What happens after the XM trial period?

I would think they would go away if you have not subscribed to a service.

I do subscribe so I have not lost anything and have all the channels but didn't take the highest level of service and since I have another radio it only costs $6.95 for the service on the Prius.

I prefer that service over any IPOD or CD's, since it provides me a choice of many different options and music selections, comedy etc.

I don't use FM much anymore..

 

Your trial ended just as XM has a free preview of 60 channels until November 30.

http://www.xmradio.com/pdf/2weeksfree/60guide4b-s.pdf

 

With any luck this POS company will go bankrupt in 2010 and the infrastructure will be purchased by someone who knows how to operate a business.

 

My trial expired 2 weeks ago and I also experienced a "phase out" of the service. First I noticed that I only had one bank of satellite presets (instead of 3), and some channels no longer worked. Now it's compeltely deactivated (except for Channels 000 and 001). I don't know if it's a multiple-stage process to deactivate the radio, or if it's a marketing ploy. Either way, expect your satrad to be gone soon unless you subscribe.

 

I believe they next hunt your car down and rip the SAT radio out from under the driver's seat when you leave it unattended.

 

I lost my service after the trial period then the phone calls started. Eventually, they offered a 50% discount on a one year package, but I declined as I usually listen to books on CDs. Their pitchman indicated they also have books to listen to...only I must listen to what they offer as opposed to getting an audio book of my choice from the local public library...free.

 

That explains my experience. My trial period was supposed to be over last Thursday, November 26. I had full channels through Sunday afternoon, November 29. By evening I was down to that small handful of demonstration channels.

Today I had no XM channels at all, except for that preview channel that tries to get you to subscribe because of all the things you are missing.

I won't be signing up. It was all right, and I really enjoyed some of the channels (particularly MLB Home Plate), but in the final analysis, it's just more radio--complete with lots and lots of commercials.

 

Oh, PS to Tideland: I'm pretty sure my car was on the lot for a couple of days before I bought it. My trial period lasted a couple of days over three months from the day I bought the car. So they must let XM know somehow when the trial period is supposed to start.

 

I got 3 months and a few days on my trial so it looks like it was activated when I took delivery.

 

When my 3 months were up (mid-October) I started getting the phone calls to subscribe and said no thanks. I thought they deactivated my radio, but a few weeks ago I went to my SAT setting, and a lot of the stations were still there. I thought I had scored haha! Well a couple days ago, all the stations disappeared and now all I have is the voice promo to sign up for a subscription...

I won't miss satellite radio, as I just bought a Verizon Droid phone, and now I can stream all the custom music I want from Pandora or lastfm. It's a beautiful thing! (and Google Maps navigation, too, to fill in where the Prius nav is lacking...)

 

I have a Model: II...Do I have all the components I need to activate Satellite radio reception or do I need to purchase something else? I see a Satellite button on the radio. The Owner's manual is not clear.

Thanks in advance

 

I had VERY similar thoughts, or wishes. But this is a combination of Sirius and XM, neither of which could survive independently, so unless I'm missing something, they have a monopoly and a large installed base of receivers. If they do go out of business, we might have no satellite radio service provider.

While signing up for the service the other day, it appeared to me that after you make any change to your profile online (address, etc.) that their system appeared to make the changes on some sort of batch schedule, and would "go away" for a period of 15 to 30 minutes before your records were updated. This sort of foolishness was a hallmark of information processing that died out about, oh, 30 years ago. But not at Sirius/XM. To paraphrase the New Republic, this is "..so serenely silly - so untroubled by any whiff of a serious idea - as to invite a kind of awe..".

Calling them merely "inept" is being charitable. Let's hear it for monopolies. They have no motivation to improve their service, all they need to do is to jack the rates up to the point that they can make money in spite of their gross incompetence. Because after all, there is no other choice, is there?