ACRX8

Does the 2006 RX-8 come with XM Radio as XM Ready or fully installed as an option?

Juice

iTrader: (1)

I don't know about the 2006 but with the 2005 you could get Sirius. I'm about 99% sure that you can get still Sirius on the 2006. So to answer your question no you won't be able to get XM Radio as a factory option. I personally do not have Satellite radio but I believe if you get it as a factory option it is fully installed and integrated into the radio.

Chrisbert

Sirius comes as a factory option on 05+.

I installed XM in mine; love it.

ACRX8

What did it take to install XM?

RotaryP7

Hm.. I'm trying to learn more about installing XM on a RX-8. I myself am trying to do that.

hemanrulez

Sirius is the OEM factory option. If you want XM you have to aftermarket and install a plug n play tuner. I suggest the AGT sportscaster whose look blends well with the RX-8 and is the cheapest radio out there

Mad Pole

I'll second that. I installed the Sportscaster in the ashtray and hooked it up with a P.I.E. adapter. The finish matches the interior. The install is hidden with the ashtray lid in the down position. The one inch square antenna is hidden under the child seat latch on the back lid.

It sounds great and the reception is 5 by 5.

hemanrulez

Damn, its Black Friday price at compusa is 9.99!!!

http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/bl...t-compusa.html

I bought mine for $60

tjbourgoyne

Owned both XM and Sirius. I bought the factory Sirius and installed it with the directions it came with to the T, very easy just time consuming. IMO Sirius is the better product. Their DJ's are informative about the artists and quite funny at times. Some stations even bash on other ones. Oh and don't forget the playboy channel and Stern.

RotaryP7

You pay monthly for Sirius? If so, how much..
I'm also thinking XM is cheaper..

tjbourgoyne

I pay 7.50 a month for two years. I think it's a good deal since I drive a lot for work. I really enjoy it. An additional radio for me would be free from Sirius at 6.50 a month. My deal was weird because they calculated a 6 month discount from Mazda even though I bought the factory radio online. I'm not complaining.

DrDiaboloco

Yep, nothing more entertaining that listening to bubbleheads with ***** that you can't SEE... On the radio! Sweet! And hey, if you're living in 1995, Stern is still funny, too.

I also appreciate "informative" DJ's talking and being "quite funny" when they could instead be playing music... Why not just listen to terrestrial radio in that case?

The only thing that recommends Sirius over XM is that you can have a factory/dealer install of the unit that is controlled by the stock HU. Frankly, not offering the choice of XM or Sirius will start having more and more of an impact on my auto purchasing decisions in the future... Not that I wouldn't choose one car vs another solely on the basis of satradio, but it's a consideration to be sure.

RotaryP7

What unit did you buy for XM radio? And, how much do you pay to subscibe or whatnot..

hemanrulez

subscriptions prices are the same for XM and Sirius.

The content is almost the same, disregard the post about Sirius DJ's being informative. I've had both subscriptions too and have stuck with XM, the programming is almost the same.

Advantages of XM:

More repeaters in big cities (better reception) - Very important advantage over Sirius
Better built recievers
All out of market MLB broadcast live
50-60 more channels than Sirius


Advantages of Sirius:

OEM option (use HU and controls to navigate)
Howard Stern
Cute Dog logo?!
NFL games


Remember the music content is almost the same, base your decision on better signal and sports (XM for baseball and Sirius for NFL)

tjbourgoyne

I'm a musican so I like the commentary on the artist and info on upcoming shows. Seldom listen to Stern, but on long trips a break from music is needed. XM is good, but I found the variety of music that I like was not there. Also, there was more radio edit. Sirius sometimes I think, how did they just say that. It can get quite dirty. I say check em both out online first.

DrDiaboloco

I'm still using a Roady2. I actually have three of them... I'm using two and have a third in reserve. I paid anywhere from $20 to $50 for each of them. You can get the Roady2's replacement, the smaller and nicer-looking RoadyXT for less than $50 at most retailers... And the Sportscaster for even less. My other radio is in my GF's car, an Audiovox, and I bought two units for a total of $30 on sale at CC... The second unit is being held in reserve, like my other Roady2, as a "just in case" backup. Really, I bought the extra units because extra antennas are more expensive than buying a whole radio kit, and I use them in rental cars and as extras just in case an antenna cable gets cut by mistake, as happened when I first installed my XM over two years ago (two extra antennas, more gooder).

