The '10 Maxima features XM radio as standard in all packages. With this year's "merger" of Sirius with XM, does anyone know whether a current Sirius subscriber would be covered under the XM plan? Or if not is there a way to convert from one to the other? I know Sirius currently offers a "best of XM" package. Just curious what I will have to do when I trade up from the '07 to the '10 in a couple of months.

 

I am in the same boat. I'm betting that you can transfer your account. Regardless, some stations will be different.

 

You'll have to speak with XM/Sirius about that. I had to actually terminate one account and add my vehicle to the other. But that was at the start of the merger. Things may have changed by now. (or not)

 

Does XM actually deactivate your unit after the free trial? I know they are really incompetant- a friend of mine has had service for free in his home for about a year now after he canceled it and they never cut the signal.

 

Yes, they cancel the car. Mine shut off 3 months to the day.

 

Hi - Newbie here from Snowy Sask Canada. Just purchased a used 2010 Nissan Maxima SV (all options possible). Has about 37k kms and is in great shape. I love it!!!

Old Thread I know... but wondered if anyone has info on converting the stock XM to SIRIUS in my 2010 Maxima. Reasons are many, but mainly - the reception is WAAY better with SIRIUS (they have more satellites and they orbit as opposed to XM who has fewer stationary satellites). Also - In Canada - you cannot get the Sirius/XM merger and I NEED Howard Stern for my morning 1.5 hour commute.

Hoping someone has an easy solution to share with me.

 

According to Wikipedia, "Currently, XM and Sirius use different compression and conditional access systems, currently making their receivers incompatible with each other's service..." That being said, since Sirius is more popular in Canada, Nissan may produce a Sirius receiver for Canadian Maximas. If so, it would be just a matter of swapping the satellite receivers. The receiver is mounted under the rear deck. This is not unheard of because Nissan made both for the 6th gens.

 

Thanks!! I am going to check with dealer next week. Will repost if any useful info comes out.

 

Yes, at 3 months they turn off the freebie. Since then I got a few letters to renew and lots of phone calls. The phone calls offer some special rates. If you want it for 5 more months they offer $19.95 rate, and for the year $79.95. If they would offer me the 5 month rate pro-rated over 12 months, I would take it. The tell # for XM that will show up on your caller ID is 877-253-xxxx. So if you see that it is a sales pitch form XM.

 

So, first and foremost, last week I finally joined the Maxima family. I purchased a white 2010 SV with Sport, Tech and Monitor packages. I love it! As a former 2002 Altima owner, boy can I tell the difference.

The reason I am posting this here is because I do not have enough posts yet to start my own thread. And besides, is related. I am looking for a way to transfer my lifetime Sirius subscription from a portable Sirius device to the Max. I know portions of what I’m going to ask have been covered in other posts, but not with current information and not in its entirety.

Issue/question #1 – Has anyone been able to successfully transfer service from a Sirius device to the Maxima? I’m willing to do either a transfer of service or an adding of some kind of hardware to make this happen. I’ve seen references in other posts to things like “the dealer should have something to convert the signal” or “it should work if…” or call XM or Sirius and they should be able to help, but I haven’t found one reference to someone saying “I did it or had it done and this is how.” I’ve called XM and Sirius with no luck. I’ve called the dealer where I purchased the Max and they said of course it can be done, just call Sirius or XM.

Issue/question #2 – Assuming the above answer is that there is no way that the service can be transferred, then I would then like to install (unwillingly) my portable Sirius device. My question is, can I “tap into” the antenna? I would not want to have the nice clean look of the roof with the fin ruined by me adding a second antenna.

See I figured I could add the portable Sirius device in the center console and plug it in to either the center console’s audio connections (this of course is assuming that only the video connection is blocked while the vehicle is in motion) or use the devices built in RF transmitter. Then I would hopefully be able to tap into the XM antenna with my portable device’s antenna.

Thank you in advance for your help.

-Richard R.

