Xm Skyfi2 Might Be Lifetime Subscription, How To Tell?

[98t5M]

I picked up an xm skyfi2/ delphi sa10101 for cheap from an old man the other day, he made it sounds like its been a while since he used it, and the original packing slip is in the box from 2009. When i plug it in, it works and I get the xm channels, so it must have a good subscription, right?

Is there anyway way to tell if it's lifetime activated? I dont want to call SiriusXM as I'm not sure the subscription is transferrable, and they might want to shut it off.

I've also heard about some nonsense where if it originally had a subscription to xm, and was left shut down during the sirius/xm merger and for a few months after, it will now work forever as it did not get some signal to terminate service that they sent out for a fixed period of time. Sounds like BS to me but maybe thats a possibility too?

Thanks for any help you guys can give!

[Stormtrooper1]

I'm not sure any way to find out for sure if its lifetime or not. But the signal thing cold be true. I know when I recently activated my xm radio that I had to have it on because the would only send the "activate" signal for a small time (like a 10 minute window in this case)

I'd just use it until it drops signal and only gives you the radio I'd and preview channels

[(n)A-GAME]

XM runs free trials sometimes too where even old/unactivated radios get the signal. I know they were doing this a couple weeks ago, perhaps it's still running. Easiest way to tell is if you're getting all channels or only selected ones.

[D s50r]

when a active radio is unplugged before the service is disconnected it dosent have a chance to shut the radio off and after a while it stops sending the signal to the radio to shut it off and then when plugged back in the radio still works i bought a radio just like u did on craigslist the guy had not used it for 2 years and i plugged it in and it worked for 2 years before it was stolen from my car.. so as far as i know it still might be working

[Mikesvagen]

I have one I purchased on e-BAY 4 years ago that is still going. It is one of the portable visor mounted units. I had to swap the guts to another unit because the output jack broke and it still works. I purchased a Vw Passat three years ago with a Kenwood Chameleon and it has an active radio as well. I called Sirius because I wanted to see if I could move the service to another radio they said the id number did not come up. Just enjoy it as long as it lasts.

[98t5M]

I did some more research and I guess the way it works is this:

When a subscription runs out, the send a deactivation signal, for the first day or say they send it say every 60 seconds,

then after a couple days maybe once every 10 min,

then maybe once an hour, eventually they either stop sending it or they only send it like every 6 months or something.

The time frames probably aren't accurate but you get the idea. So theoretically if it was turned off for the first few months after cancelling the subscription, it will likely work forever

[D s50r]

yea exactly what i said enjoy it while it lasts!

[98t5M]

It stopped working already LOL