it's got to be the fm mod. as noted. my self installed factory xm unit sounds excellent. you should either return the commander and get the factory unit or wait a month until pac comes out with their aux input adapter, then you will be able to hook up your commander directly. the commander or skyfi will give a much nicer interface than the factory 10 character 1 line display.

2003.5 G35C 6MT Laser Red
Premium/SunRoof/Aero/XM

 

can you talk more about this "pac aux input adapter"? What does that mean? please excuse my ignorance. can you post a link to that device?

 

http://www.pac-audio.com/index.asp

it is simply an adapter that will provide auxillary rca inputs for your factory headunit. activated with the sat. button. as long as you are prewired and have a sat button on your dash

2003.5 G35C 6MT Laser Red
Premium/SunRoof/Aero/XM

 

If your car is brand new, then it is prewired-- which means there's a white clip in the back into which you would plug in the receiver made for for the G. You can also plug in the aux adapter to this, and then plug your commander into that. The best (cleanest) option, however, is to get the receiver that's made FOR the G (not the Commander), and either install it yourself or have it installed for a pretty low cost.

Either way, you'll be plugged directly into the car's stereo instead of floating through an FM-Mod. Let me know if you need more details about either-

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

It's been said before, but just for re-emphasis:

1. FM modulation sound quality is awful.

2. If you have a car with a factory Sat radio capability, why in the world would you settle for some questionable aftermarket install?!

<font color=blue>'04 G35S 5AT, Black Obsidian/Willow, Prem/Nav/Sat</font color=blue>

 

I went with aftermarket hardware because I wanted the display of the XM Commander. I didn't realize I could only hook it up through FM modulation, the dealer said the car was "XM ready, just buy the radio and your good to go". There is no way i'll pay 4-500 for a factory XM radio. I think the best option for me is to wait for th PAC auxiliary inputs device at end-of-april. This should give me sound of equal quality to a factory installed XM, right ?

 

OK. I understand the cost issue. But the Infiniti XM kit can be bought for around $300, not $4-500. Does that change your options?

As far as sound quality with an aux input, I don't know. It may be fine, or "good enough".

<font color=blue>'04 G35S 5AT, Black Obsidian/Willow, Prem/Nav/Sat</font color=blue>

 

What about the antenna?
I want to get XM for my car as well. I talked to the dealer cause they said my car is "pre-wired" and I've got the button and everything. As many of you probably heard as well, they said it would be about $700. They said there's a lot of labor because if it's not factory installed, even though the radio is "prewired" you don't have an antenna. So a hole has to be cut into the roof of your car and one of those new nub-style antennas is mounted on your roof.

This comes to my question regarding the difference in XM quality. Where do you guys that have XM, have the antenna. I read on another post here that if you simply put the antenna inside your back window, the reception won't be as good as if you had it mounted on the roof of your car.
Just a thought on why the quality is worse...

Now, I would much rather not spend $700 to get XM. Can you guys that installed it go into more details on how you did it. Where did you get the G35 proprietary receiver that plugs into the radio? Where can I get instructions on doing it myself? Where did you put the antenna?
GeoBau stated "Is your car pre-wired, or not? If so, you can get it all set up and installed for about $399."
Can you please give more details on this.

Thanks a lot for your help.

 

I have the antenna installed inside the back window and have no reception problems. As for the installation being difficult, remove a few trim panels, connect a couple of wires and screw the receiver to the support for the backseat. It took me about an hour to complete the whole thing. If I had mounted the antenna on the roof, that would definitely add more time. I got my receiver from www.grubbsinfiniti.com for $300. Hope this helps. I don't have any pics now, but may have the opportunity to get some this weekend.

Diamond Graphite/Graphite/Prem. pkg./Navi.
ASG 7-wire grounding system
Tint
Z-tube
K&N drop-in
Coming:
Volk GT-C
Eibach Springs
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by ekaz on 04/01/04 10:03 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

I mounted the Blitzsafe micro antenna on my dash near the VIN plate & the reception is outstanding. Took me 20 min. to remove the old antenna from the rear deck, route the wire & mount the new one. The reason I mounted it on the dash is cuz when I tinted my windows it killed the reception when the antenna was on the rear deck.

Here's a pic...


BTW you'll need one of these...
http://store.myradiostore.com/blxmansp.html
to hook up any micro antenna to the OEM tuner.

XMLM

 

You can always just install it on the trunk lid... no holes. You can get a different antenna for a reasonable price, too. They're yanking your chain-- just get the kit at Grubbs or somewhere else, and have it installed at a good audio shop, or do it yourself.

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

The antenna comes with the Infiniti OEM kit. Like many others, I installed it on the rear deck (sedan), and it works great there. The total labor to install is very simple if you're able to do the most basic work on a car.

<font color=blue>'04 G35S 5AT, Black Obsidian/Willow, Prem/Nav/Sat</font color=blue>

 

XM is capable of producing CD - like sound quality. What "you" get is dependent on how good you front end (radio) is. The Stock Infiniti radio isn't that good, so even through the sat button, XM deosn't sound as good as it POSSIBLY could. Going through the stock radio via an FM modulator would suck pretty bad IMHO.



BillR

 

okay, you guys have all been great on this post. thanks so much.

 

I remember seeing a comparison between XM and Sirius.

XM: Similar to a 128kb MP3
Sirius: " 160kb MP3

Being an audiophile myself I can't stand any type of MP3 except for maybe a 320kbps.