JimiThng

i know there are people out there that arent happy with the channel line up since the merger. my auto renewal occurs THIS month and im strongly considering canceling XM all together. What are YOU going to do?

chidude

But I love the Howard Stern Show, so that is a major reason.

I ma mostly a rock music fan, and I actually like what they did with those channels for the most part. I can see someone who likes more niche music that some of the merger changes limited some of those offerings.

chairguru22

I absolutely won't be. They are not all commercial free. Some are not clear in quality, have static, certainly not HD sound. The volume is way too low. I have it set to 25 while normal radio is at 10. It's not that XM is bad, but if I'm paying a premium for radio, it had better be perfect.

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

as long as i keep getting it for 77 bucks a year i will renew it...i would never set it up to auto pay as they will stick you for the full price...

if you check the audio forum you will see how to get xm for 77 bucks a year...

i then turned that information into renewing my wifes sirius for 80 bucks a year....

PhilB81

I didn't renew it, as previously stated some stations sounded like a 56bit mp3 clip. The music selection wasn't really what I was hoping for. If by some miracle they broadcast ETN.FM through XM, I won't hesitate to pay for the subscription.

blkaspec

i dont think i need to, because i think they are automatically charging me $38.50 every six months without me doin nuttin. but i am not very happy with the merger. i got my jam-on and the dead station, but all the rap stations in the 65-68 range are now gone or changed to the Serius lineup, so i am a little perturbed.

substitute

Nope, not renewing. Satellite radio is about as useless to me as those music-only channels you get with digital cable.

arkitect

Yep. I was a long time Sirius subscriber and since I just got my '06 TL with XM receiver, switched over. Now with the merger (and $5 a month), I get Howard. Needless to say, not thrilled with the new channel line up but it is WAY better than 'regular' radio, especially the local stations here in Denver!

ikm19

Nope the channels sounds crap.. and i don't find any exciting channels that i would like to listen.. I might switch to HD radio.. i have heard its sound really good...

1995hoo

I purchased a five-year subscription back when they raised the rate to $12.99 a month because the five-year option essentially lowered it to around $8.00 a month. I believe the five years will expire sometime in 2010, so I'll make a decision then. I find it hard to imagine going back to FM, though. I love not having to look for new stations on long road trips, I love being able to get the Capitals games when I'm away from home (I'd say the same about the Nationals, but who would believe that anyone would voluntarily listen to them???), and I'm chuffed that I can now get E Street Radio. The big thing for me is that the FM stations all seem to play the same couple of songs over and over again (e.g., any station with "MIX" in its name will play Hootie and the Blowfish, Dave Matthews, and Blues Traveler's "Run-around" until you want to yank out your radio and smash it into little pieces).

MichaelBenz

iTrader: (2)

I bought the three year subscription right after I bought the car and did not renew it when it came up for renewal. For the most part...my impressions were...."kinda neat...but sux for the most part and not what my idea of what premium pay radio should be". It was greatly lacking in many areas...sound quality, programming, ect.

Oswald Vater

I will only subscribe to satellite radio again if I can get the $77 (or less) deal. It's just not worth more. It doesn't matter whether it was Sirius or XM. The type of music I listen to can be found on local channels just as easily. I would only miss MLB (Phillies) and NHL (Flyers) broadcasts but I ultimately can live without them.

paz840

iTrader: (2)

YES...it only costs me $65/year, and local radio sucks!

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

i didnt even renew it after my free first 90 days... local radio + 6 disc is plenty for me

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

I will probably renew at the $77 price when my subscription comes up for renewal in April. I like to keep up with the competition to terrestrial radio.

Speaking of competition to terrestrial radio, you guys may not have to worry about competition to terrestrial radio in the future....

I'm not trying to start any rumors whatsoever, but I've talked to quite a few people in the radio industry and they are saying that this merger may not last. I've been told that the Sirius/XM debt load is enormous and may be almost impossible to get out from under. That's just the talk that's going around the radio industry-so it will be interesting to watch in the coming months.

Besides, I've also talked to my boss at my radio station and he said that 93% of Kansas City listeners are still listening to terrestrial radio.

Some VERY interesting input in the last couple of days around here. Plus, in another thread on Acurazine, someone said that their stock is now at 17 cents !!!

VillaWX3

Yep...I agree...I liked what XM had to offer (especially with the real time traffic option on my '08) but the volume IS way too low! I might add it again if the price is right but I mostly listen to cd's any way...not like I'm cheap or anything but if I'm not gonna really use something I figure what's the point of wasting money

Waveform

Yes, I will keep it for the $77 price even though I'm not thrilled with the new station line up and sound quality. I do like the service for long interstate road trips, it beats searching for stations every couple of miles.

GeezerB

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I thouight it was just my TL that had the low XM volume. Why is this? When I jump to FM, the volume blows my eardrums. Can't this be adjusted?

pffpffpass

iTrader: (2)

Yes I just did a couple days ago..

I got an offer for 3.99 a month for 5 months.. A weird time period but it cost me 20$ so whatever.. I just bought it for the hell of it.. I like listening to the comedy sometimes..

Frisbee

Same here ! I got hella CDs anyway!

mglax13

iTrader: (3)

For the 2 or 3 channels I listen to, it's not worth it. Plus as mentioned above, there are now commercials on some channels...

