Has anyone in Canada had any experience activating the satellite radio in a 2005? To get Satellite radio you need an american address. I have a friend who has a handheld receiver and it works great. Has anyone gone to a US dealer and had it installed in an 8? I would like to know if others have tried and if so what happened?
Cheers

 

Hey Quinte, how's it going? As far as I know, it is something that has to be installed in the Canadian '8. If this is tha case, Im sure you could go down to the States and have it installed. Even know you obtain a Canadian address. Good luck and let us all know how you make out.

 

Thanks for the reply Helas. We have a US address so we might give it a try. we will keep you posted.

 

No way - all you need a portable receiver to get XM. I've had it for over a year and I listen to it in my truck, my RX8, at work, at home and in my boat.

Take a look at www.xmfan.com and www.myradiostore.us

They take Canadian credit cards and all you need is an American address. They don't even check it.

 

I can second it i have sirius tho. I bought it from seattle went to the phone book and picked anyone they didnt even verify I gave the name James Woo and im brown

 

ya those are pretty cool! I think what quinte is trying to get is the one that mazda builds into the 8's dash. that is what the "sat" button is for.

 

Helas is right. After hearing a friends portable I thought it might be cool to have the onboard version. I did check with a US mazda dealer and the cost is $400.00 US plus about an hours labor. I didnt ask if they would courier the package up here. The cost of the portables are alot cheaper and they go where you go. I think I'll go portable for now. Thanks for your input,

 

so we have the option to have sat radio in the canadian 8's for 2005 but can't sign up for the subscription w/o a valid US address? Doesn't that seem a little odd? (actually more like stupid)


MrJynx

 

My 2005 8 doesn't have the Sat Radio button, does everyone else?

 

As noted above...The good news is that you don't seem to have to have a valid address!?! I know some one who used a GAP store in the US. All they seem to care about is a valid credit card.

 

YYZSPECIALK, My '05 has the sat button. Yours does not? that's odd.

 

Nope... No SAT button for me... Do you have Nav? I was reading a thread in the Audio section and apparently some 05's weren't shipped with the SAT option, but some dealers seem to be willing to replace the radio.

 

nope, i didn't opt for the nav. I would expect the dealer to replace the radio for one with sat option free of charge. That is really odd. You should go and ask then about it and see what they say.

 

Do we all have the same sound system? I discovered that mine has the 6 cd player. It came in my car but I don't think its standard. maybe the other units dont have Sat.

 

Quinte, GOOD POINT! They all have 6 disc cd players but i think the GS models have less speekers and less radio options. YYZSpecialk, do you have the GT or the GS? We might be close to solving this mystery

 

I inquired at the dealership about the satellite radio, strange I find the radio reception poor in my 8. I asked a sales guy about installing Sat. radio after the fact. He replied about some kind of computer connection prohibiting an install in cars not originally equipped with Nav.

Sounds like B.S to me, the sales folks did'nt know about or inform me that the Canadian 08 I purchased did not have TPMS < Tire pressure system >. All the more strange, because I had specifically asked the service department if there were conflicts with TPMS when installing snows.

My radio does heve the " SAT " button, I am beginning to believe Gazoo at the dealer hasn't a clue.

 

Not true. I have a GS, have everything that you have, minus the upgraded lights, leather, traction, and whatever else it was. Sound systems are the same, atleast for the 2004's which I have.

Bose premium audio system w/AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer and clock w/ built-in audio display (includes 9 speakers)

 

Sauga, My apologies, I did not know that the sound system was the same in both models. Well Back on the hunt to find out all there is to know about this strange "sat" button for Quinte

 

The only difference is that the GT has the option of a moonroof, auto dimming rearview mirror, optional nav system, GT has xenon lights with automatic levelers, GT has DSC, only the GS 6M/T has LSD, GT has power seats, also has heated front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel and leather seats, GT has a anti theft alarm.

 

Gee, it sounds like someone has the're sales booklet out:p

 

Hey Hitmann... we have the headlight levelers on the GT? I didn't know that - I guess I'll look more closely for that indicator light when I first turn the key. Cool!

 

I bought my 8 with the GT package and mine didn't come with a SAT button. When I had them install the Sirius they had to change the head unit to one that had the SAT button. I don't think there is any standardization on what models get the radio with the SAT button as I looked at several 8's at the dealer (some with Touring Package and some without) and there wasn't any standardization amoungst them.