H and A XM Satellite radio

I'm new to this forum. Pleased to meet all of you and I am just so pleased with this truck. I bought an RTL last week and opted out of the $900.00 xm radio option. It is however, "XM ready" so I ordered this same radio from H and A and expect to receive it by next week: $380 with shipping. I called the local Honda dealer that I bought the truck from and asked what price they would charge to install it: $235.00. :eek: I then called the local custom car audio: $75.00. Not sure why there is such a discrepency, but it's clear who I'm going to have install the radio. My question is how does the 3 month free xm radio frequency become "activated". Is this through Honda or is it through XM radio? If it's through xm radio, does the equipment come with information to call and get it activated or what?

Thanks!

Don't know much about XM Radio, but Welcome to the club if I haven't already welcomed you.

I'm new to this forum. Pleased to meet all of you and I am just so pleased with this truck. I bought an RTL last week and opted out of the $900.00 xm radio option. It is however, "XM ready" so I ordered this same radio from H and A and expect to receive it by next week: $380 with shipping. I called the local Honda dealer that I bought the truck from and asked what price they would charge to install it: $235.00. :eek: I then called the local custom car audio: $75.00. Not sure why there is such a discrepency, but it's clear who I'm going to have install the radio. My question is how does the 3 month free xm radio frequency become "activated". Is this through Honda or is it through XM radio? If it's through xm radio, does the equipment come with information to call and get it activated or what?

Thanks!

When you get your new radio installed, tune it to channel 1 (or 0?) and you will see an 8 digit radio ID. Copy it down and call XMRadio. Tell them you just bought your new Honda with an XM Radio and you want to activate it. They'll ask for the eight-digit radio ID, activate it, and you'll be eligible for a 90-day free trial. That's how it worked when I installed the Honda XM receiver in my 05 CRV. My RL came stock with XM, activated by the dealer.

Welcome to the club. I hope you enjoy your new truck and XM radio.

JB

Trish,

Welcome to the club.

I bought my RTL with the XM already installed. When I picked up the truck the XM was not activated. The salesman told me he'd call XM the next day (I picked up at 8PM in the evening) and have it activated.

Being impatient, I looked in the manual and saw how to get the Radio ID from the radio's display. I logged on to XM.com and got a phone number. I called the 800 number and told them I picked up my new truck and the dealer did not have it activated. No problem, just gave them the radio ID and they took some name and address information (for sending a subscription solicitation). They asked me if the truck was sitting outside. They sent a signal to the radio and in a couple of minutes it was activated. They did not ask for any vehicle ID information, only the Radio ID.

I'm guessing that all you need to do is call them once you have the radio installed, and it will be good to go. I don't think they will know that you didn't buy the radio already in the truck. Seems like they are registering the Radio ID, not the truck.

Good Luck, and enjoy the ride.

PS: search the threads here and you will find that being a member of the ROC entitles you to a special $77 first year XM subscription rate after the 3 month free trial. Get your radio installed, enjoy the 3 month trial, then call and ask for the deal. :D

what a great resource of information this forum is. Thanks for the info and the welcome!.. Everything here from after market to tips on washing and waxing it. I absolutely love this vehicle and everything it offers. :)

We bought a 06' Pilot EX 4WD but didn't want leather so went with cloth but if you get cloth you only get XM ready also. I bought mine from my local dealer and they gave me the price from H and A and the install was $167.00.

Anyway you are not eligable for the 90 day free trial when its done this way. Thats what they told me anyway. Give them a call and tell them it needs to be activated and not tell them you had it installed after purchase.

I'm new to this forum. Pleased to meet all of you and I am just so pleased with this truck. I bought an RTL last week and opted out of the $900.00 xm radio option. It is however, "XM ready" so I ordered this same radio from H and A and expect to receive it by next week: $380 with shipping. I called the local Honda dealer that I bought the truck from and asked what price they would charge to install it: $235.00. :eek: I then called the local custom car audio: $75.00. Not sure why there is such a discrepency, but it's clear who I'm going to have install the radio. My question is how does the 3 month free xm radio frequency become "activated". Is this through Honda or is it through XM radio? If it's through xm radio, does the equipment come with information to call and get it activated or what?

Thanks!

damn trish I live up by columbia Id install it for 50 bucks :) and im certified both MECP and theint he military :)

i get my rtl with moon this week im gonna do the same thing as u

Update: I got my equipment from H and A thursday and got the install yesterday for $65. As the one poster suggested, I called the XM 1-800 number and told them that I just bought my Ridgeline from a local dealer, that I have the radio ID number and was ready to activate the three month free subscription that the dealer mentioned I could get. They asked me for the ID number, my name and address and within 20 minutes, my XM was activated!:D Am looking forward to many hours of commercial free entertainment!.. thanks to all for giving me such great advice~

Hi Trish,

I just picked up my Ridge yesterday and think I am going to do what you did. I noticed that the H&A XM uses an antenna that glues to the inside of the windsheild on the passenger side. I was wondering if there is any performance penalty for having the antenna inside, instead of roof mounted.

My question is, how's your XM reception? Does the signal drop out or crackle anytime it shouldn't?

I just purchased a XM unit for my local dealer, same price as H & A. I installed it myself because it seemed fairly simple and they wanted 250 bucks to install it at the dealer. The dealer I bought the unit from gave me their installation instructions and it also had the interior antenna mount.