I think the monthly subscription for a single radio at XM is $12.99, which is roughly equivalent to the price of a Sirius subscription. Add'l units are $7/ea., if memory serves.

hemanrulez

Sirius Plans

http://www.sirius.com/servlet/Conten...=1065475754240

XM plans

http://www.xmradio.com/whatisxm/plans-pricing.xmc

DrDiaboloco

I've never heard a radio edit of a song on XM, so I don't know what you're talking about. If you listened online maybe you got an expurgated feed.

As for being "quite dirty", apparently you've never bothered to listen to the XM channels that are uncut (the so-called "XL" channels, which can be blocked by concerned parents). Sirius doesn't have anything on XM for "dirty" content... And XM is constantly, almost IRRITATINGLY, promoting special programming involving musicians on special programs talking about their work, past and present. So that, too, is not the exclusive domain of Sirius.

And Stern? As someone who grew up listening to him, and listened to him for about 15 years, I'm over it. His schtick got stale years ago (ANOTHER call from Jessica Hahn!? ALRIGHT!!! WOO!!!), and there's better programming on THAT front on XM, no doubt. As for more mainstream talk content, XM has WAY better programming than Sirius to the point of embarrassment.

If you think Sirius has better selection of music, I'm not going to argue with you, but on every other front XM has them covered. Unless, of course, you are the kind of person who prefers to listen to NFL games (or, soon, NASCAR races) on the RADIO. The latter two are some of the last things that I would ever subject myself to in an audio-only format.

But yes, by all means, for persons who are not yet decided on one service over the other, spend a few days listening online before you choose. My preferences or tjbourgoyne's preferences may not be your own.

tjbourgoyne

It's a personal choice but I sure do like controlling my 18 presets from the wheel. XM more channels but who listens to more than 15 stations? NFL is not just games either, they have coaches and players on all week with good interviews. One thing I wish both of them offered is a scrolling stock ticker for a channel. Another problem with the factory Sirius is it only has a 8 digit read out with no scroll. I'm always guessing the name of the song or band which is a pain in the *** if you really like the song. It's as if they threw a good package together without testing it and ironing out the details.

RotaryP7

Heh, someone mentioned XM for MLB & Sirius for NFL. I love watching the NFL.. Hm.. Decisions. The good thing is, they are both about the same in price range.

Ah, another question. When adding Sirius or XM radio, do I need to cut or adjust anything on the car? Or is it just easy to setup?

tjbourgoyne

Another point, if you travel far you have to reset the freq for reception with the lighter plug in option, this can get to be a hassle. With the factory Sirius you don't have to worry about it. I'm not sure about XM not having to do this on better set ups. You will find a lot of different ideas and useful info on here with a search. Also anything with sports, talk shows / news on both will have commercials. The music however is virtually free. Right now it seems they are in an all out war for business so the prices are fairly reasonable and there may be some room to haggle with whoever you choose. I would try and see if one would go 5% cheaper than the other.

hemanrulez

The Inno (XM) has a sports and stock ticker available on all channels.

The OEM Sirius can scroll. Search the forum.

hemanrulez

1. Watching the NFL and listening to it on radio are 2 different things. If your team is shown on local TV dont bother. NFL has only a few games a season and all the big games are always shown on TV. Baseball is a 162 game season and unlike football you can have a baseball play-by-play running at work or home while doing other things.

2. Search the forums, you'll be able to find other people's installs.

DrDiaboloco

Whether adding a Sirius or an XM to any car without a built-in unit, you don't HAVE to cut anything. You may choose to drill holes in your dash or console for the unit's mount, but there are plenty of options that don't involve permanently defacing your car (aftermarket brackets made specifically for the car, the mounts included with the satradio, tape mounts, suction mount on the windshield, etc.).

In both cases, the antenna has a magnetic mount and should be on the outside of the car, preferably on the roof, but the trunk is also acceptable for use. I think the RX-8's that have Sirius from the factory/dealer use a trunk mount. In my case, I have the antenna inside the car at the base of the back window, held there with double-sided tape, and it works fine.

Non-factory radios usually use the FM modulator, but you can also use a tape adapter if your car has a tape player, or you can also use an aftermarket adapter to wire it into the head unit using the satradio's headphone jack. In the latter case, of course, that gives you the option of plugging in ANYTHING that has a headphone jack.

tjbourgoyne

It does not scroll. I searched. The unit weights about 4 lbs and it can't even scroll. That's my only issue with it. Everything else is fine, even reception in
hick villes.