 

Congrats and welcome to the forum Richard. I honestly think the the answer to your dilemma is going to come in the form of some tough talk with Sirius/XM. You paid for a lifetime of listening and now the companies have merged. There is no reason they cannot port you over to XM and be done with it. I have not done this nor do I know of anyone who has but it just makes sense to me.

Regarding your other question, the receiver for XM is under the rear deck. You should be able to get to the antenna there without a problem.

UPDATE: I would not transfer that lifetime subscription to a car. Check out this clause from the subscription terms "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."

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by boone

Congrats and welcome to the forum Richard. I honestly think the the answer to your dilemma is going to come in the form of some tough talk with Sirius/XM. You paid for a lifetime of listening and now the companies have merged. There is no reason they cannot port you over to XM and be done with it. I have not done this nor do I know of anyone who has but it just makes sense to me.

Thanks for the response. Very interesting. I did know that there was a maximum of three transfers, but did not realize it really wasn't including factory installed units in cars. All of my prior conversations with Sirius consisted of them assuring me that there were no limitations on what I could transfer service to. Wow, this is likely going to make a difference on how I proceed. I still am not happy with the idea of having to use my Sirius device, but if the alternative is potentially losing the lifetime subscription...?!?!

As for the XM antenna, do you know if you can splice into it or piggyback off of the signal somehow with my Sirius antenna? I really don't know too much anything about satellite antennas, so in my mind I am thinking it would be identical to an electrical connection or like the tap into I did with my Altima to add the aux switch. Is that crazy?

 

You are not off base. The antenna cable is just a coax cable. Pick up an extension cable and connect one end to the existing cable and splice the other into the antenna cable you have for your Sirius receiver. You may get lucky and not have to do any splicing. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and you have to buy another antenna for your Sirius receiver. Here is a site that shows you how to do the splice: http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4092

 

The way I understand it the XM and Sirius antennas point differently somehow. It has to do with the orbit of the satellites. So you are prolly better off just throwing on a Sirius one

 

You are partially correct. The satellites do orbit differently. However, it is not like satellite TV where the receiver has to point towards a particular direction. The part number was the same on the 6th gens regardless of if the car was equipped with XM or Sirius.

 

Nice! So there is hope. I'm not happy with the idea of having to put in the portable device, but being that it looks like I am going to need to, I guess I am fine with not having to add a separate satellite antenna.

How about the using just the audio connections in the center console? Will they work if the vehicle is moving? Or are they clumped in the video connection blockage?

Come to think of it, I have the SiriusXM app on my BlackBerry. In the office I have a small Sony Bluetooth speaker. I listen to Sirius from my phone to this speaker. I guess I could just listen to Sirius through my phone and stream the audio to the Maxima via Bluetooth. I don't know if the audio quality is on par with anything decent since I listen to it on this small speaker in my office, but I'm going to give that a try.

 

UPDATE: It worked. Straming Sirius to my phone, my phone connected via bluetooth to the Max and it sounded fine. I say fine because Howard Stern sounded almost like an AM station, not sure if it is how they are broadcasting since the are on re-runs this week. Didnt spend too much time fiddling with it, but so far I would call it a success.

 

Cool deal. Do your song titles display?

 

I didn't notice if they did. I was was just looking at the display of the phone and forgot to check the monitor. I'll check and let you kow.

 

Nope, just straight audio. Beggars cant be choosers. Played with the sound quality and it is actually very nice.

 

I guess I'm lucky because i got my '09 in Jan '09 and my XM is still working for free. Get this i don't even use it. I bet if i did want to use it, it would probably be cut off right now

 

Still Not Paying For It

I got my 2009 SV Premium in May of 2009, I never registered with XM and I am still getting it without having to pay for it. I have a ghetto set up that allows me to play Howard on Sirius. Hopefuly the Canadian merger will allow me to listen to Howard without the dual satelite set up

 

Oh, and since i bought it used, I decided to call XM and ask them if they had some kind of trial service to see if I liked their programing. They gave me 3 months. Let's see if they turn it off.