Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2003 02:45:31 -0400
Reply-To: caverat <caverat@ATTBI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: caverat <caverat@ATTBI.COM>
Subject: Re: Sirus Insiders Forum instructions - free equipment option
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> I can't seem to locate the info after I joined, I've not open up all of
> the forums, can you direct me to the instructions
>
How to get the free equipment:
Go to www.siriusbackstage.com .
Click on Sirius backstage forums link in upper right corner.
Scroll down to Sirius Insiders forum and click on it.
Register if not already a member (email and password required).
The first "Announcement" has the details to get the free equipment. This
involves calling a toll free number, giving an employee name (provided in
instructions), and agreeing to sign up for a one year subscription (payable
by credit card only on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis). Tell them
you heard about the offering at the siriusbackstage site if they ask. Ask
if you have a choice of equipment. IMO, go with Panasonic then Kenwood the
Clarion then Audiovox then Jensen (you can see the equipment at
www.crutchfield.com or www.sirius.com ). They are clearing out first
generation equipment inventory, so you may or may not have a choice (all
units use the same chipset, so all work well). Ask them when you will get
it. If it is already in stock and ready to ship, you will probably get it
in a few days. Posts on that site indicate that you can call back for a
tracking number. Shipping is free. There are no hidden charges. You will
get a tuner (contains the satellite radio chipsets), an FM-modulator (allows
simple hookup to any existing FM radio), a controller (allows channel
selection), an antenna, and possibly a remote depending on the system. You
will either need to install it yourself (not too difficult) or take it to
Circuit City/Best Buy or an auto stereo shop and they will do it for $50-75.
The Best Buy/Circuit City installers are familiar with this equipment and
have likely done many already. The Vanagon Westy is a unique vehicle, so I
did it myself and put the antenna under the luggage rack and the tuner in
the cabinet under the sink.
After installation, activate the unit at the number provided in the
installation instructions or at www.sirius.com. It is cheaper to activate
over the web (I'm not sure, but I think it is $15 on the phone and $5 on the
web). Your radio should already be on prior to activation and it should
begin receiving all channels within a few minutes of the activation process.
If not, contact the call center and they will send the activation signal
again to your radio. It needs to be on and out in the open (not in a
garage) in order to receive the activation signal. Once it is activated it
will continue to receive the service unless they deactivate it for something
like a failure to pay.
You should get a laminated channel guide and welcome kit in the mail a few
weeks after you activate. You can print the channel lineup schedule from
the Sirius website or get one in the brochures available at Circuit
City/Best Buy. Program your favorite stations in the presets (the Kenwood
has 24), and you are set and can forget about ever listening to normal FM
radio again. Let me know how you like it.
caverat
89 westy
Satellite radio fan and unofficial salesman who isn't affiliated with anyone
and isn't making any commissions or getting anything out of this other than
lost sleep
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