Add factory XM?

03z71 · May 2, 2004

I was wondering what I would need to add to my 2003 Silverado to get XM on the factory radio. I have the Bose radio without the 6 disc in dash changer and have heard that the decks are the same whether you have XM or not. I know I would need to add the XM tuner and antenna but is that it? Any information with part numbers would be appreciated.

lrymal · May 3, 2004

You would need to get a satellite receiver, such as the Pioneer 910XM, antenna, and finally an adapter from Soundgate:

Pioneer 910 XM at Etronics

XM Antenna

Adapter (Soundgate)

This should get you going. The satellite receiver and antenna are no-brainers. The adapter from SoundGate is the main key on getting this to work with your OEM radio. I haven't used the SoundGate, but it looks very intriguing and from what I have read here from other members, it works very well.

03z71 · May 3, 2004

Thanks for the info. It looks like I would be in for about $290 if I go that route. That's not too bad. What would I need if I went the OEM route? If I got the XM receiver from GM, would I only need the antenna in addition? Does anybody have any part numbers? The one thing good about going that way is I could presumably install the receiver in the stock location, which might get it more out of the way.

lrymal · May 3, 2004

And that's the rub, the OEM satellite receiver. It is a restricted component and cannot be ordered, easily, except by eBay resellers or junk yard strippers who are selling components.

Some folks here and the other lists have been able to get one, but it is a rather exceptional experience.

And, even if the OEM receiver was not restricted, its cost from GM would exceed the aftermarket route.

03z71 · May 3, 2004

And that's the rub, the OEM satellite receiver. It is a restricted component and cannot be ordered, easily, except by eBay resellers or junk yard strippers who are selling components.

Why is it restricted? That seems odd. If I were dumb enough to take my truck into the dealer to have them add XM, could they even do it then?

Are there any other XM receivers beside the Pioneer or any other adapters besides Soundgate that can be used with the stock head unit, or is that setup the only way? Do you know where people with the Pioneer unit typically install the tuner and the antenna?

lrymal · May 3, 2004

The OEM satellite module is just one of several items that is restricted. All manufacturers have certain components that are sell-restricted.

I doubt very seriously your dealer would sell one to you, even if you waved a lot of bills. Give it a try. I'm serious. If your VIN does not have it listed, I doubt seriously you can buy it. And kiss the ground of your dealer if he will sell it to you. Oh, I hope I'm wrong because I would love to get one of these myself.

Currently, as far as I know, the only way to install XM into your factory radio is exactly with the components I listed.

If you elect to discard the factory radio, your options multiply considerably.

Mounting of the Pioneer is rather easy. Most folks place it under the carpet in areas that have room. If you have an extended cab, it is amazingly simple to mount it under the seat, under the carpet. To route the wiring, you merely unsnap the rocker panel rails and kick panel. To route the antenna cable, you route the antenna wire through your bed light housing.

It is an easy install. Has a few steps, but a simple install.

03z71 · May 4, 2004

Thanks for all the great information. I have done some digging and in searching over on xmfan.com, they are saying the same thing. If you want "factory XM" in a 2003 Silverado, you need the Pioneer 910, Soundgate adapter, and antenna. I am still considering doing this but have one big question left. Where can I mount the Pioneer 910. Under the seats is out because there is a heating duct under them which takes most of the floor space. Inside the center console is out because I have Bose and that's where the amp and sub are. Any other ideas? I thought about behind the rear seat, but how long is the soundgate cable? What about heat concerns? Does the tuner get warm? Does it need ventilation? Any advice is appreciated.

lrymal · May 4, 2004

The Pioneer XM satellite receiver appears to not be that sensitive to its own heat. Mine has been under the carpet for over a year. I am assuming you have an extended cab truck (guessing). On the shelf where the jack and tools are, on the driver's side, is a lot of room under the carpet. Just place the receiver there. You don't even have to mount it. It is snug when the carpet is laid back down on it.

Wiring would be routed under the carpet to the door sills which unsnap. There is a wiring tray where you would route your power and antenna wires. The kick panel also unsnaps.

The SoundGate cable is short, but it is merely an interface cable/box anyway. The Pioneer cable is VERY long. The Pioneer cable plugs into a Pioneer head unit in its normal installation. In the SoundGate method, the cable would plug into the SoundGate, which then plugs into the GM OEM stuff. No problem about length.

