I just had Crutchfield install a new XM Commander unit, of course using the FM Modulator. It has static in the background of the XM stations, which I tune to via 87.9 FM. It's not really loud static, but it's noticeable.

I get a strong signal from the satellite, so I figure it must be interference of some kind - coming from the FM Modulator or some ground/engine interference maybe....

I wonder if any of you with a Commander have had this problem? I'm taking the car back to Crutchfield tomorrow, they said they'd look at it and try to figure it out. But I wanted to know for sure that it's possible to use XM with an FM Modulator in the RX-8 without static problems. If none of you are experiencing static, then I'll know it's something they definitely need to fix.

Hope they can get it straightened out, cause the guy did a real nice job with the installation. Made it look nice and "factory" and I can close the ashtray cover, too.

Thanks!


Edited to add:
I noticed on the drive home that the car beeps now, since the XM Commander install. I think it's coming from the XM Radio or stereo, but not exactly sure. I know that the tune select feature is supposed to beep you when a selected song is playing, but I've made sure that all tune selects were erased and it's still beeping. There's no pattern, just beeps every once in a while. Anyone know what's going on with that??

 

Installed mine this last weekend like they did on the sights here. I placed the fm modulator in the navigation area (no navigation in my car). No beeping or static. I am using the same fm statioin also. I can close my ash tray also, but I put my commander on the lid of the ash tray and kept my cig lighter.

 

Thanks for the info, brownchiro.

Just got back from Crutchfield and they said the unit was defective. They replaced the modulator and the Commander control unit and now no static! Yay!