XM radio guys

[03rado]

is XM worth it or is it like those music stations on satellite tv or digital cable that you never listen to and they play crappy music?

[Nick]

Love it.

[454ss]

I have xm since Dec....and love it I wish I could afford to put it in all my trucks

[Texas1836]

Well worth the price. I've had it for nearly a year, and couldn't imagine a road trip without it now.

Thomas from TEXAS:TX:

[HENRY]

Originally posted by Texas1836
Well worth the price. I've had it for nearly a year, and couldn't imagine a road trip without it now.

Thomas from TEXAS:TX:

I love it! Id say well worth the price, but i get it free. :)

[03CarbonDog]

Money well spent. I thought like you at first too. I got it when it came out and would not be without it.

[03rado]

so there are more than like 2 good rock stations and one good comedy station? I went to best buy and they must have a limited one because I could only find like 3 good stations that I liked, are there more good stations than that? because to justify it there would have to be more good sations than what I have already here locally in LA, as far as stations.

[03CarbonDog]

Oh yeah man, it's like when you get Sat. TV, you just have to get used to it and find the stations you like. But if you do like rock like me then XM is for you. Not that much rap but a lot of rock. New rock too. You damn sure hear a lot of of new bands and songs way before you would on the radio. Plus you'll know who what band and the name of the song when it's playing. That is so very helpful for me.
As you can see there are more than two Rock Stations.

Deep Tracks - XM 40

Boneyard - XM 41

XM Liquid Metal - XM 42

XMU - XM 43

Fred - XM 44

XM Cafe - XM 45

Top Tracks - XM 46

Ethel - XM 47 (Fav)

Squizz - XM 48

The Loft - XM 50

XM Music Lab - XM 51

Unsigned - XM 52



And that's just the main "rock" ones. These are just like hits.

Top 20 on 20 - XM 20

KISS - XM 21 (LA)

MIX - XM 22

The Heart - XM 23

Sunny - XM 24

MTV Radio - XM 25

VH1 Radio - XM 26

Cinemagic - XM 27

On Broadway - XM 28 - No Commercials

U-Pop - XM 29

Special X - XM 30 - No Commercials

And 3 Comedy stations.

Extreme XM - XM 152

Laugh USA - XM 151

XM Comedy - XM 150

[03rado]

thanks man, gonna order it today!

[Dubyagee]

Love it also. I havent listened to FM since

[GDN]

As stated - XM is great. I made it a requirement on the 2003 I bought - I didn't want to have to add it on. GM has done a great job of integrating it so quick. The new Bose stereo sounds great compared to systems of yesteryear. I think you'd have to be a very serious music person that isn't satisified with anything less than what several thousand would buy to want to replace this system with aftermarket.

[MarineBlue03GMC]

I have an 03 Bose system but with the in dash 6 disc and no tape deck. It doesnt seem to have XM radio capabilities.

Do you all know if it is XM radio compatible? The owners manual doesnt seem to say either.

[GDN]

Originally posted by MarineBlue03GMC
I have an 03 Bose system but with the in dash 6 disc and no tape deck. It doesnt seem to have XM radio capabilities.

Do you all know if it is XM radio compatible? The owners manual doesnt seem to say either.

While you are changing from AM to FM, etc - you would know if it had XM - XM1 and XM2 - would pop up in the display as you rotated through, unfortunately it doesn't sound like you do if you haven't seen that .

The sure way to confirm is to open the glove box - look at the white sticker there with all of the RPO codes. From what you describe - you'll find a UC6 which is the Bose in dash system. Then look for U2K - that is the option code for XM.

If you indeed have the U2K XM stereo code (by the way it would have been on the price sticker as well - you pay $325 list extra for XM) but can't access it on the radio - then there could have been a mistake when the truck was built. The radio has to be programmed so it knows what is and is not installed - XM is one of those components. You could add all of the factory hardware for it - but without updating the software - you'd never know it was there. The dealers can do the reprogramming with the Tech 2 tool they have.

There is speculation that the XM components from GM could actually be added on to your radio - then just reprogrammed - but as of yet - GM has not made any mention of selling them OEM aftermarket. You might be able to find the components out of a junk yard (I really hope not too many 2003's have been totaled - but you know it has happened) - but even then - you'll have to find a dealer that will reprogram your head unit to recognize the XM.

So the only known easy way to day - is regular aftermarket using the modulator that will put the sound back in on the antennae.

[Mad Chemist]

When XM first came out, I wasn't too thrilled with the channels. But they do seem to be changing channels for the better. I finally just got mine hooked up this week and it is pretty sweet. I would put sound quality a step below a cd but not by much. Well worth it especially with the deals going on currently. I got IP link (non RF) add on for my Pioneer XM ready HU for $69.

[Iceman357]

I just got XM hooked up yesterday with my new headunit and it is awesome! If a song is on that you don't like, all you have to do is change the station 'cause there are a sh!t load to choose from. I was riding for about an hour or so after I had it activated, and I only listened to 2 or 3 songs that I had heard before. I don't know if I will ever listen to FM again.

[tennessee4x4]

I installed mine yesterday, I got the pionneer with the fm modulator. This thing kicks ***

[MarineBlue03GMC]

Yea I am pretty sure I DONT have the XM radio head unit. The factory manual section that covers my head unit says nothing about XM. I think its only with the cd and tape unit. Its strange since the 6 disc in dash system I have is supposed to be GM's top of the line system.

Anyway do I have any choices for XM add on systems OTHER than using a RF modulator? I

just wouldnt think that an RF modulator would provide quality sound like other input/output audio sources. Obviously the alternative connection would have to be compatible with my factory head unit.

[Shawn]

any of you guys have an idea of how long it took for the radio to activate (after you turned it on during the authorization time frame)? I've had them (XM) resend the authorization signal 3 times and I still can't get the channels - I only get the few that they let you preview. XM is looking into the problem. Anybody else have any difficulty with the setup process??

[GDN]

Originally posted by ibthumpin
any of you guys have an idea of how long it took for the radio to activate (after you turned it on during the authorization time frame)? I've had them (XM) resend the authorization signal 3 times and I still can't get the channels - I only get the few that they let you preview. XM is looking into the problem. Anybody else have any difficulty with the setup process??

I activated online - had a signal within about 20 minutes. Sorry to hear you're having problems. I hope they get it worked out quick. Once you get it - you won't look back to FM.

[03CarbonDog]

Mine got activated in about 5 min. I called them.