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..

Curious...why didn't you hold on to the XM stuff? Did you want to get a different unit?

Mobycat, I sold it because it was the Pioneer unit, that was not FM modulated. And the XM receiver I had was the 900 model, which can't be adapted to FM modulation. It doesn't have the ports on it. I also unloaded the antenna with it, because I knew the two would kind of need to be together to fetch a high selling price.

I sold the head unit too, which was a nice powerful Pioneer 4400 model, but I like the look of the Xterra's stereo, even though it is wimpy as hell.

My plan is to buy an FM modulated Kenwood setup

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/redirectFeature.jsp?goToUrl=product.jsp%3FproductId%3D2472

and install in into the truck, as the backlighting matches the 2002 head unit. I will mount the FM modulator behind the controller unit under the existing stereo, and the little receiver box under the seat.

Man, I am into this stuff. it is great. $10.00 bucks a month to listen to nothing but music. I love it. And even though Sirius is $3 more, I actually like the programming better.

OH, so you are going to Sirius then? (Or am I reading that wrong?)

One company (Sony, maybe?) is coming out with a fully portable unit. (I assume that means it is self contained - no need for a separate radio)

I don't know 100% yet, but I think I may make the switch. I had XM for three months, and though it is great, I listen to Sirius at work, and I like the programming better. Problem with XM is that so many folks are listening already, that they are beginning to offer TOO much variety. It's good that they are listening to the customers. That will make them profitable and make them popular. But, there is getting to be more talk shows on the MUSIC channels. That is a big no-no in my book. Not commercials, but annoying talk shows. No thanks.

Sirius, to some, seems boring and bland because the DJ's don't talk much and there is little variety outside of music on the music channels.

HELLO??????

I thought that's what we were doing here. Also, as noted by other posters, the evil Clear Channel has a minor stake in Xm, and may not exert a lot of influence right now, but give them time. There is a plan for satellite radio. That plan is to open it up as purely music, without commercials and ads. That will change. Without advertising, no product can survive. My opinion. XM will begin to have more commercials as we go along. Sirius may actually sink first, as they are slow out of the gate with subscriptions. But it will be fun while it lasts.

Ashleynatlanta,

Did you install the XM system yourself, and was it hard to do? How did the antenna install look, bad? I'm asking because I just installed an Alpine 7995 and it's XM ready. I too am sick of regular radio, and besides, the reception of satelite radio kicks ass. One more question, how much were you paying a month?

This doesn't sound like Sirius has much of a future:

http://www.wired.com/news/mp3/0,1285,55706,00.html

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20021011/bs_nm/media_sirius_dc_1

With a subscription base of only 6,510 generating $54,000 - how much longer can they go on?

I don't know about Sirius...but that article on Wired is such a load of shit.

I was at NAB Radio 2002 in Seattle last month. They are blind to satellite radio - and try to ignore it. All this talk about digital radio bringing them into the game with satellite radio is wrong.

Hey guys...it's not so much the "digitalness" of satellite that beats your ass...its the CONTENT! Last night on my drive home I heard Xymox. When have you EVER heard them on a non-college station? Oh wait...that would be....NEVER.

IBOC, digital terrestrial (sp?), whatever you want to call it, will NOT give broadcast stations any edge. They STILL have way too many commercials, they STILL play the same old crap. They STILL have DJ's that don't know when to shut up. They STILL have lame morning shows. They STILL have to adhere to the FCC's seven words.

Washington DC is the #8 metro market (at least for television). And what radio do we have?

WAMU - NPR (American University)
WETA - NPR
WARW Classic Rock - Infinity Broadcasting
WPGC Urban - Infinity Broadcasting
WASH Adult contemporary - Clear Channel
WMZQ Country - Clear Channel
WHFS Alternative - Infinity Broadcasting
DC101 rock - Clear Channel
104.1 top 40 - Bonneville

Notice a pattern here? And on which of these channels am I going to hear Elvis Costello? Oh wait...none. I can hear him on 3 or 4 channels on XM.

One second is too much for something you're paying for. Is six minutes worth of commercials acceptable for HBO? It's not to me.

but you pay for USA, CNN, MTV, etc.. and last I checked they have commericals.. heck, more than the "free" broadcast stations sometimes..

