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HD in new cars

I just got back from Hawaii, and my rental 2017 Hyundai Elantra base model had AM, FM, XM (not activated) and HD radio. The quality of the sound wasn't very good, but for $211 for eight days? I didn't much care how good the radio was.
 
...my rental 2017 Hyundai Elantra base model had...XM (not activated) and HD radio.
I am surprised that SiriusXM does not activate all short-term rental receivers.
It is a good promotion, free, and continent-wide.
 
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Meaning that these no-SXM, no-HD units are non-OEM? Or are there stripped-down units put in cars at the factory in anticipation of potential car buyers who have no desire for either satellite or HD? If the latter, satellite has been selling its investors (and the SEC) on SXM's availability as standard equipment on make after make for years. Shading the truth, are they? How easy is it for a car buyer to get a no-frills (or at least no-satellite, no-HD) in-dash entertainment unit?

I double checked for satellite because she wanted to piggyback on our subscription. AM/FM, GPS, backup camera - all on one of those 6 inch LCD screens - that was it. There was simply no selection for satellite anywhere in the menus, and I looked pretty hard. Looked like a factory installation, 2012 model Chevy Cruse. So I can confirm - they must have taken it out. I can probably shoot video of the screen and post it - there is no satellite and no HD, but everything else is there. If this is true - Chevy has had a non-HD, non-satellite lost cost option for five years.
 
To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if the radio has satellite reception capability on board but it's been disabled in software. I understand a lot of that "optional" tech is included in the hardware and just enabled or disabled depending on the trim level and accessories installed at the factory. It's cheaper that way. All that would change is, say, the LCD display size and software layout... And of course the addition of the satellite antenna to the roof.
 
I just got back from Hawaii, and my rental 2017 Hyundai Elantra base model had AM, FM, XM (not activated) and HD radio. The quality of the sound wasn't very good, but for $211 for eight days? I didn't much care how good the radio was.

Is there even a footprint over Hawaii? I know that satellite is generally not installed on new American cars sold in Puerto Rico.
 
To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if the radio has satellite reception capability on board but it's been disabled in software. I understand a lot of that "optional" tech is included in the hardware and just enabled or disabled depending on the trim level and accessories installed at the factory. It's cheaper that way. All that would change is, say, the LCD display size and software layout... And of course the addition of the satellite antenna to the roof.

Software activated options are common in many fields. I have a scanner that comes in several versions, ranging from 80 pages per minute to 160. The difference is in software activation; the manufacturer justifies the over $1000 steps upward in price from the $4,000 basde on each version to the increased warranty costs on a model that can handle "just" 10,000 pages a day at the bottom end to 25,000 pages a day on the high end.

So certain features may be embedded in a car electronics system but just not activated. The car dealers and manufacturers really want everyone to get a satellite subscription as they get subsidies on the install and payback on the monthly fees for those that subscribe.
 


Is there even a footprint over Hawaii? I know that satellite is generally not installed on new American cars sold in Puerto Rico.

No, the satellite footprint is pretty tight, with little spillover into countries in which SiriusXM cannot sell its service. Northern Mexico gets a signal, as does Cuba, but the primary coverage area is the continental U.S. and Canada. I've read of Alaska getting reception, but one needs a completely unobstructed view of the horizon from there, as the satellites are right on the horizon that far north.
 


Is there even a footprint over Hawaii? I know that satellite is generally not installed on new American cars sold in Puerto Rico.

No clue. The radio had the SiriusXM button on it and when pressed, the radio display just read something like: To subscribe call 888-XXX-XXXX.
 
To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if the radio has satellite reception capability on board but it's been disabled in software.

Satellite radio on cars and aftermarket radios isn't just a software switch in the SDR tuner. It's actually a separate module that plugs into the existing car radio. The satellite antenna puck is also required, and plugs into the module.
 
Huh. I thought it would have long since been integrated to the main receiver to save space.

In most vehicles, the whole audio and vegetation system is modular, making service easy. Everything plugs into a motherboard or back-pane. In some cars, the actual modules for certain features are not included, in others they are included but not activated. This way they can build the base vehicles all the same, and then just plug the upgrades in in a final stage of manufacturing.
 
The radio had the SiriusXM button on it and when pressed, the radio display just read something like: To subscribe call 888-XXX-XXXX.
Probably 844-711-8800
An unsuscribed radio can always hear channel one,
the promotion channel, if it has an antenna and is in range.
 
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...the whole audio and vegetation system is modular,

I could not have made a more amusing example of auto-correcting had I tried! Of course, it is "navigation".

Of course, radio people used to be amused by the version of Microsoft Word back around the late 90's where "Beasley Broadcasting" brought up a suggestion for "beastly broadcasting".
 
And here I thought you were breaking in a new radio term. :)

Ye Olde ivy covered dipole?

Going totally berserk on taking this thread off track, I read an article about the etymology of the term "ye" which should be pronounced "the" as it is a contemporary alphabet representation of the no longer used "thorn" letter and, thus, part of the word "the". But when we sing (if we are not atheists) "God rest ye merry gentlemen" the word is pronounced "yee" as one would expect.

Thus ends my Sesame Street learning moment. Back to HD in cars, which is nowhere nearly as fun (or edible).
 


Going totally berserk on taking this thread off track, I read an article about the etymology of the term "ye" which should be pronounced "the" as it is a contemporary alphabet representation of the no longer used "thorn" letter and, thus, part of the word "the". But when we sing (if we are not atheists) "God rest ye merry gentlemen" the word is pronounced "yee" as one would expect.

Thus ends my Sesame Street learning moment. Back to HD in cars, which is nowhere nearly as fun (or edible).

Thanks, Teacher!
 
A þorn in one's side!
Maybe this has something to do with words such as þou, thou, and you?
 
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