Replaced sold H2 with new SUT! Questions???

[jason427]

I just stole a new SUT and already started messing with it. Does XM radio come free for a while as a trial??? I seem to get all the stations.
Anyway, with my 03, I added a factory NAV out of an Escalade.
The SUT has everything I wanted, except NAV.
Is it easy to add the new Touchscreen style to an 05???
My 03 had satellite reception issues when adding the nav to it and I don't want to start this task unless its going to work as good as factory when Im done.
Thanks for any info?

Also, my 03 had exhaust when I bought it. What are the thoughts on aftermarket exhaust? Does it help out in any way other than sound? Same with air intakes? Have people tried them all and narrowed it down to any particular combination that works?

Thanks,
Ill try a search for the last questions.....
Jason

[jason427]

I just stole a new SUT and already started messing with it. Does XM radio come free for a while as a trial??? I seem to get all the stations.
Anyway, with my 03, I added a factory NAV out of an Escalade.
The SUT has everything I wanted, except NAV.
Is it easy to add the new Touchscreen style to an 05???
My 03 had satellite reception issues when adding the nav to it and I don't want to start this task unless its going to work as good as factory when Im done.
Thanks for any info?

Also, my 03 had exhaust when I bought it. What are the thoughts on aftermarket exhaust? Does it help out in any way other than sound? Same with air intakes? Have people tried them all and narrowed it down to any particular combination that works?

Thanks,
Ill try a search for the last questions.....
Jason

[Hummer Guy]

XM radio is a free trial for 3 months -- then they'll send you info on renewal. The only way to get the factory-touch-screen nav is from the factory. But, we've added a couple Eclipse nav units to 05's that are pretty nice...

-brian

[HummerNewbie]

I believe that I recall seeing in some posts here that the XM antenna was improved on from 03 to 04 so you shouldn't have any problems. Everyone I know has either an 04 or 05 and they don't have any problems with XM reception.

[SoonerBoarder]

My 05 had XM free for two years. The reception is excellent everywhere.

See the Magnaflow exhaust thread on the first page of the Technical forum.

Most people don't like air intakes, from what I've read on here.

[HummerNewbie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by SoonerBoarder:
Most people don't like air intakes, from what I've read on here. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

At least from the H3 side of it, the new intakes are a waste of money. You can go buy a new K&N filter for $40 and get the same results. Now keep in mind, I don't know if this is true with the H2, just some input.

[rodster]

Jason,

Congrats on your new SUT. You'll love it!

I don't know if things changed in '05, but at least a few forum members installed the factory nav in '03 trucks. I suspect Hummer Guy is more informed on this than me but just in case, check this post for more info and ideas on where to do further reading.

Before you invest in the factory or other onboard nav system, you might want to spend some time in a rig that has it. Depending on what you'll do with your SUT, you'll either like it a lot or not at all.

The factory nav is great for city and highway driving, although, the inability to change/set your destination while moving is a pain. I understand why the lawyers don't want people playing with nav while driving but it's still a PITA.

If you plan to use your SUT offroad, you will not be happy with the factory nav. No altitude, very limited coverage of unpaved roads/trails (when compared to Garmin's topo maps), no tracking and, the ability to work with GPS coordinates (as opposed to street addresses and intersections) is limited. If you plan to offroad, IMO, your money is far better spent on a Garmin or similar GPS product.

[HummerNewbie]

Another major dislike I have for the factory nav unit is that unless you also have a CD changer you can only listen to CDs if you take the nav disc out. One major concern I would have is the disc getting damaged taking it in and out while driving. Put it on the passenger sit for a second and it ends up getting scratched by accident and is unusable As rodster mentioned, not being able to enter info while driving also really sucks but understand why.

[mrowl]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by SoonerBoarder:
My 05 had XM free for two years. The reception is excellent everywhere.

See the Magnaflow exhaust thread on the first page of the Technical forum.

Most people don't like air intakes, from what I've read on here. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

heh, its strange to see users from another board in different place....

[SoonerBoarder]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mrowl:

heh, its strange to see users from another board in different place.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Small world! You're not an EVIL Hummer owner too, are you?

[LoLo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HummerNewbie:
As rodster mentioned, not being able to enter info while driving also really sucks but understand why. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It surprises me that someone here hasn't found a way around that, yet There are certainly a few here that could!

I have to agree with you on the CD thing... I am thinking of adding a 6-disc changer. I recall reading that someone here did the same thing, and is very happy with that setup.

[ROX]

My sales guys pointed out that you won't need your disks with XM radio.
I tried to play my own disk I burned on the computer, and it wouldn't work. I've used it in our new Excursion and in my 03 H2. Why do you suppose it did that?

jason427- I used a Garmin 2620 for a while and I really liked it. It has great mapping, and extra space to download topo maps directly into the GPS. Another nice thing about it is you can use it in any vehicle. It has touchscreen, remote, and vocal directions.
So far, the navigation in my new 05 doesn't compare. Besides the fact that you can't enter anything while underway, it doesn't even tell me elevation. (unless I've missed the setup for it) Kenwood and Alpine also sell touchscreen GPS kits that fit in the dash and will allow the steering wheel controls to work. Good Luck.

[captainmike]

I have the factory Nav unit in my 05 SUT. It is nice but having the CD all the time kinda sucks. I wanted to add a backup camera to the factory video screen and there is no way to trigger the backup camera to only come on in reverse. Also not sure if this is of interest to you but with new units like the pioneer you can get XM traffic updates to show on your GPS and then you can reroute around traffic issues. I made this change and now am much happier. I also have rear seat DVD that i was able to tie inot the new unit. The best part is the a full new reciver only cost about the same as the factory unit.