garmin 496 - truning on and off mo xm subscription services....

[~^ beancounter ~^]

I am about to activitate my garmin 496 weather and music features
w the xm folks...

I am going to use the "full blown" weather service @ $50 + $7 for the
radio feature.....

Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
say
2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
penalities
or fees?

Or, does one need to keep going, month to month using the services it
or not?...and 2) whats the music quality like on the radio side? How
do
folks listen to the music ? ... Get a good set of headphones?
Portable
speakers? Or just use the built in factory speaker?.......

As always...thanx for ideas, comments, and tips.....

cheers.......

[Darrel Toepfer]

"~^ beancounter ~^" > wrote:

> I am about to activitate my garmin 496 weather and music features
> w the xm folks...
>
> I am going to use the "full blown" weather service @ $50 + $7 for the
> radio feature.....
>
> Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
> say
> 2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
> penalities or fees? Or, does one need to keep going, month to month
> using the services it or not?...

Vacation subscription hold/suspension... I kneaux my neighbor is able to
do this when he isn't flying (he flew out yesterday), I can't find any
reference to it on the Garmin or XM websites in regards to the terms
(like how many times a year you can do this and for how long each time)
or fees required for reactivation... So do this:

<quote on>
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us through email
or by phone 800-XM-RADIO (800-967-2346).
http://www.xmradio.com/help/emailus.xmc
<quote off>

> and 2) whats the music quality like on the radio side? How
> do folks listen to the music ? ... Get a good set of headphones?
> Portable speakers? Or just use the built in factory speaker?.......

Had it in a rental car on a trip to buy a plane in Ohio, I heard too
many song repeats within a days time and the talkshow/news sounded like
they were conducted over a telephone due to a high compression codec...

This was over 4 years ago, so maybe things have improved?

[Gig 601Xl Builder]

Darrel Toepfer wrote:

> Had it in a rental car on a trip to buy a plane in Ohio, I heard too
> many song repeats within a days time and the talkshow/news sounded like
> they were conducted over a telephone due to a high compression codec...
>
> This was over 4 years ago, so maybe things have improved?

It has

[~^ beancounter ~^]

how so? is the $8 per mo worth it for music/radio?
compaired to ipods and mp3 players...?


" It has "










On May 16, 2:26*pm, Gig 601Xl Builder >
wrote:
> Darrel Toepfer wrote:
> > Had it in a rental car on a trip to buy a plane in Ohio, I heard too
> > many song repeats within a days time and the talkshow/news sounded like
> > they were conducted over a telephone due to a high compression codec...
>
> > This was over 4 years ago, so maybe things have improved?
>
> It has

[Kobra]

"~^ beancounter ~^" > wrote in message
...
>I am about to activitate my garmin 496 weather and music features
> w the xm folks...
>
> I am going to use the "full blown" weather service @ $50 + $7 for the
> radio feature.....
>
> Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
> say
> 2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
> penalities
> or fees?
>
> Or, does one need to keep going, month to month using the services it
> or not?...and 2) whats the music quality like on the radio side? How
> do
> folks listen to the music ? ... Get a good set of headphones?
> Portable
> speakers? Or just use the built in factory speaker?.......
>
> As always...thanx for ideas, comments, and tips.....

The music quality is exceptional.

You can turn off the full blown Aviator features for a time and reactivate
it without penalty last I heard, but they said that if you do this too much
they will charge an activation fee of 75.00. What is "too much" I can't
tell you.

I have a Zulu headset and use the Bluetooth feature to listen to the audio.
It sounds three times better then the Bose X. I also bought a Bluetooth
adaptor from Jabra that I plug into the back of the 396. Works great. I
also have central music through my PS Engineering 8000B audio panel so all
4 seats can listen. If I'm alone prefer the BT method because I don't have
to use any wires.

Kobra

[Darrel Toepfer]

Gig 601Xl Builder > wrote:
> Darrel Toepfer wrote:
>
>> Had it in a rental car on a trip to buy a plane in Ohio, I heard too
>> many song repeats within a days time and the talkshow/news sounded like
>> they were conducted over a telephone due to a high compression codec...
>>
>> This was over 4 years ago, so maybe things have improved?
>
> It has

Well with the legends of songs available, it just didn't seem possible to
hear repeats every 5 hours or less (much less everyday) on a premium
service...

I swore off their programming on that trip, sadly its even cheaper to
subscribe today than back then...

[~^ beancounter ~^]

thanx everyone for the info.....

[Mike Spera]

>
> Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
> say
> 2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
> penalities
> or fees?
>
Given some of the stories of the poor customer service by these chaps
and the many goof ups, you might reconsider frequent changes to this
service. Although, the main problem appeared to be in the initial setup
when you first subscribed.

Not sure if things have improved.

