XM Radio question

[Cyclonesrule91]

So I am considering getting XM radio. I have a Honda Ridgeline RTX which on the face plate says that it is XM Ready......which is a joke because I would have to get the antenna, XM tuner and wire harness to get it so I can listen to XM Radio (for around $300 in parts and $225 in labor if I don't do it myself). I know you can buy aftermarket that have built it FM tuners that don't need to be wired other then an antenna, or you can get them to plug into a RCA jack or something like that, which the Ridgline doesn't have but I imagine you could wire one somewhere.

So XM radio guru's........How's the best most economical way to get me listening to XM/Sirius radio. Any suggestions on what to get if I do go aftermarket?

Thanks in advance.

 

[colbycheese]

XM only carries one Big 12 channel which is usually the headlining Big12 South game of the week. Sirius, I believe, carries all of the Big 12 games. If you're gonna go after market, go with Sirius. I've actually canceled my XM contract. Once I graduated ISU I travel in the car a lot less and I wasn't using it that much - and the fact that I couldn't get ISU games kind of bugged me.

As far as actual hardware to buy for what you're talking about - I'm no help. I just had a unit with an FM transmitter (which worked terribly by the way).

 

[Racer68]

XM only carries one Big 12 channel which is usually the headlining Big12 South game of the week. Sirius, I believe, carries all of the Big 12 games. If you're gonna go after market, go with Sirius. I've actually canceled my XM contract. Once I graduated ISU I travel in the car a lot less and I wasn't using it that much - and the fact that I couldn't get ISU games kind of bugged me.

As far as actual hardware to buy for what you're talking about - I'm no help. I just had a unit with an FM transmitter (which worked terribly by the way).

I don't knoe about XM and the hardware, but if you are interested in listening to ISU football and basketball on satellite, Sirius is the way to go. I travel a lot for work and I can hear a game anywhere in the US.

 

[Clone1450]

Those numbers don't seem right to add xm to a vehicle that says xm ready. That said, I would get Sirius and go the aftermarket route. Does your truck have any aux Jack?

 

[Clone1450]

If you have a mini plug aux Jack just use that to hook up the audio and stick the antenna wherever you like. I just leave the receiver in the center console where my power plug and aux plug are and run the antenna cable out the back to the rear deck. Simple.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

Those numbers don't seem right to add xm to a vehicle that says xm ready. That said, I would get Sirius and go the aftermarket route. Does your truck have any aux Jack?

It doesn't right now but I think you can buy a wire harness that plugs into the back of the radio with a aux jack that you can run where you want it. Haven't found one yet though.

 

[Clone1450]

Look for one with no dock to be installed like the Starmate unless you want to do a semi permanent mount for the dock.

 

[Clone1450]

What year ridge line is it? Also, what model radio does it have? Is there a cd changer? Was cd changer an option?

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

2008 Ridgeline RTX. Standard radio that came with the RTX. CD player but not the 6 disc changer.

 

[leroycyclone]

If your Ridgeline does not have an antennae mounted on the roof, you will need one. The unit can be easily mounted on the dashboard but it does not operate as well as a factory installed antennae. While driving in congested cities, driving under high wires, and while driving under bridges, for example, you will lose reception. It's much worse with the interior antennae. I know, because my 2007 vehicle had the factory unit, the 2008 vehicle had a dealer installed antennae and the 2010 vehicle has the factory unit. The 2008 unit made me get crazy.