you guys that have sirius sat radio how handy is this Sirius Traffic and Travel link been? would you or did you renew it? I have had my truck for almost 6 mouths now, stored it for the winter(NE salt) so I haven't done any trips with the camper to try it out! Thanks for any input

 

I like the weather forecasts, but my phone gives me that so for me it's not really needed. The traffic I can't seem to get to work without inputting a destination. I just wanna know if there's any traffic on the road/parkway I'm on, haven't figured that out, or if it's even possible. The ski resort info is bunk, doesn't have the 2 somewhat large ski resorts that are within 2 hours of me (Seven Springs/Hidden Valley).

So for me, it's not worth it unless they give me a smokin deal on a longer term agreement. I still have 3 more months though.

 

In the city, I find it useful, and on long trips, I find it invaluable. Without a programmed route, it only shows traffic on major highways. With a programmed route, it will search deeper and show anything that has been reported to their system that falls on your route. I also use it for fuel prices, and occasionally movie tickets. Being able to request not only prices, but *locations* of reasonably-prices diesel stations that are *on my route*... then being able to add them in as a stop with just a couple clicks... I love that.

Today is the 6-month anniversary of the purchase of my truck... I'm hoping it lasts a few more days before I have to spend the money to renew.

 

Check out this previous discussion:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9618495

I waited until the last day of my free subscription and then called them. Ended up renewing both the radio and the travel link (they're separate plans) for a total of a little less than $10 per month. To me, it's well worth that for the weather and route conditions notification and the fuel pricing. Also, there's a couple of the music stations I've really grown to like, and almost never listen to the radio/CD/etc., so it would be worth it to me even without the other stuff.

Talking to Sirius is an experience. They must recruit their phone people based on incompetency (i.e., the more incompetent, the better). Anyway, whatever pricing they send you with the standard subscription renewal letter is not cast in stone. Lots of possibilities if you cut through the BS. Actually, you probably can't cut through all the BS, but you can get past some of it.

If you decide to renew and you pay with a credit card, take notes and check your bill. They overcharged me, but they fixed it right away when I complained.

Joe

 

I got only the travel link and paid $2 a month

 

I allowed my service with Sirrius to expire after the intro period. I am an old XM Radio subscriber. I've had 3-4 Subscriptions to XM for the last 6 years. When I asked Sirrius if they would recognize my three XM radios and give me the family plan discount that XM does, they said no, they can't do that because although they are the same company, they don't recognize XM subscribers for the purpose of family plan rates. WTF!!! Are you one company or not???

The main reason I want to stay with XM is I like my baseball play-by-play. You can't get that on Sirrius. They don't kno when or IF they will ever be able offer MLB on Sirrius. Well, la-te-freakin-da! My wife's caddy has XM, and my son and I both have a portable XM receivers we use in various ways. Motorcycle trips, shop tunes, work car, camping. So, I will keep my XM subscrips, until they, (Sirrius), get serious!!!!!

Sirrius did send me a pretty enticing offer to renew with them after I told them what I thought of the way they run their business. But, that would just be caving in to them as I see it. Dammit, this is about principle here.

 

Be very careful if you subscribe to Sirius/XM. I had a subscription to XM on the car I traded in for my truck last September. The XM subscription in that car expired at the end of September. When I received my October credit card statement, lo and behold, there's a nice $462.87 charge on my card for a new 3 year subscription for XM radio on the car I'd traded in a month earlier.
I called XM and they said they'd cancelled my subscription and would credit my card. Come November I get my statement and no credit. What the heck, call them again, talk to somebody else explaining the situation. Ok, they don't know what went wrong but they'll cancel my subscription and issue a credit to my card.
December rolls around and I get the card statement, no credit. Ok, call the card company and open a dispute. Card company issues a temporary credit pending outcome of dispute. Yesterday, I receive a letter from the card company ruling in favor of XM because XM stated that I'd never contacted them to cancel the subscription.
Back on the phone to XM/Sirius this morning. They once again said they don't know what happened, they don't show any record I called previously, but they would cancel my subscription and issue a pro-rated credit charging me for the last six months.
We'll see in another month I guess. Nonetheless, I'll never give another dime to that company.

--Glockin'Bob

 

I like the notifications for construction/accidents and other traffic jam-causing issues, as well as the ability to route around. I'll be keeping the subscription.

 

So long as you keep your subscription, I suspect you'll be OK. But when you decide to cancel, you may run into trouble as I did. I've filed a complaint with my state Attorney General.

Satellite Radio Company Accused Of Refusing To Cancel Service - Money News Story - KIRO Seattle

 

Wow, sorry to hear about your troubles. Is this just an issue in the northwest, or all over? Hadn't heard of this, and we've had Sirrius since 2006.

