XM Radio outages continue on, software to blame

For the XM Radio subscribers who haven't patiently waited to hastily cancel your subscription just yet, we're sure you're well aware that the outages from yesterday are still lingering on. Reportedly, "software problems resulted in the loss of one of the network's four satellite signals," and while it expected to have everything back to normal by last night, sometime today is looking more likely. The company stated that "the problem occurred during the loading of software to a critical component of the satellite broadcast system," and while XM has urged listeners to tune in online if possible, we all know this doesn't solve much. Notably, analysts are already pondering just how much loyalty (and cashflow) XM will lose from such an outage, and while we won't bother to guess, each passing minute of dead air won't do the customer satisfaction surveys any favors.

Update: XM is claiming service is back to normal.

[Shawn Garringer @ May 22nd 2007 12:56PM]

Actually, its back up now, apparently. Most people are getting signal from both sats and the repeater network.

[Natemg @ May 22nd 2007 12:56PM]

According to orbitcast XM is back to full strength. Haven't gone out to my car yet to verify though.

[Eric @ May 22nd 2007 1:00PM]

It's quite odd. I went to lunch today, and just for s&g, decided to switch over to my long-expired-not-going-to-renew-because-of-o&a XM radio and lo and behold, I have stations 20-46-50-54 and a few others. I wonder what the reason for this is, because for the past few months, I haven't had anything.

I'm contemplating calling them and telling them to shut it off completely, as I don't care to be part of their subscriber list if they are trying to pad it by giving away a few stations.

[Craig @ May 22nd 2007 1:29PM]

I canceled my service last Thursday, then noticed yesterday that a few stations were back on. I thought maybe my radio had been re-activated inadvertently as they fixed whatever problems they were having. Wonder what's up with that?

[kirk @ May 22nd 2007 1:55PM]

XM was having a free preview of some channels that is going through the 24th.

[jeff @ May 22nd 2007 1:37PM]

I also cancelled last week, but can still hear 17, 20, 46, 54, 71, and 156.

I don't know why, but have verified I am cancelled, if i login to the web account shows no radios, and won't let me listen online. Very weird tho.

Kinda want to call them to ask whats up, in antoher way kinda wanna mooch off them for free, as its got to cost them something.

[Shawn Garringer @ May 22nd 2007 1:38PM]

Its part of a service preview for non-subscribers. All XM radios should get those channels through the end of this week I believe.

[Joseph @ May 22nd 2007 1:00PM]

still. it's xm....who really cares? what is the opposite of xm? I am a fanboy of that

[JON BLAST @ May 22nd 2007 1:03PM]

MAYBE OPIE AND ANTHONY'S SUCKINESS PERMEATED THE ATMOSPHERE, STRUCK THE SATTELITE, AND IT HAD A SUCK OVERLOAD

[JC @ May 22nd 2007 1:05PM]

Sirius rules.

Ba ba booey! Ba ba booey! Ba ba booey!

[TheDeepFryedBoot @ May 22nd 2007 1:17PM]

Its back on

[jayznymz-BGR @ May 22nd 2007 1:42PM]

ROFL @ mooching off of them. LOL ;)

[dan @ May 22nd 2007 1:47PM]

xm signal in tucson az is strong now the radio display with the word terrestrail has a strong signal.

[Mike @ May 22nd 2007 1:53PM]

They have 4 satellites. Anyone ever heard of redundancy?

[crinkle crinkle @ May 22nd 2007 1:54PM]

behold the wrath of the O&A pests...

[SteveA @ May 22nd 2007 1:56PM]

It's back on, but when trying to listen to BPM ch. 81, it just reverts back to channel 20. If this isn't fixed by this time tomorrow, I'm canceling and going to Sirius.

[dub @ May 22nd 2007 2:01PM]

BPM is way better that it's counterparts on Sirius. BPM is what I miss most about not having XM anymore. We've currently got Sirius, at least until the "free" 1-yr subscription that came with our truck expires next month. Hairnation is what I'll most most about not having Sirius anymore (just going to start listening to my iPod whilst driving).

[TVGenius @ May 22nd 2007 2:07PM]

XM is doing a free preview they announced several weeks ago. That's why some of you are getting channels (it was announced PRIOR to the O&A thing).

The signal has been back on full strength since 11:30am EDT this morning, well before this was even posted.

[bryan ribas @ May 22nd 2007 2:42PM]

I thought it was my radio. They better have it up soon I was geting pist lastnight and even more today.

[vic @ May 22nd 2007 3:12PM]

I've had XM since 2003 and this is the first time I've had any serious problem...I'm back up now.

Hey all you sanctimonious Sirius listeners out there just remember, XM bought Sirius and not the other way around.

Prepare to be assimilated!

[Will @ May 22nd 2007 3:42PM]

I seriously think this is a ploy to get the XM/Sirius merger approved. If merged together, they could tout the redundancy of having more satellites providing the same programming should one of the sats get knocked out of service. Thus improving customer service....one of the talking points they are pushing as a reason to get the merger approved. Just my two cents!

[AtroPunk @ May 22nd 2007 7:42PM]

Yeah that makes a ton of sense!

[Brandon @ May 23rd 2007 5:02PM]

Hmm... If they lose business and look lame doesn't it seem more likely that the merger would be approved? I think this was done on purpose and that the company is being mis-managed so that people will think that the merging of Sirius and XM is the only decent option left. Mark my words people...