Hi guys,

I wanted to know if my 08 GS350 came ready for XM or Sirius. I see the button below the Navi screen that sez SAT. I just want to know which to buy so I can see the display on the Navi Screen. Thanks in advance.

 

You can have either one... though Lexus seems to be a bit more "in bed" with XM....

 

Dont get Sirius.. I made that mistake.

The Sharkfin is XM only.. if you get sirius you will have a big ugly antenna stuck to your window.

 

there is a cable you can buy to use the shark fin with sirius for some model years. off the top of my head don't know about 08 but if you use the search function you will find threads about it. If that cable works, then consider the programming as you choose.

music will be very similar but xm has ML baseball, sirius has NFL. other choices for entertainment channels.

If it's a tie after all that, I think xm reception is a bit more reliable.

PS. if the shark fin cable doesnt work for sirius 08, there is a small hockey puck antannea that goes on the outside of the trunk. depends on how much you prefer sirius is that is the way it turns out.

 

So if I do go with Sirius, i like the NFL stations alot plus the games, it will display on the navi screen, then its just my choice if i want the antenna on the top of the windshield or not?

 

there is no question that you can have sirius display/control via the touchscreen. (so long as you get a compatible tuner. I had the dealer do my sirius install).

here is one of many threads that mention the cable needed to use the shark fin with sirius https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ark+fin&page=2

If for some reason you don't want to do that, yes you just have to decide where to put the sirius antennae. early on they used a pretty big glue on antennae on the inside of the windshield. most of the antennaes any more are fairly small 'hockey puck' style. it's black and about as big around as a silver dollar. can't think of a better description. the installer will probably have a way they like to do it. they usually put them in the rear window tray (inside) or on the trunk on the outside. outside gets better reception.

 

you get the display on the NAV screen but it cuts off at 10 characters so you can never see the NFL scores. it sucks.

 

that is annoying for sure. the newer models and tuners display 16 now. not sure when the switchover happened. the we have the extra 6 characters on our gen5 system and it helps more than i thought it would. still cuts some things off. whichever, xm wont be any different than sirius i don't think. and you can still hear the game.

 

The vaistech cable works, so that you can use a Sirius reciever for the shark fin. I have it on my 08 GS and it seems to work better than the hockey puck.

You do know that Sirius is buying XM and that it finally went through the major DOJ hurdle. So expect the channels to start consolidating somewhat, meaning if XM has a channel that is similar, the XM channel will go away and the Sirius one will replace it. Tuners that can recieve both should be coming out in a couple of months too.

 

I thought it cut off cause my system was defective. What a relief. An annoyance, but a relief. I use Sirius myself. Doesn't XM have limited commercials whereas Sirius has none at all? Only gripe is the screen has enough space for more presets per screen, why not fit more than 6? I hate switching to SAT2 or using the tuning ****.

 

XM for sure. Just in case there is a XM NavTraffic upgrade! You never know...