Important satellite radio changes
Heads up!
Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.Starting May 4, SiriusXM is reordering their channel lineup to make it easier for subscribers to find the programming they like — including consolidating some channels, and tweaking the grouping of channels slightly. As a result, many of your favorite channels will now have a new number. Here are a few examples:
- "Willie's Place" and "The Roadhouse" have joined forces to become Willie's Roadhouse (channel 56).
- "Sirius Left" and XM's "America's Left" are now SiriusXM Left (channel 127).
- "XM Public Radio" is now SiriusXM Public Radio, and moves from channel 196 to 205.
A good thing is that many of the channel numbers are now consistent on both Sirius and XM radios. Check out the new channel lineup here.
The changes should be seamless, but here some potential inconveniences. Fortunately, each one is easy to fix:
- Presets. Your radio presets should fix themselves, requiring no change from you. If this does not happen automatically, simply hold down your preset button until you hear a "beep" while you're listening to that channel.
- A Refresh may be needed. XM radios should not need a refresh. If you have a Sirius radio and experience any programming oddities, there are two ways to refresh. First, have your 12-digit radio ID (or ESN#) ready, and choose one of the following:
- Go to www.siriusxm.com/refresh and follow the instructions.
- Call 1-855-MYREFRESH and follow the prompts.
Programming packages are changing names. Pricing remains the same.
- Everything packages are now called "Select"
- Best Of packages are now called "Premier"
by Crutchfield's
Meet Zak Billmeier
I'll do my best to make videos that are helpful and interesting.
I've been a camera nut since I was a kid. I got really into it around age 12, when I got hold of a Pentax K1000 35mm camera. My father is a photo nut also, and we had access to a darkroom. Ever since then I have delighted in trying out new cameras, lenses, and photo techniques. Working here at Crutchfield, I get to handle all the new and cool camera gear I can get my hands on.
I'm also into audio, from car audio to home audio to headphones. I'm a music lover, and an eye-opening moment for me was discovering just how much more there is to musical recordings when you listen using high-quality gear. It's an experience I try to pass along to others as often as possible. I truly believe that having good quality gear in your car or home can really enrich your life.
I started getting into the video side of things early on in my Crutchfield career while I was a copywriter for car audio products. In those days our video program was just getting started, and many of us pitched in when our writing and editing duties allowed. Today, we have a dedicated team that makes hundreds of videos a year, including spotlights on products and product lines, how-to videos, videos that shine a light on our company, end everything in between. I am proud to be a part of that team and of the work we do.
My job is a lot of fun because I get to play around with all the cool stuff you see on our website while I'm making videos. Getting hands-on with the gear helps me see what I should show you about a product, and I look at our videos as a way of having a conversation with you when you are considering a purchase. If I do my job well, you should come away from a Crutchfield video understanding why you do — or don't — want that product. In the end, it's gotta be something you enjoy.
More about Zak
More from Zak Billmeier
What are factory sound processors?
Video: Discounted car stereo installation gear
Video: Kicker Front Row digital signal processor
Labs Video: Sealed vs. ported sub box listening test
Video: Focal FPS amplifiers
Video: Alpine PDX-V9 5-channel amplifier