Getting XM on the cheap.... How to?

[Unit74]

I just picked up a 496 that had an XM on it. Anyone know how to get the best deal out of XM? They are pretty proud of those subscriptions. It appears they rely on the theory that if it goes on an aircraft, the price should be double anything land based.

I have debated between getting the Stratus or the XM. Since both the iPad and stratus are battery based, I would rather go hard wired with XM for reliability. On my longer flights, I have had my iPad shut down on me. No bueno.

 

[John221us]

Since they have a monopoly on it, I am pretty sure if you want it, you just pony up. I just cancelled mine and will be switching yo ADS-B.

 

[LDJones]

The 496 is battery-based, also, unless you plug it in....just like the iPad. Mine has never failed in flight in three years flying with it. When sorting through weather, I like the larger screen.

 

[Unit74]

The 496 is now panel mounted and tied to the 430.

As a side note, I always wear polarized shades. Well, the iPad becomes invisible which is another piece of my angst.

 

[flyingriki]

I just picked up a 496 that had an XM on it. Anyone know how to get the best deal out of XM? They are pretty proud of those subscriptions. It appears they rely on the theory that if it goes on an aircraft, the price should be double anything land based.

I have debated between getting the Stratus or the XM. Since both the iPad and stratus are battery based, I would rather go hard wired with XM for reliability. On my longer flights, I have had my iPad shut down on me. No bueno.

Have been flying across the country from Kalifornia to the tip of Long Island to Friday Harbor and San Diego with a 396 and XM lite. Good enough and love the music for $30-40 bucks a month....http://www.xmwxweather.com/aviation/data-service-pricing.php

 

[Mike I]

As a side note, I always wear polarized shades. Well, the iPad becomes invisible which is another piece of my angst.

While it may not work with your mounting situation, have you tried rotating the iPad 90 degrees? That may solve your polarized glasses issue.

 

[Archammer]

While it may not work with your mounting situation, have you tried rotating the iPad 90 degrees? That may solve your polarized glasses issue.

That works, or you can get the Non-Polarized Flying Eyes Shades

 

[JHW]

With a 3-month subscription costing the same as an hour and change of fuel for most of us, is it really that much?

Now that I live in a part of the world with no xm available I appreciate what a bargain it is.

 

[frfly172]

I used the 496 with the cheapest subscription. Have switched to ADSB with the stratus,more info and cheaper after a year.

 

[flyingron]

For a while you could sign up for the nautical subscription for less money and get pretty much the same service.

 

[Unit74]

That's what the previous owner had. The boating subscription.

 

[Warlock]

Can you use the $9.95 skywatch boaters subscription on a 396? All I want is a a little weather radar for VFR flight...while in training and building a few hours prior to getting recurrent flying IFR in most likely different airplane.

 

[Datadriver]

how to get the best deal out of XM?

The technology is superior to ADS-B, but so was Beta vs VHS.
The masses have voted for ADS-B, so get out of XM quick.

Have fun with the 50 minute on-hold time when you try to cancel
that subscription.

 

[C182P]

Have fun with the 50 minute on-hold time when you try to cancel that subscription.

I'm not that patient with people that I pay money to. If I had to wait like that, I'd inform my credit card company that no future charges from that merchant are to be accepted, along with a copy of a cancellation letter I'll have mailed the merchant.

 

[timwinters]

If you buy a used 496 & puck from an airline pilot, and transfer the "Aviator Lite" subscription over from your 396's puck, then it's possible that you'll get all the "Aviator Pro" services that the airline pilot subscribed to ($100/mo) for the "Aviator Lite" price ($35/mo).

I did that for 4 years before I quit flying for my business.

I guess that's one way to get XM for cheap.

 

[Dr. O]

Just a quick reminder that it is fast and simple to call your CC company and tell them to give you a new card with a new magic number on the back. Five days later it arrives. You call the phone number on the sticker and 'viola' (whoever she is) everyone who had access to your account number can no longer charge to it. (remember to update those services you want to continue)

I never bother with sending any of these "stay on hold until you pass out" types a letter - they will deny they ever got such, anyway.
You ought to hear the squealing and whining when feeding time comes and the hogs discover that the trough is empty One woman was hyperventilating over the phone until I thought she would pass out.

I have had the same two cards, Visa and MC, since 1980 - which they have printed on the front of the card(s) they are so proud of themselves - the account number has never changed. But the security code gets changed regularly.

 

[rbridges]

I have debated between getting the Stratus or the XM. Since both the iPad and stratus are battery based, I would rather go hard wired with XM for reliability. On my longer flights, I have had my iPad shut down on me. No bueno.

the upside to being battery based is that it doesn't require power from the plane if the electrical starts acting up. You can always get a cigarette lighter adapter for your ipad charger.

 

[Martymccasland]

With a 3-month subscription costing the same as an hour and change of fuel for most of us, is it really that much?

Now that I live in a part of the world with no xm available I appreciate what a bargain it is.

Totally agree. I use XM Wx and/or music on nearly every flight. It pro-rates to a rounding error on the flight, yet adds so much. Add in that I've used the winds aloft screen en-route many times to pick a better altitude, and I'd bet my cost of using XM Wx on some flights is negative. i.e. situations where Foreflight says something like 10 knots tailwind @ 8000, I take off and see 25, realize Foreflight was averaging along the total route, and pull up the wind maps to see when to climb / descend enroute to get the best push....

 

[Mike5250]

I was able to get 1 month music for free but no trial period on the aviation program. I have wx lite and it will work for now. The music subscription just canceled and I'm starting to miss it.

 

[N747JB]

I have XM on my 396 with Aviator lite and XM radio, I don't use the weather much in the 182, so I may cancel it, but I really like the XM radio for longer trips! I have XM radio and Aviator lite in the Conquest as well, I do use the weather feature more, but still love the radio portion.
As a Ford dealer, we have a rep from Sirius/XM he got me hooked up on my son's Sirius subscription, but no luck on anything aviation related.

 

[bahama flier]

I have had the WX for several years, but stopped it because I fly to the Bahamas and the WX only goes as far as mid Grand Bahama Island. It does me no good after that.

The ADS-B will not give me any more coverage than that, so I depend on the WX brief from Miami and check it in route with WXwatch if I see something that just popped up.

If you subscribe to WX, PAY BY CHECK ONLY, if you give them a credit card, and you try to stop your service, they will continue to charge you for months before you can get them to stop,,,, been there.

I have two WX boxes and antennas, one grey and one black, for either unit I use them in, if you want a deal on one find out what color you need, and send me a message.