I saw on XMradio.com that the 2003 Pathfinder has XM satellite radio as an option. Does anyone know if there are plans for the Xterra to have this option?

Bummer, I thought Nissan would be smart enough to avoid XM and go with Sirius.

XM has commercials, and is controlled by ClearChannel, who have ruined FM radio over the last decade.

Sirius offers a much better product.

Looking at Nissan's website, they offer both XM and Sirius in the Pathfinder as a $399 option. However, you can only have one installed not both. Nissan is one of the few automakers selling both systems in their 2003 line. Most manufacturers aligned themselves with one or the other. From a hardware standpoint, they probably have a headunit that can understand either system and just put in the correct satellite receiver. From what I've read the antennas can work with either system.

Maybe, but XM was first to market and their share of it is huge compared to that of Sirius.

Not to mention the fact that several auto manufacturers who were going to OEM Sirius, including GM and BMW, are now contracting with XM.

It's Darwinism....Sirius probably won't be around for the long haul.

XOC - I disagree. I was just out at NAB Radio, and while they try to ignore the existance of satellite radio, it is clear that XM is in a MUCH better position financially. Content wise - they are the same. As far as commercials - they are far and few between on XM (maximum 6 minutes an hour, which is miniscule). And Sirius only advertises as commercial free on the music channels. They are NOT 100% commercial free through all their channels.

KrisJon - where did you see that GM was going with Sirius at any time? GM owns (or did own) Hughes, which is a big investor in XM.

XM is much further ahead in market share AND brand awareness. Sirius has a LOT of catching up to do.

(And terrestial radio is sticking it's head in the sand on the whole issue)

I could be wrong with GM, but it was one of the big automakers. I read it somewhere.

Not sure which. Last I knew, GM was going with XM, Ford or Chrysler is an investor in Sirius (forget which).

I do know that Porsche was going to give buyers the option of which one.

Actually, I just checked both XM and Sirius's web sites:

GM - XM
DC - Sirius
Ford - Sirius
Nissan - Sirius
BMW - Sirius
Audi - Sirius (I assume this means VW, too)

Neither mention Porsche (though I do know I read that somewhere - maybe in a press release).

I'm not sure where on XM's site it mentions the pathfinder.

Legalized payola, stations losing their identities, and national uniforminity of all their like minded stations are just the tip of the iceberg. On top of that, while Clear Channel monopolized the concert industry , they drove the prices of tickets into the stratosphere.

Clear Channel is my personal antichrist!

Speaking of XM satellite radio, do you suppose they could send down RDS info so the stock radio will display XM Radio instead of 87.9 all day?

No, The satellites broadcast at 2.32-2.34 Ghz which is well above the 87.9Mhz your radio can receive.

But isn't that the purpose of the FM modulator, to convert the signal to FM frequencies so the radio can understand it through the antenna input?

Your right, but to the best of my knowledge none of the FM modulators provide RDS support, since they all display the same information. I you don't like it, get a headunit that works with XM and quit bitching about the FM modulator. Also from what I've read, the audiophiles haven't been too pleased with the output quality of the modulators.

I have the XM in my Jetta. I bought a Pioneer DEH 4400 back in July and installed it myself, along with an antenna and the receiver. I like it very much so far.

But, rest assured, as long as Clear Channel is involved, commercialism will take over. CC is a very minor shareholder/investor, but still is powerful enough to influence air-play.

Trust me though: If you buy it, you will not be disappointed in the incredible variety of music. Don't listen to Tom Petty's new song "the last DJ". The DJ's are really good. And they are totally into the music, and not hearing themselves talk. Of the all music channels, most are commercial free, but not all.

There were 4 FM re-broadcast on there too, for a while. LA KISS, Houston's MIX, NY Lite, and Nashville's Six Country were all on, and loaded with commercials. But two of those 4 have now been dropped for XM only stations. A huge improvement. Those of us who have XM are hoping to lose LA KISS and Houston's MIX too, as they are sucky. Pop, folks, is dead.