BUT....The traffic feature has been SUPER helpful here on Long Island.

MVR 155

I let mine expire.... I had it my previous TL (2006) and I renewed my current car after the 3 month trial, when it came up for renewal again I declined. I think the sound quality absolutely sucks, I like the Traffic Nav but I dont need to drive into downtown nearly as much as I used to. I may just opt to add the traffic back on but I wont be paying for the music. I use my ipod for all of my music anyways.

gnl63

I doubt i'll renew, they took away my trance channels...

I think i'll just stick to my slacker g2 for now... I just wish the AUX on the USAspec sounded better.

Will Y.

I renewed a couple of months ago- just before the merger.
Commercial free > regular radio, and XM kept most of the channels I liked.
I like Springsteen, but XM58 often sounds compressed and muddy.

ttribe

Yes, I renewed in November. I have a 30 mile commute for work and, by itself, the Phoenix traffic channel is almost worth the subscription cost.

TL1999

got renewal 2 twice @ $77/yr rate

but got shut down the 3rd time...so no XM...

i am loving it without it and with it...

Opus12

I'm on my first year at $77. Like others I probably won't renew if i have to pay more. My wife called them last week because we couldn't get her portable player to work in her Sequoia. While on the phone the guy said they are now offering a $400 life time subscription. I assume it is tied to a certain player and not transferable, we weren't interested so didn't ask.

millarduck

Once Stern is gone, so am I. I had Sirius until I got the TL. I was surprised to hear commercials on music channels on XM. WTF am I paying for?!

I hate they went to dual city traffic coverage. Philly is tied to Boston, so I have to wait through Boston. This is the Sirius format, XM had Philly seperate with traffic covering the tri-state area, now DE is forgotten and I don't get my weather scrolling on the screen or airport delays.

I also hate that the volume is so low on XM compared to other sources.

Finally, they are raising rates, so much for freezing them for the merger. They are sealing their death warrant. IPOD and Podcasts will kill satellite.

AMIC

I'm probably not going to renew when mine is up in a few weeks. I was not happy with the change in channel lineup after the merger. The DJs on the new Sirius stations that replaced my old favorites are horrible. I want to hear music not some DJ talking. They took away XM82 the System and moved it to online only and now they are going to start charging for online access.

Sal's Type S

iTrader: (1)

Have you guys ever tried Internet radio. There is a few apps out there that allow you to use your phones internet service. I tried it a few times and it worked pretty good. It drops a few times but over all its good. Just make sure you have unlimited plan....

msala524

iTrader: (3)

^^u mean hd radio?? I think you need a special radio for that.

Also I got an email, unless you renew soon. XM fees are going up to about 10 bucks a month. I'm not sure what it includes because there is no info on the web about it, they tell you to call a number. But my reasoning is that now they have total control of satellite radio so they can control the pricing before they were competing.

PhilB81

i think he means like Pandora radio and stuff like that. I know you can get those apps on the iphone, so do that and get a hookup like Elegant type S's and you're in good shape.

AMIC

The monthly fee for the service is not increasing but online access is no longer going to be free. I think it is going to be $3 and the fee for additional radios is going up.

Sal's Type S

iTrader: (1)

Yes similar apps for the internet radio I'm using GSplayer and MortPlayer you can also use 365radio but they charge. As for XM online i think if you sighn up early you might be able to get it free or have a second unit..

Carlito Benito

The increase in rates with removal of XM Online makes me wanna just get an iPod adapter for the TL. That will be the end of it.

One way of pissing off your customer base:
Making people lock-in to something they have for a few months and remove services that they actually enjoyed using as part of the fees you paid and were promised. Say goodbye to SiriusXM.

ZeeJM

I renewed for my 3rd $77 year in December, but might not renew next year in light of the rate increase. I installed a Peripheral PXAMG last spring and may just stick w/FM, CD/DVD-A, and iPod. I have a 2nd radio in my other vehicle that I might renew.

JCL622

just cancelled XM 2 weeks ago; installed the isimple and don't see a point with the horrible XM channels these days. so no, not going back to XM

1995hoo

I found the e-mail somewhat confusing. It contained the following paragraph:

This is your only chance to keep your online listening at no charge. Beginning March 11, if you wish to listen to XM Radio Online, you will need to purchase a supplemental Premium XM Radio Online subscription for $2.99* per month. Your current XM Radio Online listening privileges will be available at no charge until your next renewal date.**

(footnotes omitted)

My next renewal date is sometime in 2010 because when they announced back in 2005 that they were going to raise the rates I went for a five-year deal that locked in a rate of something like $8 a month. The paragraph quoted above is ambiguous because on the one hand, the last sentence implies that I retain my current online listening until the five-year deal expires, but the sentence before that implies that as of March 11 I lose online access unless I pay $2.99 per month and then the $2.99 per month gives me access until the five-year deal expires (at which point I suppose they might raise the rate further). So what's the story? I tried wading through the thread on the topic at xmfan.com but became frustrated with the whining tenor of some of the posts.

I suppose it's somewhat irrelevant for me because I don't listen online anyway due to the lack of streaming sports content (which is contractual with the various sports leagues because they want to protect their own subscription-based services).

AMIC

It sounds like you will have free access until your subscription is up. They have some text on the online site that says if you renew now you can have free online access until the end of that renewal term.

1fsthatch

im renewing it