Car Stereos: Pioneer Car Audio Compatible, digital satellite data, xm radio

Question
Hi Brian, I received a Pioneer FH-P8000BT Receiver and a Pioneer GEX-P10XMT XM Digital Satellite Data & Audio Receiver for Christmas. From all the information I can find on the internet, the GEX-P10XMT is not compatible with the FH-P8000BT. I'm only interested in the satellite tuner feature and am trying to determine for certain if I can use the GEX-P10XMT before going to all the trouble to return it, only to learn later that it is compatible with the FH-P8000BT. Can you help? Thanks much, Al

Answer
Hi Al,

I'm having a surprising amount of difficulty finding a definite answer for your question.  One problem is that the GEX-P10XMT tuner is an older model that doesn't appear to be made any more by Pioneer; the owner's manual is a few years out of date, so the head units on its compatibility list aren't current models.  

The GEX-P10XMT is unique in that it's an XM-NavTraffic tuner, made for use with Pioneer's in-dash navigation systems so that GPS Navigation users could get traffic updates with an XM Radio subscription.  Obviously, the traffic and data features would only work with a Pioneer navigation head unit.  However, according to the owner's manual, the unit is compatible with many standard CD head units, although the traffic and data features are lost.  For this reason, I'm pretty confident that it will work as an XM tuner with your FH-P8000BT head unit.  To be certain, though, you might want to call Pioneer directly at 1-800-421-1404.

Depending on the price that was paid for the GEX-P10XMT, you might consider returning it anyway.  If it works with your head unit, it would provide about the same level of functionality as the standard Pioneer XM Tuner, GEX-P920XM.  However, the GEX-P920XM's MSRP is about half that of the GEX-P10XMT.  Unless the GEX-P10XMT was purchased at a clearance price (which is certainly possible), exchanging it for a GEX-P920XM might save some money.

Hope this helps!

Brian