To answer your question about the performance penalty for the inside mounted antenna. My radio picks up fairly well when traveling east, south, and west...when I travel north I have no signal at all. I am going to contact Honda and ask if there is any other alternative to the interior mount.

I had a Roady XT aftermarket receiver before and I wanted to have the integrated system. I am slightly OCD and I do not like extra appendages hanging out on my dash. Over all I am pleased with the XM integrated radio, as long as I can work out a way to get a better signal.

Hope I was helpful.

I just purchased a XM unit for my local dealer, same price as H & A. I installed it myself because it seemed fairly simple and they wanted 250 bucks to install it at the dealer. The dealer I bought the unit from gave me their installation instructions and it also had the interior antenna mount.

To answer your question about the performance penalty for the inside mounted antenna. My radio picks up fairly well when traveling east, south, and west...when I travel north I have no signal at all. I am going to contact Honda and ask if there is any other alternative to the interior mount.

I had a Roady XT aftermarket receiver before and I wanted to have the integrated system. I am slightly OCD and I do not like extra appendages hanging out on my dash. Over all I am pleased with the XM integrated radio, as long as I can work out a way to get a better signal.

Hope I was helpful.

You can always get a aftermarket outside antenna and splice into yours and run it outside the truck......pretty simple

The reception that I get is pretty good. I'll be doing a road trip today in some fairly rural areas and I'll see if the reception still does well. I do get minor crackling and the signal does "drop" once in a while but only for a few seconds.. not anything that concerns me though.

My radio picks up fairly well when traveling east, south, and west...when I travel north I have no signal at all.
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I took a road trip yesterday and found a similar problem. The reception heading North West was terrible. When I returned the same route heading South East, the reception was fine. If there is any way to remedy this, please post.

Only way to fix it is mount the antenna somewhere outside the cabin.

Best place is the center of the roof.......Surprised that Honda used the location that they did.

My radio picks up fairly well when traveling east, south, and west...when I travel north I have no signal at all.
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I took a road trip yesterday and found a similar problem. The reception heading North West was terrible. When I returned the same route heading South East, the reception was fine. If there is any way to remedy this, please post.

Only way to fix it is mount the antenna somewhere outside the cabin.

Best place is the center of the roof.......Surprised that Honda used the location that they did.

I agree with TL on this one. You may want to look at the placement of the antenna on the inside of the front window first. Looking at the instructions on the HandA site, it looks like the antenna should have been placed about 10mm (.4") from the top of the window and about 50mm (1.97") from the right edge. If they mounted it too close to the edge of the window, the A pillar or roof may be causing it to drop it's signal. If it's too close and you have any slack in the antenna wire, you may want to try relocating the antenna on the inside of the window, before you try relocating it on the roof.

Hope this helps! :)

JB

looks like the antenna should have been placed about 10mm (.4") from the top of the window and about 50mm (1.97") from the right edge
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This is where it is mounted. It's on the inside right hand side of the windshield just shy of the top right hand corner (passenger). It can't go outside to my knowledge because it uses a square casing to attach itself to the windshield. The reception is good here in town, but I can certainly see where this might be an issue going on long trips through rural areas and mountains and such.

OK. I'm a bit baffled. I have an 06 RTL without Navi and Sunroof, but with an XM READY radio. What do I need to do to get XM? New radio? Antenna? How much should I expect to pay?

Thanks ALL!

I just purchased a XM unit for my local dealer, same price as H & A. I installed it myself because it seemed fairly simple and they wanted 250 bucks to install it at the dealer. The dealer I bought the unit from gave me their installation instructions and it also had the interior antenna mount.

To answer your question about the performance penalty for the inside mounted antenna. My radio picks up fairly well when traveling east, south, and west...when I travel north I have no signal at all. I am going to contact Honda and ask if there is any other alternative to the interior mount.

I had a Roady XT aftermarket receiver before and I wanted to have the integrated system. I am slightly OCD and I do not like extra appendages hanging out on my dash. Over all I am pleased with the XM integrated radio, as long as I can work out a way to get a better signal.

Hope I was helpful.

Can't you purchase the Honda XM roof antenna & antenna module and install them in the roof and then hook them up to the radio?https://www.hondapartsdeals.com/honda_parts_list.php?hp_queried_components=0&hp_series_id=2805&hp_series_model=RIDGELINE&hp_series_year=2006&hp_series_door_ext_grade=4DR+RTS&hp_series_transmission=5AT&hp_series_slsareacd=KA&hp_system=I&hp_component=XEL03

Is this the exteranl antenna that comes on the RTL series of Ridgelines?

http://www.1hondaparts.com/Products/part_detail_211_31791.html

I think I've dug up a part number of 08A15-EX5-100B for this...

Has anyone ordered the three parts (attachment kit - 08B15-SJC-100A, antenna and XM tuner - 08A15-EX5-000) a la carte and successfully installed the external antenna?

Where does the external antenna go on the RTL? If on the roof, any directions for some accessory that tell you how to remove the roof liner? Is the tuner mounted under the driver's seat in the RTL?

I'm willing to drill a hole in my roof for a roof mount option -- I've had a XM Roady for years with a magnetic roof mount and have zero problmes with reception (except the usual under bridges and at the bottom north side of cliffs).

Roger

Ps. If someone can supply me the above info, I'll do a writeup on my installation!