HI All,

I just picked up an '03 5.3 Silverado 1500. It has the upgraded receiver (cd player and cassette), and the owner's manual mentions XM Radio, but doesn't provide any info on how to activate the radio for XM. I'm a user/fan of XM so am interested in how I can get this to work. Do I need to just buy and install an XM antenna, or do I need to buy an add-on XM receiver and install it? Or is the manual just a generic version I don't really have XM capability?

Thanks,
rebie

 

I have XM on mine but it is not activated. I can still select it and listen to promos but no programing. This is the second truck I've had with it and they both had a way of selecting the XM just like AM, FM, disc, etc. If you do not see a way, I suspect your radio does not have it. The owners manual usually are generic and cover all types radios that may be installed. I like XM especially when traveling across country but it's too expensive for the driving I do now. Good luck.

 

Thanks, Slim.

Using the Band button only gives me AM & FM, so maybe I'm outta luck. But I do have a P-Type dial for seleting different categories of music. Seems strange to have that and not XM, as it doesn't seem too useful for FM programming, even with RDS. I pass a dealership on my daily commute. I'll drop in there sometime and see what they have to say.

Just wondering, on your two trucks, do you have a special antenna, like a fin or pad for getting XM?

 

Both trucks have the black antenna on the roof on the driver's side. I assume that is for the XM and maybe the OnStar.

 

Stopped in at Russ Chevrolet in Tigard, and they said it would be about $2,000 to install XM to the stock receiver. Holy Crap! Something about having to replace some module. It's off to Crutchfield I go.