I've got a GMC truck, 2 Mazda cars, and a boat all with XM radios, but never have paid for a subscription on any of them. Listened to the free preview when I bought the truck, but didn't want to spend the extra at the time. I also spend a lot of time in a tractor and a combine, and the tractor radio has stopped working, so thinking about a replacement.
It looks like I could buy a standalone XM radio that would Bluetooth to another device, like the truck, cars, and boat, and pay for a single subscription. Is that how it works? If so I could get a Bluetooth radio for the tractor also. Or, can you get a single subscription for multiple radios, or at least a discount, and not have to move between vehicles?
Asking here before I go to Bestbuy and talk to that scraggly faced kid again.
I had XM radio in the used Silverado. Apparently it was the tail end of the subscription from the previous owner because it only lasted about 2 weeks. I wasn't impressed with the reception. It works fine if you are in a wide open area but get around trees or in the mountains and you get zero reception. I might have considered renewing the subscription but I'm always in areas with lots of trees.
I don't know about bluetooth, but I have a stand alone radio that will pop in and out of a cradle, and can be used in any vehicle, or a home, that has a cradle. The cradle mounts in the car, and you wire it with the power, audio, and antenna connections. A lot of stock car radios now have a 1/8 audio jack, so it's just a matter of connecting that to the XM radio, a power outlet (cig. lighter), and putting a magnetic antenna on the roof of the car, and running the antenna wire through the door weatherstripping and trim.
So, for me, it was just a matter of buying additional cradle packages, and installing them.
My radio is pretty old, so it likely they are now using bluetooth, instead of an audio cable, and they may be using rechargeable batteries, instead of wired power, but you'd probably still need an external antenna, I'd think.
mp3 files, I listen to music and other audio files (books, lectures, etc) on my phone via bluetooth to FM.
B-)
I have Sirus/XM in my car and have not had any reception problems on the highway. Listened to Old Time Radio all the way to and from Maysville, KY for the Carlson Conference. Same story with the trip from Clinton, MS to Front Royal, VA.
Instead of multiple setups, look into the Stiletto radio they offer. Small unit you wear on your belt. Has a headphone set that uses its cord as the radio antennae and a small remote control for channels, volume, etc. I wear mine while mowing the yard. Works pretty good so far.
All of my stuff is at least 4 or 5 years old. I'm sure the new gear does much better than what I have. It's pricey, but if you are into old time radio or classic rock and roll, or news, then this is what you need.
Subscriptions are per device. First at full price and then discounted for each additional but still pricey. For your applications, I'd agree that a stand alone unit and several docks would be the cheap way to go. One thing to note, if you go the "lifetime subscription" route, I believe it's the lifetime of the radio, not your lifetime. I wouldn't be without my satellite radio at this point.
Also, I pay a little extra for the "online" option which allows me to use the SiriusXM app on my phone.
Zoidberg, post: 328482, member: 8841 wrote: Subscriptions are per device. First at full price and then discounted for each additional but still pricey. For your applications, I'd agree that a stand alone unit and several docks would be the cheap way to go. One thing to note, if you go the "lifetime subscription" route, I believe it's the lifetime of the radio, not your lifetime. I wouldn't be without my satellite radio at this point.
Also, I pay a little extra for the "online" option which allows me to use the SiriusXM app on my phone.
I bought the life time subscription in 2009 for $400 ... It does have its catches, but its transferrable to other stand alone radios up to 3 times. But if you have an in-dash radio, it is never transferrable out of an in-dash. They also won't count a transfer if your radio stops working and you have to buy a new one, and I also got them to not count a transfer once when my radio was stolen, but I had to argue that one.
Talking to their tech support has been an exercise in futility for me...
Firstly, a lifetime subscription is the cheapest option.
The second cheapest option is to let your subscription expire, and they will keep coming up with lower offers..... I believe after 3 months, you can get a year subscription for $75.
The third cheapest option (imposed on Sirius/Xm after the merger regarding monopoly laws) is to search for a la carte subscriptions. This is not advertised, and when you talk to them on the phone they will pretend to not know what you are talking about. A la carte is 50 channels of your choosing (no Howard stern or Internet listening) for $8 a month. It only works on certain receivers, but all the receivers are removable models, so you can swap from vehicle to vehicle.
I have 3 vehicles, 3 docks, and 1 Sirius radio.