As a reminder, here is the first paragraph from SoundGate, "The Soundgate PIOGM1V4, the new upgrade from the V2 & V3, allows you to add either or both of the Pioneer 6 or 12 disc IP-Bus CD Changer and/or a Pioneer XM Satellite receiver in certain 2001 - 2004 General Motors factory radios.... You can use the device as an auxiliary input converter with the addition of the PIO/P-RCA cable."

This is really a good thing. I have ordered one and will be playing around with the SoundGate next week. If I like all of this, I'll probably be reinstalling my OEM head unit.

lrymal · May 4, 2004

Below are photos of my receiver under the extended cab rear seat, on the "tool" shelf. The first photo is rear floor, on the driver's side. The Infinity BassLink is on the floor, under the sitting part of the seat. The XM receiver is under the carpet, on the tool shelf.

The remaining photos are with the Infinity BassLink pulled back out of the way, and the carpet lifted.

03z71 · May 4, 2004

lrymal,

Thanks for the pictures and info. You have been extremely helpful! That doesn't look like too bad of a setup at all. When you originally said to mount it under the seat, I assumed you meant the front seat but now I see that you said "if you have an extended cab" (which I do). I had thought about under the rear seat but was concerned about heat. Now that I see your pictures, I realize that the unit is smaller than I would have thought too. One last question: what antenna are you using? Did you have to drill the edge of the brake light enclosure to keep it flat against the roof with the cable poking through?

Thanks again for all the help!

lrymal · May 4, 2004

You are most certainly welcome!!! I have learned so much from this group and there is always payback time and this is one of them.

The antenna lead wire has a hard outter skin for protection and is very thin. It easily fits through the gasket of the truck bed light. You unscrew the light housing and snake the wire through there. The antenna I used is a dual wire Terk. I'm having difficulty finding this antenna on the internet so you may need to get "yet-another-adapter" which is no biggie. The Pioneer requires a dual-feed antenna. The URL below is from Crutchfield and the page has both a low profile antenna and an adapter/splitter.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-i4KQwqMByqP/c...1&avf=N&search=

You don't have to remove the head liner to do this project, but you will need to gently pull the liner's edge to complete the antenna lead's journey. I would suggest rehearsing to get a clear idea how to do this. It is a very easy project, but you do have to be somewhat creative. You need to think things out a bit and take your time. However, I can't think of any gotchas. It really is easy.

I would become familiar with the bed light housing, the removal of the door sills and discover the wiring tray, removal of the kick panel, bezel surrounding the radio and instrument cluster. You will need a nut driver socket kit in order to remove the radio to get to its backside.

A neat trick that GM did for us is that you do NOT have to remove the glove box to snake the wire behind it, if you choose to go that route. The actual container box has a stop tab on the right side. Just press inward on the container box wall and the tab will flex inwards, defeating its purpose of being a stop tab. Now, the door for the glove box and the container box will easily drop wide open giving you total exposure to the area behind it. This makes it so very easy to help route the wiring.

03z71 · May 4, 2004

Cool! Thanks again for the information!

lrymal · May 8, 2004

I just got the SoundGate interface in. This is a neat little rig. Easy to install and really does a good job. I'd keep it installed, but I'm not going to use it for only ONE reason: eight character display, and it doesn't scroll horizontally.

The eight character display is really a short-coming. I'm not sure if the factory XM is limited to eight characters, but the Pioneer 910XM satellite receiver transmits 16 characters. If anyone knows if the factory XM is limited to eight characters, I'd be really interested in knowing.

In the meantime for a January discussion on the SoundGate adapter, and some simply amazing installation photos and pictures of the display go here:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...hl=xm+satellite

mark w · May 8, 2004

The factory scrolls (2 screens) and is not limited to 8. I have never counted how many digits it goes through but I would say it is at least 16.

lrymal · May 8, 2004

The factory scrolls (2 screens) and is not limited to 8. I have never counted how many digits it goes through but I would say it is at least 16.

Well, heck.

DANG!

Durn...

Dadgum!

Kinda hard to recommend the Soundgate then, if the eight character display is a limitation. There are other features it offers, such as overcoming GM's reluctance to sell the XM module, and an ability to offer input.

It is indeed an exceedingly simple product to install.

But, this eight character business with no horizontal scroll. With the OEM radio offering scrolling, then that kinda kicks the unit out.

That's rough. Other than that, it mimicks the Delphi unit nearly perfectly. I applaud their efforts, but they just ain't quite there.