Lightning in XM weather

Peter R. wrote:
On 8/14/2007 2:19:49 PM, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrote:

I certainly wouldn't do any equipment changes now since WSI is
feeding via the Sirius sat system & XM is via it's own system.
Things are liable to change one way or the other when they merge.

I have no choice but to change equipment here shortly. Most if not all
installed WSI In Flight receivers are still pulling data from WSI's
legacy satellite network. AFAIK (typing as a customer with a focused
interest in this), WSI has yet to begin shipping their new Sirius
satellite receivers to which we must upgrade.

Ouch, I didn't realize they were requireing the change now. That would make
me nervous as hell. What is WSI saying about ther XM/Sirius merger?

On 8/14/2007 5:35:57 PM, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrote:

Ouch, I didn't realize they were requireing the change now.

Yep, required because the legacy system will be deactivated sometime early
2008. All customers must be over to the new receiver by that time.

That would
make me nervous as hell. What is WSI saying about ther XM/Sirius merger?

There are a few things about WSI InFlight that have incited my ire since I
have been a customer. Reverse engineering weather on the Garmin GNS430/530
that then resulted in Garmin abandoning WSI and leaving those of us with MX20
moving maps no longer supported starts the list. Frequent service outages and
this mandated upgrade round it out. When the service works it is excellent,
however.

Since XM and Sirius haven't officially merged yet (I think they are being
slowed/stopped by the US gov't, no?) I am confident that WSI will not muddy
the waters by mentioning any more constraints to their customers.


--
Peter

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:03:14 -0400, "Peter R."
wrote:

On 8/14/2007 5:35:57 PM, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrote:

Ouch, I didn't realize they were requireing the change now.

Yep, required because the legacy system will be deactivated sometime early
2008. All customers must be over to the new receiver by that time.

It should be noted that the KDR510 FIS uplink unit from Bendix/King
has also been obsoleted with 6/08 EOL. Their replacement is the
KDR610 XM unit.

On 8/14/2007 7:51:18 PM, Peter Clark wrote:

It should be noted that the KDR510 FIS uplink unit from Bendix/King
has also been obsoleted with 6/08 EOL. Their replacement is the
KDR610 XM unit.

Interesting. What is Bendix doing to transition their customers to this new
unit? Providing the equipment for free? Labor to install it?

--
Peter

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:02:51 -0400, "Peter R."
wrote:

On 8/14/2007 7:51:18 PM, Peter Clark wrote:

It should be noted that the KDR510 FIS uplink unit from Bendix/King
has also been obsoleted with 6/08 EOL. Their replacement is the
KDR610 XM unit.

Interesting. What is Bendix doing to transition their customers to this new
unit? Providing the equipment for free? Labor to install it?

Little to nothing. They're providing the equipment at reduced cost
(pro-rated based on when you purchased it, assuming you have a current
working FIS subscription). Antenna is extra, installation is extra
(and of course you have to yank the headliners out to run the cabling
for the on-top-of-aircraft antenna rather than the underneath FIS
antenna, etc etc etc). Including labor it's looking like around $3500
- $5500 per aircraft to upgrade depending on time since the KDR510 was
purchased. They already turned off the annual subscription option too
so you're down to 30 or 90 day increments with the commeserate
increase in cost over the old annual package. They really want people
off this stuff right now.

Personally I'm going to a GMX200 and GDL69A in my Malibu when the time
comes this fall. I'm going to have it done as part of the dual 530W
upgrade (since everything has to be ripped apart anyway, Piper didn't
put the good enough the GPS antenna wiring in when it was
manufactured) once Meggitt/S-Tec comes out with the MAGIC software
update. Haven't decided what to do with the Cessnas yet.

On 8/15/2007 4:34:45 PM, Peter Clark wrote:

Little to nothing. They're providing the equipment at reduced cost
(pro-rated based on when you purchased it, assuming you have a current
working FIS subscription). Antenna is extra, installation is extra
(and of course you have to yank the headliners out to run the cabling
for the on-top-of-aircraft antenna rather than the underneath FIS
antenna, etc etc etc). Including labor it's looking like around $3500
- $5500 per aircraft to upgrade depending on time since the KDR510 was
purchased.

Wow, it seems that B/K is making a customer's decision to move over to XM or
WSI a bit easier.

--
Peter

Peter R. wrote:
On 8/14/2007 5:35:57 PM, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrote:

Ouch, I didn't realize they were requireing the change now.

Yep, required because the legacy system will be deactivated sometime
early 2008. All customers must be over to the new receiver by that
time.

That would
make me nervous as hell. What is WSI saying about ther XM/Sirius
merger?

There are a few things about WSI InFlight that have incited my ire
since I have been a customer. Reverse engineering weather on the
Garmin GNS430/530 that then resulted in Garmin abandoning WSI and
leaving those of us with MX20 moving maps no longer supported starts
the list. Frequent service outages and this mandated upgrade round it
out. When the service works it is excellent, however.

Since XM and Sirius haven't officially merged yet (I think they are
being slowed/stopped by the US gov't, no?) I am confident that WSI
will not muddy the waters by mentioning any more constraints to their
customers.

From a story on C-Net:

What regulatory hurdles does the deal face?


The U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission
must grant approval, posing a significant challenge. Because Sirius and XM
are the only two satellite radio providers operating in the country, their
merger would effectively create a monopoly. Federal legislation bars both
satellite radio licenses from being owned by the same company to guard
against high prices and other negative effects on consumers. FCC Chairman
Kevin Martin said in a statement that the hurdle for approval would be high.
"The companies would need to demonstrate that consumers would clearly be
better off with both more choice and affordable prices," Martin said. Given
historic opposition to media consolidation by Democrats, who control
Congress, the companies will have some hard lobbying to do.

---



That story was dated back in February. While they are going to have to jump
through hoops I have a feeling that the merger will go through. While it
will form a monopoly as far as satellite delivered radio is concerned it
isn't like satellite is the only way to listen to the radio. Added to that
is the fact that if they don't merge one or both is likely to go belly up
sooner or later.