I went out the other day to get...nothing. No feed. I went on the site
to discover (as others already have), that, if you don't use the thing
often enough, you get shut off. This requires a reactivation via the
Web. It worked. F.Y.I. to those who may idle the unit for a couple of
months.

Mike

[~^ beancounter ~^]

Oh yea, ?? Even though you keep throwin' the $50 per month? They
shut
you down w/out notice?...If so...that's a pita...



On May 18, 7:23*am, Mike Spera > wrote:
> > Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
> > say
> > 2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
> > penalities
> > or fees?
>
> Given some of the stories of the poor customer service by these chaps
> and the many goof ups, you might reconsider frequent changes to this
> service. Although, the main problem appeared to be in the initial setup
> when you first subscribed.
>
> Not sure if things have improved.
>
> I went out the other day to get...nothing. No feed. I went on the site
> to discover (as others already have), that, if you don't use the thing
> often enough, you get shut off. This requires a reactivation via the
> Web. It worked. F.Y.I. to those who may idle the unit for a couple of
> months.
>
> Mike

[Gig 601Xl Builder]

200 some channels including LOTS of sports, news, talk, which isn't on
my iPod. I've got three XM accounts as it is home, hanger and truck.

When my plane is done and I get the 496 I'm going to figure out someway
to use the 496 in place of the XM boom box at the hanger and also use
it when on trips in wifes car that doesn't have XM.




~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:
> how so? is the $8 per mo worth it for music/radio?
> compaired to ipods and mp3 players...?
>
>
> " It has "

[~^ beancounter ~^]

Gig...do you have to pay 3 sep account fees....or does the license
"travel" with
you or your device ?...






On May 19, 7:50*am, Gig 601Xl Builder >
wrote:
> 200 some channels including LOTS of sports, news, talk, which isn't on
> my iPod. I've got three XM accounts as it is home, hanger and truck.
>
> When my plane is done and I get the 496 I'm going to figure out someway
> * to use the 496 in place of the XM boom box at the hanger and also use
> it when on trips in wifes car that doesn't have XM.
>
>
>
> ~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:
> > how so? is the $8 per mo worth it for music/radio?
> > compaired to ipods and mp3 players...?
>
> > " *It has *"- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Gig 601Xl Builder]

Darrel Toepfer wrote:
> Gig 601Xl Builder > wrote:
>> Darrel Toepfer wrote:
>>
>>> Had it in a rental car on a trip to buy a plane in Ohio, I heard too
>>> many song repeats within a days time and the talkshow/news sounded like
>>> they were conducted over a telephone due to a high compression codec...
>>>
>>> This was over 4 years ago, so maybe things have improved?
>> It has
>
> Well with the legends of songs available, it just didn't seem possible to
> hear repeats every 5 hours or less (much less everyday) on a premium
> service...
>
> I swore off their programming on that trip, sadly its even cheaper to
> subscribe today than back then...

It sort of depends on what station you are listening to. There are some
stations that have formats that sort of force repeats regularly.

You get on channels like Deep Tracks and you will hear songs that you
never heard on the radio before and probably never will again.

[Jay Maynard]

On 2008-05-19, Gig 601Xl Builder > wrote:
> When my plane is done and I get the 496 I'm going to figure out someway
> to use the 496 in place of the XM boom box at the hanger and also use
> it when on trips in wifes car that doesn't have XM.

At the hangar, get a boom box with an auxiliary audio input. Hopefully, your
wife's car stereo has one, too; if not, you can use an FM modulator, but on
a trip, you'll find yourself retuning it regularly unless you get one that
will insert in the line between the antenna and the radio. In either case,
you can feed it with the 496's audio output. I carry mine on business trips,
just so I have XM in rental cars that don't have it.
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
Fairmont, MN (FRM) (Yes, that's me!)
AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC (ordered 17 March, delivery 2 June)

[Gig 601Xl Builder]

Three separate but I get a discount on two of them.


~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:
> Gig...do you have to pay 3 sep account fees....or does the license
> "travel" with
> you or your device ?...
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On May 19, 7:50 am, Gig 601Xl Builder >
> wrote:
>> 200 some channels including LOTS of sports, news, talk, which isn't on
>> my iPod. I've got three XM accounts as it is home, hanger and truck.
>>
>> When my plane is done and I get the 496 I'm going to figure out someway
>> to use the 496 in place of the XM boom box at the hanger and also use
>> it when on trips in wifes car that doesn't have XM.
>>
>>
>>
>> ~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:
>>> how so? is the $8 per mo worth it for music/radio?
>>> compaired to ipods and mp3 players...?
>>> " It has "- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -
>

[Mike Spera]

Well, I only buy the "lite" subscription at $29 odd bucks a month. It
appears to be a limitation of the technology that, if you don't use it
enough, the unit needs to be reinitialized. Only inconvenient under
certain circumstances.

So, they don't shut you down, you do (by not flying often enough).

