Looking for XM Radio Advice: My XM Onyx radio is no longer reliable. It seems that these radios have a problem maintaining the antenna connection. After less than two years of use, I...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My XM Onyx radio is no longer reliable. It seems that these radios have a problem maintaining the antenna connection. After less than two years of use, I keep getting a message telling me that the radio has lost its antenna connection. I tried the tricks suggested online with very limited success. I've used three different antennas and three different cradles, all with bad results. Now it's time to use a different radio.

I can transfer the Lifetime subscription from the Onyx to another radio, so I have to decide if I should buy a new radio - and they all seem to use that cradle - or use one of the three old Roady XM radios I have. What I am looking for is experiences any of you have had with XM radios failing. I used the Roady radios for years on a motorcycle, in the house, and in cars, and they all still work - but they're all over five years old. Since it costs $75 to do the transfer, I'd rather not have to do it every year. I'm open to suggestions.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

jerryc41 wrote:

My XM Onyx radio is no longer reliable. It seems ... (show quote)

I have never understood why anyone would PAY for radio when there are thousands of stations broadcasting for free! Especially when that signal you are paying for gets blocked by every tall building or large tree.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Don't know if any of the following will help you -----
We have been XM Radio subscribers for at least the last 10 years --- Our (never upgraded / changed) home / car receiver is a Delphi Skyfi --- the unit has never failed us -- Have used & continue to use the XM daily use @ home & in our auto for our numerous cross country trips

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

MT Shooter wrote:

I have never understood why anyone would PAY for radio when there are thousands of stations broadcasting for free! Especially when that signal you are paying for gets blocked by every tall building or large tree.

I thought the same thing when XM began. When I saw so many motorcycle riders using the Roady - a waterproof XM - I got interested. I used one for years, and it was great on long trips. I had the same music no matter how far I rode. Using a regular radio in a car is is frustrating on a long trip.

As for signal blockage, there are only two areas here (Catskill Mts) where I lose the signal for maybe fifteen seconds. I like the technology, but the company must be one of the worst in the country. That's what happens when you have a monopoly. If I didn't have a Lifetime subscription, I'd never renew.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

ken_stern wrote:

Don't know if any of the following will help you -----
We have been XM Radio subscribers for at least the last 10 years --- Our (never upgraded / changed) home / car receiver is a Delphi Skyfi --- the unit has never failed us -- Have used & continue to use the XM daily use @ home & in our auto for our numerous cross country trips

Thanks. Do the wires connect to the radio or to the cradle? With the Onyx, the wires go to the cradle, and the radio gets connected when it's placed in the cradle.The Skyfi looks very similar to the Roady, and the remote is similar, too. Actually, the Roady and the Onyx use the same remote, handy for car and home.

I'm assuming that the radio/cradle interface is the weak point in my system, so I don't want another radio with that cradle, but that seems to be all they sell.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Wires to cradle --- You may want to check for bent pins -- just had my replaced on my 5d2

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

I found one at Goodwill in a bin at the outlet store that had an enabled subscription - that and the antenna must have cost less than a dollar. I just sit it on the seat and plug a DC cable and antenna in, and set the antenna on the dash. No problems.

kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

MT Shooter wrote:

I have never understood why anyone would PAY for radio when there are thousands of stations broadcasting for free! Especially when that signal you are paying for gets blocked by every tall building or large tree.

Why pay? How about NO commercials, dedicated channels to your kind of music (classical in my case), reception no matter where you are. I've had no problems with reception anywhere. Best of all, you're neverout of range.
Ken S.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

kschwegl wrote:

Why pay? How about NO commercials, dedicated channels to your kind of music (classical in my case), reception no matter where you are. I've had no problems with reception anywhere. Best of all, you're neverout of range.
Ken S.

:thumbup:

Although their system of music delivery is fine, the company itself is awful. I used to listen to the two classical channels they offered. Then they eliminated one of them, so I had a choice of - One! If I paid double for the Premium package, I could get the other classical channel back. Now I listen to the one classical, several jazz, 40s, and 50s.

Look at the number of sports channels, hip hop channels, rock, hard rock, old rock, new rock, traditional rock, etc. Their offerings are extremely lopsided.

A friend said that his Lifetime subscription let him listen online for free. Originally, any subscription let you listen online for free. Then they began charging, but I wasn't interested. With encouragement from my friend, I checked out online listening. I signed in and could listen online. Great! An hour later, I got an email from XM thanking me for my online subscription. After about half an hour on Chat, I was able to cancel the subscription I had never signed up for.

kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

jerryc41 wrote:

:thumbup: br br Although their system of music d... (show quote)

dashone

There are hundreds of apps for your smart phone that deliver music for every imaginable taste, and most are free. A simple Blu-ray connection to the speaker(s) of your choice--again, there are hundreds of these units out extant, in all price ranges--and, voila, tunes!

Makaipi Loc: Lexington, South Carolina

Without getting into a long story, my dealings with XM radio haven't been satisfactory. I use Pandora or Spotify with Bluetooth on my device. I've got an MP3 with me as a back up with my favorite era music incase there's no phone signal. Biggest cost to obtain the music: 1. Download to .50 MP3 player found at thrift store, 2. Sweat equity in acquiring apps on cell phone. Then you can use your imagination on personal configuration . XM is then totally out of the picture.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

dashone wrote:

There are hundreds of apps for your smart phone that deliver music for every imaginable taste, and most are free. A simple Blu-ray connection to the speaker(s) of your choice--again, there are hundreds of these units out extant, in all price ranges--and, voila, tunes!

I have AM, FM, CD, and USB options in my car, so XM isn't essential, but I'd like to continue using my Lifetime subscription.

Some phone apps rely on data usage. The problem with that is I have limited data, so I can't just let it run. I'd like to use Waze in my car, but the cost of data would be ridiculous.

This flash drive is about the size of a thumbnail, and it will hold thousands of songs.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LLEN5FQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

kschwegl wrote:

Why pay? How about NO commercials, dedicated channels to your kind of music (classical in my case), reception no matter where you are. I've had no problems with reception anywhere. Best of all, you're neverout of range.
Ken S.

Could not have said it better, Ken. I have two radios plus internet connection. Been a subscriber since 2002 and have never had reception problem. Satellite radio is the ONLY way to go IMO.

monroephoto

I too enjoy the specific choice of station provided by Sat Radio. KEY: NEVER agree to automatic renewals. Strike that language out of renewal forms and place a notation on your renewal check that you physically mail in. (I realize the original post has a lifetime subscription, but for those who read this and do not). Why? Because, as with many such services, to sign up for service is like falling off a log. To cancel a service will take you half a day on hold, speaking with multiple service reps who are trained to NOT let you stop paying them money. While it costs about three additional dollars to invoice your service, you'll be glad you did when the day comes where you want it stopped. You'll also find that an ended subscription prompts an offer to re-up your service for much less money than the jacked up price they try and hit you for at renewal time. MAINTAIN YOUR RIGHT TO SIMPLY WALK AWAY.