slllygrl10

Im thinking about getting the Sirius Satellite Radio from the factory and it says I need the SAT button. Can I use the minidisc button? Any pics on how this look likes?

Tigerfootball

Just get the system with an FM modulator and use a normal radio station (mine is set for 88.1FM) and listen to it that way.

thew

yuck.. use a Pie connection..

Ajax

I talked to mazda and a dealership today to find out what the deal was with this. The 2005 RX8 head units SHOULD have a SAT button in place of the AM button. This was a cross platform mazda switch that occured on 1 model of the MX-5 Miata platform as well. This button switches to an external antenna rather than the AM antenna and allows you to use mazda's factory satellite antenna.

Now the question is: Can you just hook up the factory satellite antenna to wherever it is that the AM plugs in? The answer, I don't know.

What they did tell me was that I would have to replace the head unit on the car with the 2k5 HU in order to use the factory satellite. They also said mazda will eventually allow owners to send in their 2k4 head units and have them replaced with a 2k5 unit. They didn't say when though and I don't have a lot of patience.

The mazda sirius unit is 325 at rosenthal. I bet we could find a way to make it work w/o the silly SAT button. Anyone got the install instructions?

Ajax

snap-on

I'm gonna do one on a 05 tommorrow..the basic kit is actually the same as the 05 Tribute install..

I had to wait to see what the difference in the secondary install kit for the Rx-8 was.

Only difference I see is the antenna is a single 24ga co-ax on the 8 vs a double on the Trib.

I do have the install info for the Rx-8.

Ajax

Can you post it?

snap-on

I'll try to do a write up on it tommorrow..

RotorGeek

Cool i wanna do this too. How much is the kit for the tribby? My wife has an 05 and if i can't make it work with my 8. i will just put it in her truck

Ajax

same kit. different mounting pieces.. the kit is 325.. mounting pieces are like 15 bucks..

slllygrl10

But what about the SAT button will we need that? And where will the satellite radio mount to?

snap-on

The SAT install kit is the same part #..All 04's will need to get there HU's swapped when Mazda gets their ducks in a row..

Ajax

Thanks for the instructions. I'll host them for all when I get home.

So my question is, is there a different antenna connector on the back of that 05 head unit?

I hope you took pictures of the install too.

mazradiodoc

I think you are confused, the SAT kit comes with an antenna for just the SAT module.
The SAT module plugs into the HU like a trunk mounted CD changer would using the 16 pin connector on back of radio.
The antenna connector on the back of radio's are the same.

Ajax

Ok well, it was my understanding that the 05 head units had replaced the AM button with a SAT button. So if it is in the CD changer plug, there is no way that I know of to force the 04 HU to read the SAT source, right? I was just trying to find out if this SAT button deal was just BS and apparently it's not.

Boozehound

So you're saying that all the 04's are going to get a HU swap so we have the SAT button? Sounds unlikely, but I'm all for it if they want to do it w/o a huge sum of $$$ changing hands.

Ajax

The dealership called MNAO right in front of me and that's what they said. They said you'd have to send your unit in and they'd send you back a new one, once they get kits together. I don't know if there was any monetary cost involved.

Boozehound

I would assume our HU firmware would be upgraded with the new HU then?

Ajax

I don't think it needs beyond 9.67, but I don't know for sure.

thew

I would not be quick to expect Mazda to be doing anything for free to a non Sat Rx8.. Its not a Warrenty Issue so IF they did do this they would mostlkly charge you for a new HU.
And 9.67 is the Latest Firmware..

snap-on

Sorry...no pics

I will say that unless you are prepared to have your car in 20 pieces don't attempt the install. When Ajax throes the instructions on here you will understand.

One "pro" to this is the customer now has Sat in the HU with no extra hardware to clutter the dash.

One "con" is that the HU only displays the channel (like 184) so you loose the artist and title of the aftermarket units I have installed.

mazradiodoc

184 is the test channel?? were you there when the unit was activated?
maybe title/artist is displayed for all other channels? or you have to push text button?

CJW

Has Mazda fixed this yet? I noticed that my '04 also does not have the SAT button but would like to install the SAT function. If Mazda is allowing us to swap our head units, I would go for that. Anyone know if they are doing this, yet? Cost?

Thanks.

Ajax

Sorry I forgot to post those instructions. Here you go:

http://jedi.betterbox.net/images/rx8/16-81K02.pdf

mazradiodoc

Just an update, I verified that text info IS displayed.

If you push the "DISP" button and rotate the "TEXT" ****, you will get artist,title,channel, ect.

Zaku-8

does the '04 HU not have the proper firmware, or the proper rear jacks for sirius?