Good Luck,
Mike

> Oh yea, ?? Even though you keep throwin' the $50 per month? They
> shut
> you down w/out notice?...If so...that's a pita...
>
>
>

>>.stuff snipped from my original reply
>>I went out the other day to get...nothing. No feed. I went on the site
>>to discover (as others already have), that, if you don't use the thing
>>often enough, you get shut off. This requires a reactivation via the
>>Web. It worked. F.Y.I. to those who may idle the unit for a couple of
>>months.
>>
>>Mike
>
>

[Mike Isaksen]

"Mike Spera" ...
> It appears to be a limitation of the technology that, if you
> don't use it enough, the unit needs to be reinitialized.
> So, they don't shut you down, you do (by not flying often enough).
>

How do they (XM) know if you are using their service. Isn't it a XM sat
receiver only. There is no feedback signal transmitted AFAIK. Maybe the
activation code they transmit is time limted by hardware/software coding in
the Receiver?

[Gig 601Xl Builder]

Mike Isaksen wrote:
> "Mike Spera" ...
>> It appears to be a limitation of the technology that, if you
>> don't use it enough, the unit needs to be reinitialized.
>> So, they don't shut you down, you do (by not flying often enough).
>>
>
> How do they (XM) know if you are using their service. Isn't it a XM sat
> receiver only. There is no feedback signal transmitted AFAIK. Maybe the
> activation code they transmit is time limted by hardware/software coding in
> the Receiver?
>
>

The problem comes from the issue that while you may have paid for a
month or a year or what ever the system is designed that it takes a new
authorization hit more often than just at the start of the term.

This isn't a problem for cars or home units that see the satellite most
or all of the time. But an airplane that might sit in a hanger for weeks
or even months loose their authorization and require a reauthorization.
In reality if you just pulled it out of the hanger and started it up it
would probably be reauthorized in 20-30 minutes without calling but most
people want it when they want it.

I thought they fixed (probably by increasing the reauthorization
frequency for those with aircraft subscriptions) the problem but that
might not be so.

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Gig 601Xl Builder" > wrote

> I thought they fixed (probably by increasing the reauthorization frequency
> for those with aircraft subscriptions) the problem but that might not be
> so.

I thought I remember that a software patch was required, and was issued, to
take care of that problem.

No?
--
Jim in NC

[[email protected]]

On May 16, 12:19*pm, "~^ beancounter ~^" >
wrote:
> I am about to activitate my garmin 496 weather and music features
> w the xm folks...
>
> I am going to use the "full blown" weather service @ $50 + $7 for the
> radio feature.....
>
> Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
> say
> 2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
> penalities
> or fees?
>
> Or, does one need to keep going, month to month using the services it
> or not?...and 2) whats the music quality like on the radio side? How
> do
> folks listen to the music ? ... Get a good set of headphones?
> Portable
> speakers? Or just use the built in factory speaker?.......
>
> As always...thanx for ideas, comments, and tips.....
>
> cheers.......

Back to the subject line. I have the aviator light and love it. I also
pay the extra for the music as I have a stereo intercom in my Viking.
The only real difference I see is lightning and winds aloft. I can
figure them out with the Garmin. You can't just shut the service off
at will and pay as you use.

[~^ beancounter ~^]

" lightning and winds aloft "

you get this info on the light package? i thought it was
only on the full or heavy service...if not...what extras do
you get on the full service..@ $50 per mo....?

how is the quality of the music? can/does it replace the
use/need for mp3 or cd palyers?...is it good fm quality? ie:
stero, low static, etc...

thanx






On May 26, 8:13*am, "
> wrote:
> On May 16, 12:19*pm, "~^ beancounter ~^" >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I am about to activitate my garmin 496 weather and music features
> > w the xm folks...
>
> > I am going to use the "full blown" weather service @ $50 + $7 for the
> > radio feature.....
>
> > Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
> > say
> > 2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
> > penalities
> > or fees?
>
> > Or, does one need to keep going, month to month using the services it
> > or not?...and 2) whats the music quality like on the radio side? How
> > do
> > folks listen to the music ? ... Get a good set of headphones?
> > Portable
> > speakers? Or just use the built in factory speaker?.......
>
> > As always...thanx for ideas, comments, and tips.....
>
> > cheers.......
>
> Back to the subject line. I have the aviator light and love it. I also
> pay the extra for the music as I have a stereo intercom in my Viking.
> The only real difference I see is lightning and winds aloft. I can
> figure them out with the Garmin. You can't just shut the service off
> at will and pay as you use.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[EK]

Yes. The quality of the music is excellent if you feed it into a stereo
intercom with music input. That's what I do.

Piper Warrior. N2096L.