 

I renewed the music and travel link only, the traffic info was interesting but did not prove itself all that valuable to me.

 

From what I found on the internet, it appears to be a problem all across the country.
Here's the thing about how short-sighted this company is: I was going to subscribe to Sirius in my pickup after the trial period. I was thinking about either the 3 yr or lifetime plan, I enjoyed some of the music stations. They screwed themselves out of any possibility of that when they pulled this stunt on me with my subscription I had with the car I traded in on the pickup. But I refuse to do business with the company ever again because of such crooked tactics. Now after six months of trying to get them to cancel my subscription on the car I traded in, I figured I'm not the only one they're doing this to, and I was right. A little bit of time searching on the internet revealed thousands of complaints like mine. It's a pattern of behaviour for this company.

 

Be careful of lifetime plans if you trade or sell your vehicle . Lifetime Subscription Plan: A "Lifetime Subscription" is one that continues for the life of the Receiver equipment. Lifetime Subscriptions are nonrefundable. Non Automotive Receivers: A Lifetime Subscription associated with a home, portable, or dock & play Receiver is transferable from one Receiver to another Receiver, up to a maximum of three (3) times. For each permitted transfer of a subscription from one Receiver to another or from one person to another you will be charged a transfer fee set forth in this Agreement. Automotive Receivers: A Lifetime Subscription is not transferable if it is associated with a Receiver installed in a vehicle by an automaker or an automotive dealer, except in the event the original Receiver associated with that Lifetime Subscription is stolen, accidentally damaged or if, in the sole discretion of Sirius or XM, it is defective. For each permitted transfer of a subscription from one person to another based upon a stolen or accidentally damaged Receiver you
will be charged a transfer fee set forth in this Agreement. No transfer fee will be charged for the transfer of a Lifetime Subscription associated with a Receiver installed by an automaker or an automotive dealer if, in the sole discretion of Sirius or XM, the Receiver is defective.

 

I let my Sirius and Travel link subscription expire about a year ago.

Good points:
- Good tool for long drives out-of-town where I'm not familiar with the territory.
- easy to find sorted best prices for fuel along programmed destination routes

The reasons why I didn't renew:
- I never really found any value in the other travel link features. Stuff like windspeed and wind direction were cool to look at, but it doesn't affect me while driving other than knowing my mpg is going to suck more when I know I'm driving with a headwind. I never watch movies. Ski conditions can be found online in realtime.
- fuel prices weren't always accurate. It seems like they get their prices from the same source as MapQuest, and those are often at least 1-2days old. I rely on GasBuddy if I want something more accurate.
- My wife had an XM plan that she tried to transfer the remaining subscription to my expiring Sirius plan since she doesn't drive her car enough to justify keeping it. They wouldn't do it even after threatening to not renew it. WTF?!
- Traffic updates are only as accurate as wherever they're getting their information and usually 10-15min behind. Sometimes that makes enough difference between needing to make a decision to take one freeway vs another too late! A lot of times I found the 'green' paths backed-up and stopped, and some cases, 'red paths' clear and wide open. Some of the yellow warnings look like big deals when in fact they are somebody stopped on the side of the road fixing a flat.

Here's the kicker:
- I have a data plan on my phone that I pay regardless. I use it to stream Pandora audio over bluetooth or aux audio input into my Sync/Nav. With the Pandaro's 'high quality mode', it sounds just as good if not better than Sirius assuming there's cellphone coverage. Why pay for something twice (or more if I have multiple cars)? The phone goes with me wherever I go--my phone dataplan is not tied to a specific car as Sirius does to us.

- It's somewhat of an inconvenience, but I use my phone to look for fuel pricing before I set out. I spend a few minutes looking in the general areas to get an ideal of where I'm going to refuel. Given how much fuel prices vary these days, it's worth the effort especially with a 38gallon tank!


A request to you Ford Sync/Nav Marketing/Engineering team if you're lurking-- build in the ability to tether our cellphones or 3rd party modems via USB into the Sync/Nav system to access the 'cloud'.
That gives me the choice of picking what to use to access the web. It also opens up the doors for you guys to do all sorts of clever apps including accessing real-time google maps etc.
so we never have to need to deal with outdated nav maps. The Sync/Nav unit is excellent as is, and adding this will continue to let Sync outpace everyone else in the automotive infotainment space. Plus, I really don't appreciate being gouged by klunky $200 dvd nav map updates as the only way to do it. That's going to be passe... :-)

 

I was told that I couldnt get just the Travel Link. Has something changed?