How many people that have XM or Sirius complain about the fee? No me!!! I live in LA,Ca and listen to hard rock. It may com as a surprise but there is no hard rock station in LA. Here if you don't listen to Spanish music or Rap you are out of luck. I gladly pay the $9.99/month for XM's UNCENSORED programming! The commercials that are on XM are very short and only come on one at a time, spaced apart. I think I can handle the 15 seconds of torture to be able to hear good music. Now if we could only convince them to offer a Punk station:)

I'd like to see a Industrial/Goth channel.

I was just curious what this statement was all about. It was just stuck in the middle of two sentences for no apparent reason.

Well here is a taste of metro LA!

KPWR: CHR/Rhythmic- Emmis
KROQ: Alternative- Infinity
KIIS/KVVS: CHR/Pop- Clear Channel
KTWV-FM: Smooth Jazz- Infinity
KOST-FM: AC- Clear Channel
KKBT-FM: Urban- Radio One
KRTH-FM: Oldies- Infinity
KLOS-FM: Classic Rock- ABC
KYSR-FM: Hot AC- Clear Channel
KHHT-FM: Urban AC- Clear Channel
KCBS-FM: Classic Rock- Infinity
KZLA-FM: Country- Emmis
KLSX-FM: Talk- Infinity
KBIG-FM: AC-Clear Channel
KMZT-FM: Classical- Mt Wilson FM

Out of the top 15 english speaking radio stations in LA, 5 are Infinity and 5 are Clear Channel. Imagine what Viacom (Infinitie's parent) or Clear Channel would do if they were threatened by a better format that wasn't dictated to by them...

Check this out-->
"Clear Channel Radio, the largest operator of radio stations in the United States, provides advertisers with a coast-to-coast platform of more than 1200 stations. Broadcasting across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Clear Channel programming reaches more than 110 million listeners every week. Advertisers spend nearly 20% of their radio advertising dollars with Clear Channel.
In addition to the reach of our own 1200 stations, Clear Channel’s Premiere Radio Network syndicates more than 100 programs to more than 7,800 radio stations total. Premiere reaches 180 million+ listeners a week with its network of top #1 names including Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Rick Dees, Casey Kasem, Jim Rome, Carson Daly and Art Bell. Premiere also broadcasts Clear Channel Entertainment concerts and new CD debuts, enhancing the synergies between divisions."

Rush Limbaugh? Rick Dees? Carson FRICKEN Daly??? I don't wanna hear Chumps like that!! I'll stick with my XM. In fact I was listening to good ol' Sam Kinison on ch 150 the other day and it just reafirmed what a good decision XM was!!!!

Ok

Can someone explain to me how payment for XM Radio works?

I mean, it looks like you are paying ~ $10 a month. How does this payment work? How does the unit know that you are paying your monthly fee?

This audio comes down from the satelites in space, right? I mean, I don't understand how this is different, than say, GPS. ?

Thanks ;0

The same way a cell phone works, it has an ESN (Electronic Serial Number). When you pay, your ESN is enabled. If you don't pay, they shut it off.

HmmI wonder how long until people start cloning XM Radios then?

Does the radio constantly send out your ESN? I mean, does it like have to make a connection before you can receive?

Does this work across the country? Can you go out of range? Better than cellphone suond Q, right?

I hate to speak for someone else but Steve from our group said he only lost reception once or twice while in the canyons on the way to GOX from KC. I on the other hand went hours without finding a station on regular fm.

Please, allow me to elaborate for folks who don't listen to "today's" music.

In the new Song by Tom Petty, The Last DJ, he makes a lot of references to DJ's having to play what they are told to play. And he makes an obvious reference to satellite radio by saying something to the effect of "what used to be free, you now have to pay for".

There is the meaning of my sentence.

Ta-dow.

More Sirius woes today...

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/business/technology/3857936.htm

The power of advertising. XM was advertising all over the place last year (remember David Bowie dropping through the ceiling?). Sirius hasn't advertised for squat.

I will say I have XM in my Frontier and love it. I live in Nashua, NH and drive all over New England, especially Vermont. in my travels there, I go into areas where FM sucks and reception can be spotty at times. My XM has cut out a few times momentarily, usually when I am in a canyon and surrounded all around by large rock walls. It will also cut out for a second if I go under bridges or am right next to an 18 wheeler. Not sure why it does it then, but its usually no big deal and still worth the $$$..

AFP.