I am posting this in the LS430 forum, because I believe parts of this are specific to our model.

Satellite radio... Trials and Tribulations

I finally have a good setup for my satellite radio. I initially had Circuit city try to install the starbase integrated model, but they were unable to do this. This was very un-nerving watching them work-on the electronics on my baby.

I then bought a Starmate setup from Best-Buy which works thru the FM modulator. It functioned only temporarily. Something was wrong with the modulator. I returned it and tried another of the same model with even less success. I had tried the antenna on the outside initially, but I felt that everytime I moved it to wash or wax with Zaino that it was leaving scratches. So I tried it on the inside near the rear window. No luck with either approach.

Then I returned again and bought a Sirius Sportster and put the antenna again at the back window area and it is working perfectly. I much prefer the antenna on the inside for theft and paint issues.

Hopefully if anyone is looking for satellite radio in their LS430, they won't have to go thru all of this, but it finally seems to be working.

 

you must not have followed the vaistech thread that solved this issue [xm anyway] months ago.

 

Sorry I didn't follow that thread. I was just letting you know my experiences. Very, very, very sorry.

 

Don't be sorry, I appreciate the info and have no wonder why someone would be so rude here. Tehre are so few posts and I see why. Thanks for the info, it is appreciated.

 

no one is being rude. usually when there is a question posted about a topic that has already been discussed and the poster of the question doesnt use the built in forum search someone has to tell them about the existing topic[s] which is what happened if you actually read the reply. this is how some of us myself included learn how to use the forum as a resource.

 

Thankyou joegolf. My satellite is not really integrated into the Mark-Levinson system, it's only FM modulated, but I mainly listen to NFL network, BBC and ESPN, so I don't care. My experience was really that you do not need to mount the antenna on the outside of your car. Also that the Sirius (not XM digital) Sportster is much better than the Starmate. Sportster is $50 more as well.

As for Digital, don't mind him, he's the most inflammatory guy on the site. I think he might be a teenager?

 

Your welcome. I have given thought to satellite radio, I love radio. I rented a car in Seattle with XM and thought it was ok, but every time we got into a forest area, it blanked out. Here in Sacramento, we have excellent radio choices (I listen to talk AM a lot.) If and when someone ever invents TiVo style radio, I'm in. It would be great to record your own shows and playback at your own convenience. I bought a small radio with recording capabilities (Radioyourway) but it is poor quality in use, as well as very difficult to set up. I hope you enjoy your new radio. I would get one in a second if I traveled much outside the local area.
Joe

 

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Hey didn't you know that the "B" in Digital B stands for bad a**.

Digital does have a point. There are thousands of posts on this site. He believes in "tough love" he has always been helpful.

 

Well, the count on Digital's fan club is now at one

There is a mentality among the 'digitals' of this site that you attack someone if they post a somewhat similar thread to someone else. It is the reason why there are so few posts IMHO. My post was actually different, but don't worry I won't post again. Sorry for all the trouble.

 

Hey let's not get carried away, you'd think quite the opposite (read my past posts). He's a character.

And I don't think the reason why there are few post is because people are scared that they'd get attacked. The LS430 is the flagship model and pretty much the most expensive and considered a car for the older crowd. We are part of an exclusive bunch. There aren't as many LS owners as there are GS and IS owners.

But thanks for your valuable input, I was thinking about satellite radio as my next mod. Keep on posting!

 

Not only is the LS430 the "flagship" but it is a relatively new model (5-years and two series old) compared to the LS400. Therefore, it stands to reason that the LS400 board is filled with posts, comparatively speaking.

A great many of those LS400 board postings deal with fix-it-yourself needs of younger buyers who purchased a relatively high-mileage older LS400 instead of a newer but lower quality car. The LS400 is an older car, there are more of them, requiring aging vehicle maintenance...it all adds up.

Give us a few more years and this board will come alive!

 

Thanks for the info. I checked with my dealer and they want close to a grand to put in the XM. I have that in my Corvette working off its built in fm modulator and it works fine but I think I would prefer Sirius for their programing.
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Just read some of the earlier post which I didn't see before and am now checking on a VAIStech XM satellite mod. Also seeing how their doing on getting Sirius
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2004 Lexus LS430 Ultra Briarwood Pearl

 

I had the XM installed in my '04 LS by the dealer and love it. It cost about $800.00 and is fully integrated into the cars sound system and works great. It certainly wasn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but I wanted an integrated system.

At their recommendation, the antenna was installed inside the rear deck brake light because I didn't really like the look of the antenna on the rear trunk lid and they had successfully done it on other installations. It is not visible at all. The only areas I lose reception momentarily are the same places that someone I know with an Acura TL and XM loses it so it is related to the signal and not the antenna location.

 

'At their recommendation, the antenna was installed inside the rear deck brake light because I didn't really like the look of the antenna on the rear trunk lid and they had successfully done it on other installations."
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That seems like a terrific place to put it as long as you get good reception.

An update on VAIS Technology and Sirius. They say there still a long ways out.
Eugene said they'll have the model AIC-100XP shortly. This is still XM but makes is similar to the factory with the exception of being cheaper, $369.99. ( Although I think Lexusparts.com sells the factore unit for $299. ) Eugene did say that the installation is a lot quicker. You just have to take the dash apart rather than the whole car!
Mike
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2004 Lexus LS430 Ultra
Briarwood Pearl