"~^ beancounter ~^" > wrote in message
...
" lightning and winds aloft "

you get this info on the light package? i thought it was
only on the full or heavy service...if not...what extras do
you get on the full service..@ $50 per mo....?

how is the quality of the music? can/does it replace the
use/need for mp3 or cd palyers?...is it good fm quality? ie:
stero, low static, etc...

thanx






On May 26, 8:13 am, "
> wrote:
> On May 16, 12:19 pm, "~^ beancounter ~^" >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I am about to activitate my garmin 496 weather and music features
> > w the xm folks...
>
> > I am going to use the "full blown" weather service @ $50 + $7 for the
> > radio feature.....
>
> > Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
> > say
> > 2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
> > penalities
> > or fees?
>
> > Or, does one need to keep going, month to month using the services it
> > or not?...and 2) whats the music quality like on the radio side? How
> > do
> > folks listen to the music ? ... Get a good set of headphones?
> > Portable
> > speakers? Or just use the built in factory speaker?.......
>
> > As always...thanx for ideas, comments, and tips.....
>
> > cheers.......
>
> Back to the subject line. I have the aviator light and love it. I also
> pay the extra for the music as I have a stereo intercom in my Viking.
> The only real difference I see is lightning and winds aloft. I can
> figure them out with the Garmin. You can't just shut the service off
> at will and pay as you use.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[~^ beancounter ~^]

great...thanx for all the tips and feedback everyone !!!






On Jun 29, 6:41*pm, "EK" > wrote:
> Yes. The quality of the music is excellent if you feed it into a stereo
> intercom with *music input. That's what I do.
>
> Piper Warrior. N2096L.
>
> "~^ beancounter ~^" > wrote in ...
> " lightning and winds aloft "
>
> you get this info on the light package? i thought it was
> only on the full or heavy service...if not...what extras do
> you get on the full service..@ $50 per mo....?
>
> how is the quality of the music? can/does it replace the
> use/need for mp3 or cd palyers?...is it good fm quality? ie:
> stero, low static, etc...
>
> thanx
>
> On May 26, 8:13 am, "
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> > On May 16, 12:19 pm, "~^ beancounter ~^" >
> > wrote:
>
> > > I am about to activitate my garmin 496 weather and music features
> > > w the xm folks...
>
> > > I am going to use the "full blown" weather service @ $50 + $7 for the
> > > radio feature.....
>
> > > Two questions...1) if I know I am not going to use the features for
> > > say
> > > 2 months ( or longer ) ...can I temp. turn on and shut off w/out
> > > penalities
> > > or fees?
>
> > > Or, does one need to keep going, month to month using the services it
> > > or not?...and 2) whats the music quality like on the radio side? How
> > > do
> > > folks listen to the music ? ... Get a good set of headphones?
> > > Portable
> > > speakers? Or just use the built in factory speaker?.......
>
> > > As always...thanx for ideas, comments, and tips.....
>
> > > cheers.......
>
> > Back to the subject line. I have the aviator light and love it. I also
> > pay the extra for the music as I have a stereo intercom in my Viking.
> > The only real difference I see is lightning and winds aloft. I can
> > figure them out with the Garmin. You can't just shut the service off
> > at will and pay as you use.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Mike[_22_]]

"EK" > wrote in message
ng.com...
> Yes. The quality of the music is excellent if you feed it into a stereo
> intercom with music input. That's what I do.
>
> Piper Warrior. N2096L.
>
> "~^ beancounter ~^" > wrote in message
> ...
> " lightning and winds aloft "
>
> you get this info on the light package? i thought it was
> only on the full or heavy service...if not...what extras do
> you get on the full service..@ $50 per mo....?

You get the Nexrad radar feed, METARs, and TAFs on both the $30 and $50
package, which is the biggest benefit, IMO. IIRC, you get TFRs even if you
don't subscribe at all.

The $50 package gets you Airmets/Sigmets, freezing levels, winds aloft, and
the satellite mosaic, all of which are really nice to have. Of lesser value
(IMO), you also get lightning, storm tracks, and suface analysis with the
$50 package.

http://www.xmradio.com/weather/av_service_pricing.xmc

> how is the quality of the music? can/does it replace the
> use/need for mp3 or cd palyers?...is it good fm quality? ie:
> stero, low static, etc...

I don't have the XM radio connected in the plane as it costs an additional
$7 per month and I have an IPOD connection to my intercom. I do have XM
radio in my car and the quality is quite good and much better than FM. The
only time I loose the signal is in parking garages, tunnels, and really wide
overpasses, so I suspect you would probably have no reception problems at
all in a plane (except for in the hangar perhaps). If you get XM weather
through something like a 496, it's worth hooking up to the intercom even if
you don't subscribe to the audio service, because you get audio terrain
alerts.

One thing XM doesn't advertise on their web site is if you pay up front for
an entire year they give you a discount (I think it's 10%). For the XM
audio, if you have more than one receiver, they give you a discount for that
as well.