I've searched through the archives but haven't found any threads dealing with the installation of satellite radio in the RX330. Can anyone give me any experience or point me in a good direction

Mike

 

Satellite radio is a pretty good deal, if you like listening to the radio, its just like satellite TV, lots of choices, put you pay a premium. Satellite radio can be added to any car. The down side is that you usually have buy a new head unit or add a fm modulator(looks like a midget radio) to operate it. Sirius and XM Radio are the two options. It is relatively cheap, $100 or so for a fm modulator including install and then a monthly fee. good luck.

 

For the RX330, the best way to go if you are sticking with the stock audio system is to buy the FM-modulator version of Sirius or XM. I personally heavily favor Sirius, and have it in my GS, using RCA preamp outs and no FM modulator for better sound quality. However, the FM-modulator allows you to quickly hook up the unit and be able to use your existing selector, volume, and tone controls to control the satellite radio input, albeit with a modest sound quality penalty. It's what the majority of people are doing.
Overall, you'll have an antenna to mount on your roof, wires to run into the interior from that antenna, a sat tuner to mount (and provide power & remote turn on to), and the FM modulator to insert into your antenna line at the existing headunit. Not too difficult if you're mechanically inclined. If not, leave it to an installer to do, it's a very simple install for a certified installer.
If you need any more info on the details of sat radio, either XM or Sirius, let me know. There's also a good writeup on Sirius vs. Xm in this month's issue of Car Audio and Electronics.

 

I'm not sure how dead this thread is, but I need a little info. I am going with the Sirius FM Modulated set-up in my '04 RX330. Before I buy it I need to know where to mount the head unit. I want to keep the car as "stock" looking as possible, so I would like to keep it as hidden as possible. Other than the glove box .... anyone have an idea?

 

All I can say is, glove box will drive you crazy - once you start using the system, you'll want the controller to be accessible. I don't have an RX330, but I do have RX300 in addition to my GS. There's probably a good spot in the center console if you're willing to give up space for other things. Maybe someone with an RX330 will chime in here.....

 

I was told that I could have it installed on the floor, forward of the center column. However, there would be about 6 inches of wire showwing. To me .... that is unexceptable. I hope this isn't too picky, but I can't think of another place to put it. Anyone?