Trouble with XM radio

I recently purchased a 2006 CRV. The radio is XM capable and I want to enable it. I've been unable to get the "CD/XM" button to do anything other than make the CDs go, so I assme that the previous owner used up the three-months sample time.

How do I get the radio's ID number to re-enable XM? The manual says that I'm supposed to turn the "tune" dial until it reads "zero", at which time the ID is supposed to pop up. But when I spin the dial, all it does is change the FM station.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

I may be covering the obvious, but a couple of things:

1. XM is a pay service so I assume they will want money before you can tune in.
Some Honda's were sold with free XM for a trial period no pay no play afterward.

2. Sirrus/XM is in deep financial trouble so keep that in mind when signing up for their service.

I recently purchased a 2006 CRV. The radio is XM capable and I want to enable it. I've been unable to get the "CD/XM" button to do anything other than make the CDs go, so I assme that the previous owner used up the three-months sample time.

How do I get the radio's ID number to re-enable XM? The manual says that I'm supposed to turn the "tune" dial until it reads "zero", at which time the ID is supposed to pop up. But when I spin the dial, all it does is change the FM station.

Thanks in advance,
Matt
Some Honda's come with XM radio and some are "XM Ready." Look on the front of your radio. Does it say "XM" or "XM Ready." If it says "XM Ready" then you might not have the actual XM radio. If this is the case, you'll need to purchase the XM radio (http://www.cheaphondaparts.com/proddetail.php?prod=C06XRBK66). My wife's '06 Civic was like this. The radio was "XM Ready" and we had to buy the whole XM kit from Honda.

If you already have XM radio and cannot select XM then it just may be broken or the wiring maybe got lose somehow.

If you have XM radio, you should be able to select XM and tune into some channels like 0, 1 and a few others (something like 6 channels total for free).

Good luck!
Larry.

XM Radio is going down the drain. XM is a pay service about $13.00 a month but they are expected to file bankrupcy within the next few days, I would hold off if I were you.

XM Radio is going down the drain. XM is a pay service about $13.00 a month but they are expected to file bankrupcy within the next few days, I would hold off if I were you.
Looks like Liberty Media has come to the rescue of Mel Karmazin: Sirius XM Reaches Investment Deal With Liberty (http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/sirius-xm-reaches-loan-deal-with-liberty/?scp=1&sq=sirius%20xm&st=cse). In my opinion, they should get rid of Karmazin. He's obviously an idiot who doesn't have a clue how to run a business.

I hope that what ever solution they come to that they don't go out of business. My wife and I both have XM in our cars and like it. But, if they raise the rates, we're out! Oh, wait a minute, they just did! Well, if we resubscribe by March 11 we'll lock in our old rate. But, after that, if the rates go up, we'll bail on them. They have too much competition in the form of CD/AM/FM/HD Radio/iPod.

Good luck!
Larry.

My thanks. It says "XM ready". Questionable advertising...
I wasn't aware that Sirius-XM was in trouble. I'll keep an eye on that. Hoestly, I'm leaning towards getting a hand-portable radio so that I can move it from car to car. Between the CRV and the Element my wife and I are never sure which one to take on any given road trip.

Getting back to the XM on the '06:

The 6 disc changers on the EX/SE models have the XM READY sign on them, but owners needed to buy a $300 accessory tuner/antenna kit to make them work. :mad:

If you have a little "cap" on the roof near the tailgate, that's NOT an antenna. It's a cover for the hole where the XM antenna is supposed to go. :(

You see more of the little antennas on Elements since they came standard with the XM trial package.

I imagine this is something that only a Honda dealer/shop can install?

You answered my next question. I was wondering where the antenna would be.

Getting back to the XM on the '06:

The 6 disc changers on the EX/SE models have the XM READY sign on them, but owners needed to buy a $300 accessory tuner/antenna kit to make them work. :mad:

If you have a little "cap" on the roof near the tailgate, that's NOT an antenna. It's a cover for the hole where the XM antenna is supposed to go. :(

You see more of the little antennas on Elements since they came standard with the XM trial package.
I don't know what the XM antenna looks like on the '06 CR-V or Element. But, here's a picture of the XM antenna on my '06 Pilot that looks like a cap. The AM/FM antenna on my Pilot is in the drivers side rear window. Maybe that "cap" actually is the XM antenna.

I do know that the CR-V XM antenna in '07 - '09 looks like the regular antenna but it has a spiral twist going up the length and the non-XM antanna is smooth.

Larry

My thanks. It says "XM ready". Questionable advertising...
I wasn't aware that Sirius-XM was in trouble. I'll keep an eye on that. Hoestly, I'm leaning towards getting a hand-portable radio so that I can move it from car to car. Between the CRV and the Element my wife and I are never sure which one to take on any given road trip.
If your system has an AUX input on it, you're all set. Just buy what ever device you want and plug it in. If it doesn't (my '06 Pilot didn't have any aux input at all) then I would suggest looking into the iSimple PXAMG Gateway (http://www.peripheralelectronics.com/?ProductId=276). I previously tried the USA Spec PA11-HON and PA15-HON. I tried a total of 4 of them and all 4 had defects. I finally returned it and got the iSimple. Not only does it work like it's supposed to, it's also a much better design. This one device will give you an iPod interface, an AUX input and, later this year, bluetooth too (look for their iSimple BluStream (PXAMGBT) (http://isimplesolutions.com/CES/BluStream.asp). I was told it should be available about Q3 of '09.

Good luck!
Larry.