I bought a 2006 Xterra SE last month. It is not XM-ready. Well, I guess it is ready, but not in the sense that I just have to call XM to start service. I have the Rockford Fosgate system. The car salesman said I need a receiver or tuner (I don't remember which). I'm sure I need the antenna as well. I can't install what I need to myself because I have no idea how to hide the wires, etc.

My question is, what exactly do I need? I don't want to go to Best Buy or somewhere and end up being sold more than I really need.

Thanks!

I'm not a very technical person, but I went to circuit city and bought a kit and installed it myself... I ran the antenna wire from the roof through the passanger door (behind the rubber) and down through the a-frame of the cab then ran the wiring under the trim of the floor back around under the passanger seat and then put the modulator on my console... no wires are visible and it works great :)

it was just the basic system.. a cheap little modulator and an antenna.. it was like 40 bucks....

I typed a half page for ya day before yesterday but I guess the forum gremlins ate it. Since you still haven't got an answer, I shall do it again. :)

I'll gonna give a couple of options and explain each.

I also have a 2006 SE and had Nissan install XM radio to my existing RF system. You may want to consider an aftermarket unit. Here it goes:

The Nissan XM upgrade is made up of a receiver that attatches somewhere on the back of your existing stereo unit and an antenna that is installed on the inside of your windshield above your rear-view mirror.

Pro's:
1. No bleed over from other regular radio stations because the signal is fed directly into your stereo and not as a FM freq.
2. Neater appearance since there are no wires or extra unit to take up space on or around your dash.
3. All stereo controls and steering wheel controls work with XM, too.
4. Supposed to come with three free months of XM through Nissan.

Con's:
1. I noticed slightly less signal reception (very slightly less).
2. Only one piece of information is shown on the "screen" at a time ie. band name, song name, channel name, or channel number.
3. Information that is shown does not scroll so you get like 12 characters or something and it just cuts off the rest.
4. Very expensive at over $300 installed.

An aftermarket stand alone XM unit like Audiovox's XCS9 which is the one that I had. These typically hook up to your vehicle in two different ways...either with that old school cassette tape adapter or by rebroadcasting the signal to a FM freq picked up by your car's radio.

Pro's:
1. At about $100 bucks (sometimes less) it is much cheaper.
2. Usually all info about that track can be viewed together on one screen.
3. The information will scroll.
4. You can install it yourself in about 20 minutes.
5. Mine had a remote.

Con's:
1. Wires (can be somewhat hidden though)
2. Uses up a power plug but since you have an '06 you'll have two more up front.(you can also hard wire this but takes a little bit more knowledge about what you're doing)
3. Find a spot for the stand alone unit.(They make these so small now you can clip it to your air vent.
4. Bleed over from other radio stations. Although you can set the frequency you want to use, this can still be annoying as hell because I kept finding myself driving down the road and trying to change this setting at the same time.
5. Some of these units can be taken in your house and docked with your home stereo or boom box. (of course you have to pay for that equipment)

That's about it. Hope it helps. You can also get a new in dash stereo unit that is XM ready but don't know much about that. Maybe MTX could square that away.