'm enjoying it while it's free. But if I were paying for it, I'd be trying to get a refund! Reception is awful at best here in the mountains of Appalachia, especially with the trees fully leafed out. Even on many four-lane roads I've tried moving into the left lane and it's still intermittent at best. I suppose if a person traveled the interstate or was out in the wide-open spaces it would be different. It is also very intermittent when I'm in town around these massive 3-4 story buildings.
Just wasn't expecting so much 'no signal' time, but hey It's free, until it isn't[which may be the next time I get in the vehicle].
I Experience the same thing going home on I40 when passing exceptionally tall trees. I have had it so long I don't know if I could live without it(I take a lot of long trips). I tell them to cancel it at the end of the service period and they renegotiate every single time.
My wife's car has the sharkfin and my truck has a small flat rectangular unit on the roof and they are both about as effective.
I've had it for six years and love it. Have very few problems receiving coverage in East TN.
I've had it for 7 years and can't stand to listen to regular on-air radio. It's got a lot more to offer.I hate being forced to listen to something I don't like. I've got like 30 stations stored in my radio. Plus I have the sports package and can get the NASCAR races as well as Basketball, Football, and Baseball. It gives you a lot of options. $140.00 per year I think.
The only problems with reception for me is if you have a steep hill is to the South West, when there is a hill with trees that are leafed out and it's raining and the leaves are wet to the SW, or in a bad snow storm and have a lot of snow on my roof and in the atmosphere. Bridges are sometimes only a blip on the radar, if at all.
I do not have reception issues unless I am in a parking garage with no view of the sky at all. Covered a lot of ground over the years listening to XM and I have not had the issues you raise.
I do not pay full price. I always call them up and say I am going to cancel and they drop the rate. Usually more than 50%. I figure I do not have to listen to a bunch of crap commercials and have WAY more variety to choose from so it is worth it to me. I put about 30,000 miles on a car a year.
It's all good, until it isn't free, then it won't be a problem.
Nope. It started out bad and went downhill. We tried it several times and gave up and turned it off each time.
I do not have reception issues unless I am in a parking garage with no view of the sky at all. Covered a lot of ground over the years listening to XM and I have not had the issues you raise.
I do not pay full price. I always call them up and say I am going to cancel and they drop the rate. Usually more than 50%. I figure I do not have to listen to a bunch of crap commercials and have WAY more variety to choose from so it is worth it to me. I put about 30,000 miles on a car a year.
That's the odd part, it worked just fine in the parking garage at the hotel we stayed at in National Harbor last week.
Had it in rentals. I thought it would be great on longer trips, wrong, without commercials I get bored. If I was back to over the road trucking I would have it.
I have had it since it became available. Zero issues in the many places I lived including Calgary under the same US plan.
They sometimes will negotiate rates. But that does not help reception.
I have had it in new cars but never take it beyond the free period. If I traveled cross country or drove a lot of long trios, it might be a good deal.
I'm paying 6$/mth (each) for 2 vehicles. They'll deal with you. I've had it for 4+ yrs now.
you might have a radio problem. my subaru has very little problem except in a few areas and i drive a lot in the PA mountains.
I love it for driving across rural MT. Not many AM/FM options.
I have a relative who is an engineer with Sirius/XM. He got me started listening to Sirius about 10 years ago and I'd hate to be without it.
Got my wife a newer vehicle a year or so ago and it has XM and we too experienced signal issues - something I've never really had with my XM. I asked said relative about it and he said reception issues are common with XM, especially when traveling East/West or the reverse. Something to do with the location of the XM satellite. The Sirius satellite is apparently in a location in orbit that results in very few reception issues. Whodathunk that they'd still use 2 different signals and satellites so many years after the merger.
My recommendation is to ditch the in-dash XM receiver and get an add-on portable under the Sirius plan.
I won't give it up. I travel all over the SW and reception is great. Once in awhile I'll drive the truck that doesn't have it, just to remember how much regular radio sucks. I listen to a lot of audio books, too, but won't be without SiriusXM. I don't pay the full price, though. I call a couple of weeks before it expires to tell them I no longer need it, and listen to the rates come down.
Only one place in my many travels i would lose satellite radio in the semi was Gananaque Ontario. i would lose Sirius for about 3 miles in the same spot on the 401 every time I went through. Never lost XM that I can remember.
For a Luddite that doesn't know, does the same radio work on regular broadcast without the XM activated, or do you have to rip it out and buy another radio ?
Myron
Thanks, Paul
I thought they would, but you know the old saying "never assume".
Myron
They used to (and may still) have a lifetime plan. Something like $300. Wished I had done that.
I got it in my new pickup (no choice in the matter). It's alright, but I mostly listen to Fox News or some other news station. I don't use the radio much, period.
When my MIL died in Arizona last year, the rental car we took had it, and I liked it in that context, I didn't have to look for stations all across the country, I could just tune into one station for the whole distance.
Frankly, that's about the best use of it, long trips over unfamiliar country. I'm not a huge fan of radio, though.
I've had mine for about 7 years. I spend about 1 1/2 hours a day driving to and from work so it's a good "companion". Lots of specialty stations. I like MLB, Bluesville, Outlaw Country and others. There's also comedy, sports, news weather, you name it.
They used to (and may still) have a lifetime plan. Something like $300. Wished I had done that.
They try to make their money off of their "lifetime" plan when you have to buy a new receiver. Then, they want $75.00. You have to rip their a$$ and keep asking for a supervisor before they will activate the new one for free.
I like it because there is very poor radio otherwise in the central parts of the PA Turnpike. Eastbound, it cuts out for a couple of seconds when you pass high hills on the right side of the road.
Thanks, guys, for the tip about negotiating prices.