A nice fit...even if you do lose a cup holder spot.

 

Still room for 1 java to go....

 

The console cover slides nicely over the unit...there's even room for the remote layed across the black rear section of the cradle.

 

Finished it off with the low profile antennae on the back deck, inside...despite what XM says, I haven't had any trouble with signal loss going for an inside rather than trunk or roof mount.

 

I installed my XM commander about 2 days after buying the car. No colored backlight choice, which kind of sucks, but I can change that. :D What drew me to the Commander is the slim display and control unit. The buttons do not have as good a tactile feel as the SkyFi, but it is much less obtrusive. I ran it to the ashtray for now, and am still deciding where to mount it permanently.

Here's two pics of the display and antenna location. These are pics I had laying around, not taken specifically for this thread, so the control unit is a little obscured by the wheel, but you get the point.

 

Another:

 

What's the difference between Delphi and Commander besides the sleekness and size?

 

I got the Delphi SkyFi so that I could pop it out of the RX and into my 2 other cars, also in home piped into the stereo system and the portable boombox....all one basic unit for the one basic monthly subscription fee. I admit it. I'm an XM addict.

 

I've got the Commander and, in my experience, the remote is pretty touchy, as far as needing good line of sight.

My Commander is installed in the ashtray (they cut out the plastic piece so that it fits in there and I can close the ashtray lid). It's a really nice place for it - unless, of course, you smoke. Anyway, I used to use the remote all the time, but I've switched to almost exclusively using the buttons on the Commander itself. They're not the nicest, most tactile buttons to use, but once you get used to it, it's fine. I just found that it was awkward trying to find a place to put down the remote when I was shifting. And I found myself getting distracted a bit too much. The only cool thing you can't do on the Commander buttons that you can do with the remote is use the Scan function.

I love my XM Radio, by the way! You can't go wrong whatever you decide.

 

Bought the commander. Actually having it installed tomorrow morning. It's being mounted in the ashtray which is the most convenient place for me. The tech said he was have to do a little custom work for extra but when he gets finished it will fit nicely and I should be able to keep the lid which I think is really nice. I'll post pics when it's finished.

 

JVC Sirius

This unit is a little big comapred to the Delphi. I got it not because of XM vx Sirius. I had XM for a year but the unit was a 1st gen Sony and it looked like crap in the car and it was time for an upgrade. I got this one because it matches well with the interior. Looking for a better spot to mount but for now it on a suction cup of the windshield. 150 with the car unit with FM built in. I didn't know about Mazda and Sirius partnership but I am not disappointed with this unit.

 

I've seen a SkyFi install that doesn't power up with the stereo, which means that each time the car is started up you have to turn on the unit. Does the Commander power up with the stereo?

The ashtray install looks the cleanest to me. I too have been waiting on a factory/dealer system. What's the status on a factory satillite radio?

 

Can't you just attach the file small as it may be?

 

I'm thinking the micro you got with your Commander is what I'm using on the back deck inside. The only fade problems I've had are the occasional tall building blank spots....but in WY we don't HAVE tall buildings, so I don't really care. The antennae is just about 1 1/2 inch square and about 1/4 inch thick....hardly noticable.

 

anyone have good pics of a commander install? I wanna see the ashtray install

 

Mazda has hooked up with Sirius not XM for there satillite needs
which I had XM and I switched but I dont have kids to worry about.

The Rx 8 wont be able to have a satillite radio fram Mazda until 2005 and even then it only a factory install
I have already bitched.

 

Silverarrow, i will post the pics tonight.

 

Silverarrow...here is a pic of my commander installed in the ash tray

http://www.havenbbs.com/rx8/images/x...ander_open.jpg

and here is the ashtray closed

http://www.havenbbs.com/rx8/images/x...der_closed.jpg

sorry about the blured picture...need to replace my camera...

hope this helps.

EDIT: Updated links...

 

Did you have to cut plastic out or is this install reversible?


does the door shut completely, or just partially?

how does the system sound through the FM modulator?

where did you put your antenna?

looks like you did a really good job, I'm iinterested in doing the same... any advice?

 

ok...so lets answer one at a time...

1. Yes i cut out some plastic, but the install is fully reversible. That was my intention from the get-go.

2. Yes the door closes completly...again, that was something i wanted from the beginning.

3. Sounds good with the modulator, but i hooked up the PIE Aux in, and love it even more.

3. Antenna is on the driver side right up against the front window...i will post a pic of this tonight / tomorrow when i get home

4. I paid someone to do it, but they did a crappy job, and i had to clean it up...don't make that mistake, it is simple to do, once you get the HU out of the dash...that was the hardest part. The only trick was finding some way to secure the unit in the ashtray...right now i am using a piece of metal screwed into the frame of the ashtray and some velcro to hold it in (will post some pics of this tomorrow as well), other than that, it is pretty easy.

Hope this helps...like i said, i will post some more pics tomorrow.