Part #?

 

from the XM site....
http://www.xmradio.com/merger/news.xmc#2

"Will my existing radio continue to work after the companies merge?

You'll be able to use the exact same satellite radio that you are listening to now, after the merger takes place and for the life of your radio. That's the XM Customer Promise."

 

Yes....as long as you want to continue to receive XM stations. If you want mixed XM and Sirius you will need a new radio.

Link

 

Check #7 here http://www.siriusmerger.com/site/page/faq

Looks like you will be able to order a "custom" menu using both services regardless of which service you now have.

 

If you look at the following PDF, it shows that ala-cart pricing will not be available until about a year after the merger, and that "A la carte programming will only be available for subscribers
using new radios, which will be developed following approval of the merger."

It does say that the you will be able to receive "select" Sirius channels on existing XM radios, and vice versa, however no listing of what channels is available. I've read elsewhere that the selection will be slim since they want to push the ala-carte services. It makes sense, but I don't know how reliable that is.

Either way....if you can wait, go for it. Just be realistic about the time frame. Having a lifetime subscription to Sirius made it a no-brainer for me.

 

Attached is an link from yahoo business with some more details on when dual XM/Sirius radios will be on the market.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080326/satel...mers.html?.v=3

 

Ouch...$3 to $6 per channel for "premium" channels like the NFL....

I figured they would keep those for the ala-carte packages since they are already charging more for them, but I didn't think they would add any additional cost to it

 

This sounds like a bunch of BS. It would be really simple to consolidate duplicate channels (who needs 2 seperate Fox News, 60's Rock, etc), and broadcast the new consolidated line-up on BOTH systems. This method would allow both XM & Sirius users to receive the identical channels. This is what I was hoping they would do. Seems as though the existing subscribers are going to get screwed anyway.

If they think I am going to buy another receiver they are nuts. What is to be done with the built-in XM in my 2008 Sedan?

 

I'm interested to see how they handle this too. Despite the pledges that "No current radio will be obsolete", I don't see how they can do that in the long run. XM sats lack the bandwidth to broadcast "new" features like TV which Sirius is already rolling out. So what happens when these sats reach the end of their service life? It doesn't make financial sense to launch new sats that dual broadcast. Not to mention the cost of maintaining two sets of terrestrial repeaters. Eventually one or the other will have to be phased out. And more then likely it will be XM.

And just to clarify....The last XM sat (XM-4) was launched in 2006 with a service life of 15 years, so no one panic yet

 

I just finished converting my '08 G35X Nav from XM to Sirius. I purchased the Sirius Tuner from Grubbs and picked up a Sirius antenna from Best Buy (about $15 cheaper than Grubbs) and installed it via BFranks directions.

The install was really easy and it is working perfect with the antenna mounted inside on the back deck.

I did lose the changer (never used it) and the XM but it was well worth it.

I couldn't wait any longer for this merger to go thru and was willing to pony up to $200 to get an all Sirius radio. After listening to XM for a few weeks now, I realized that I definetly prefer Sirius (in my other car).

 

Glad it worked for you.

Has anyone that swapped to Sirius decided to keep the XM traffic? And if so, has anyone gotten them to come off the $9.95 price?

Or better yet.....has anyone tried the Sirius traffic to see if it works?

 

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere. I have an '08, non-navigation. Am I correct that in non-nav models this is a box swap? Do the existing connectors just plug in to the Sirius receiver? Will the antenna that is used by the XM receiver plug directly into the Sirius recevier? Thanks

 

It should be. If you look at the attached pic, your receiver should be attached to the TEL control unit circled in the picture. I'm thinking it's mounted above it, so you might have to remove both. Other then that, it should be plug and play.

 

Thanks. I hope it's plug and play. I want the NFL package and it doesn't look as though it will be offered as a "select Sirius" option post meger. Has anyone out there actually done this with my set-up?

 

I'm not necessarily saying you're wrong, but I just want to get confirmation one way or another. Per the website you linked, it says this:

"We guarantee no radio will become obsolete. Your current radio will continue to provide you with the programming you enjoy, whether you keep your current service or change to a new subscription plan."

It just seems odd to me that they would say "...or change to a new subscription plan." if the current radios wouldn't work with the new subscription plan.