I saw where Sirius was going to be in Nissan vehicles, and BMW has re-affirmed their committment in Sirius, per the www.sirius.com website. Personally, I prefer the programming I have heard on Sirius' online streaming better than what I hear on XM. And ALL of Sirius music only channels are commercial free, not MOST, all.

If and when I am able to get back into an Xterra, which I also believe to be the best bang for the buck SUV on the road today, I may opt for Sirius radio. I like the option of OLN Radio and totally commercial free radio. There again, when I sell the Jetta, I'm ripping out the XM radio stuff, and will either re-install in the Xterra, or sell on Ebay. About $400.00 worth of equipment.

I didn't know they had actually DJs on stations. The company I work for runs 5 of the stations on XM. I've been to the "DJ" booths and there sits a PC with the MS marquee screen saver with the words XM on it.

I wonder what the NPR is like.

..jorge

You are correct, I just made that up for some attention. Kidding.

Actually, the stations we run are broadcast from Houston. Where we have 3 real stations also. I assume that all of the other XM stations are done by regular radio stations around the country also.

I have no clue if they have real DJs. I just saw the computer that plays the songs, maybe they switch away.

Though I'm usually not in the Houston studio. I work in the NJ transmitting building "frying my balls" as Oleg put it during a visit.

Edited to add: Wait a sec, I never even said I saw the "music channel DJ booths". I saw the booths we have to send to XM. I really doubt there is some sort of centralized XM DJ booth area somewhere.

..jorge

First of all, why would the modulator have to support RDS? The bit of code would be converted to FM frequencies just like the music and the stock radio would put it in the display just as it does with applicable radio stations.
Second, I was never bitching about the modulator, I still find the quality of audio to be far superior of analog. I chose the unit I have because I wanted to keep the 6 disc changer and the steering wheel controls. If you don't have anything useful to respond with, don't bother posting,

As far as I know, all of XM's "own" channels (meaning, not VH-1, MTV, etc) are broadcast out of the DC studios. They are small booths, for the most part, but do in fact, have real DJ's running them - most have been in radio for years.

I have a friend who works for XM that I haven't talked to in a few months, I'll try and find out from him the scoop.

From what I gather, not that great. Morning Edition and ATC are not on the feed (the two biggest shows on NPR).

I wish XM had NPR anyway. Some PRI shows are pretty good. XM does have BBC, which gives some of the same taste of stuff.

i dont know about anyone else, but i have xm on my xterra and i love it. i have also heard sirius and i dont really like it as much. commercials are not even compareable to fm. you hear them few and far between. i am definitely happy with my xm.

I just recently had XM Radio installed in my 2002 Xterra - - and I have no complaints so far. I did a lot of research between the two companies and decided on XM of Sirrius because: (1) the reason that XM does not carry NPR or PRI (which I really wanted) is because NPR only sells their "B" programming to Sirrius - - which means you will not get "All things Considered", "Morning Addition", "Whaddya Know", etc. (2) all interaction I had with XM via email was handled by a "live" person - - responses in less than 20 minutes; I'm still waiting for respones from Sirrius and lastly (3) I like the fact that XM has been around for a while. Just my .02.

Bianka

I'm hooked and don't think I could ever go back to not having XM!!

Geez you guys are making wnat this.

I listen to the same damned Beatles CD all day becuase I can't stand flipping through the radio stations.

Do radio stations even play music anymore? Or is just purely advertisments?

I have sold all my XM gear, as I am selling the VW Jetta I had it installed in. But me and the wife are anxiously waiting to get it installed in the Xterra, because we miss it very much.

When you listen to the crap that is coming out in CD's these days (plus the $15.00 cost of a CD, more than one month of subscription to EITHER service), and then have to listen to constant babbling on commercial FM radio, you really miss the satellite if you've had it.

I will probably do an FM mod in the new truck. Main reason is I don't want to take out the factory unit and it's good, clean look. Don't get me wrong, the factory system in my XE sucks ass, but I still like the look of it..