Page 177 of 428

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-17
To access the radio main page,
press the SOURCE button on the
faceplate, the Now Playing screen
button, or one of the audio screen
buttons on the Home Page.
While on the audio main page,
press the Source button repeatedly
to display and cycle through the
available sources (AM, FM, and XM
(if equipped), CD, USB/iPod,
and AUX).
Infotainment System Menus
Tone Settings
To access the tone settings, press
the Home Page Tone button or the
TONE button on the faceplate.
Use the tone settings to adjust the
following features:
.Setting the tone
.Adjusting the speakersSetting the Tone
To adjust the tone:
.Treble: Press + or
−to change
the level.
.Middle (Midrange): Press + or −
to change the level.
.Bass: Press + or −to change
the level.
Adjusting the Speakers
To adjust the speaker balance:
.Press the left arrow on the
bottom for more sound from the
left speakers or the right arrow
on the bottom for more sound
from the right speakers. The
middle position balances the
sound between the left and right
speakers. To adjust the speaker fade:
.Press the upper arrow for more
sound from the front speakers
and the lower arrow for more
sound from the rear speakers.
The middle position balances
the sound between the front and
rear speakers.
EQ Settings
The EQ settings are selected
through the tone menu. Press the
left or right arrows to cycle through
the EQ options. The available
choices are Pop, Rock, Jazz,
Classical, and Talk.
Finding a Station
To select the band, see “Audio
Source” earlier in this section.
Turn the MENU/SEL knob to find a
radio station. To select a preset
station, touch the FAV button and
choose a preset station.
Page 178 of 428

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
7-18 Infotainment System
Seeking a Station
Press
gorlto search for a
station.
AM
1. Press the AM screen button on the Home Page or select AM
from the source pop-up to
display the AM main page.
2. From the AM screen, press the Menu screen button to display
the AM stations.
3. Press to select the desired option. To update the station list,
touch Refresh.
FM
1. Press the FM screen button on the Home Page or select FM
from the source pop-up to
display the FM main page.
2. From the FM screen, press the Menu screen button to display
the FM stations. 3. Press to select the desired
option. To update the station list,
touch Refresh.
XM (If Equipped)
1. Press the XM screen button on the Home Page or select XM
from the source pop-up to
display the XM main page.
2. From the XM screen, press the Menu screen button to display
the XM categories.
3. Touch a desired category and then turn the TUNE/MENU knob
to scroll the station list.
Changing the Sources
To change audio sources from any
of the audio main pages (AM, FM,
XM, CD, USB/iPod, or AUX), press
the SOURCE button on the
faceplate or the Source screen
button to display a pop-up of
available audio sources. Touch-tap
or press the SOURCE button on the
faceplate repeatedly to change the
desired source.
Storing Radio Station Presets
There are a few ways to store
presets.
Up to 36 preset stations can be
stored. AM, FM, and XM,
if equipped, can be mixed.
1. From the AM, FM, or XM main page, press and hold one of the
preset screen buttons located at
the bottom of the screen. After a
few seconds, a beep will be
heard and the new preset
information will display on that
screen button.
2. Touch and hold a preset button to store the currently active
station. After a few seconds, a
beep will be heard and the new
preset information will display on
a small pop-up display at the
bottom of the screen.
3. Repeat the steps for each preset.
To change the number of preset
pages, see “Mixed-Band Presets”
following for more information.
Page 179 of 428

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-19
Recalling a Preset Station
To recall a preset station from a FAV
page, do the following:
.Press the FAV button on the
faceplate to display the FAV
pop-up. Select the desired
preset from the pop-up.
.Press the FAV screen button at
the top bar to display the preset
pop-up that appears at the
bottom of the page. Press one of
the preset screen buttons to go
to the selected preset station.
.In the AM, FM, or XM (if
equipped) main page, press one
of the preset screen buttons to
go to the selected preset station.
Mixed-Band Presets
Each page can store six preset
stations. The presets within a page
can be from different radio bands.To scroll through the pages, press
the FAV button located on the
faceplate or the FAV screen button
on the top bar. The current page
number displays above the preset
buttons. The stored stations for
each FAV page display on the
preset buttons at the bottom of the
screen. The number of FAV pages
displayed can be changed in the
Radio Settings in the
Configuration Menu.
Satellite Radio
For vehicles equipped with the
MyLink or IntelliLink infotainment
system, see the separate MyLink/
IntelliLink Features and Functions
Guide for more information.
Vehicles with an XM™
Satellite
Radio tuner and a valid XM Satellite
Radio subscription can receive XM
programming.
XM Satellite Radio Service
XM is a satellite radio service based
in the 48 contiguous United States
and 10 Canadian provinces. XM
Satellite Radio has a wide variety of
programming and commercial-free
music, coast to coast, and in
digital-quality sound. If XM service
needs to be reactivated, the radio
will display “No Subscription Please
Renew on channel XM1.” A service
fee is required to receive the XM
service. For more information,
contact XM at www.xmradio.com or
call 1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and
www.xmradio.ca or call
1-877-438-9677 in Canada.
Control Buttons
The buttons used to control the XM
radio are:
SOURCE: Press to turn the radio
on and choose between AM, FM,
and XM™, if equipped.
gSEEK orlSEEK: Press to go
to the previous or next station.
Page 180 of 428

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
7-20 Infotainment System
FAV:Press to open the
favorites list.
1 to 6: Press to select preset
stations.
MENU/SEL: Turn to select stations.
Press to open the XM Satellite
Radio menu.
Selecting the XM Band
Press the SOURCE button to
choose between the AM, FM, and
XM bands. The last channel played
in that band begins to play when
that band is selected.
Removing or Adding
Categories (Radio with CD)
XM channels are organized in
categories.
Channels in a category that have
been removed can still be accessed
by using the
gSEEK orlSEEK
buttons, or the MENU/SEL knob. To add or remove categories:
1. Press the CONFIG button.
2. Select Radio Settings.
3. Select XM Categories.
4. Turn the MENU/SEL knob to
highlight the category.
5. Press the MENU/SEL knob to remove or add the category.
Selecting an XM Channel
XM channels can be selected by
using
gSEEK,lSEEK, the
MENU/SEL knob, or the menu
system.
Selecting a Channel Using
gSEEK orlSEEK
.Press and releasegSEEK or
lSEEK to go to the previous
or next channel.
.Press and holdgSEEK orl
SEEK to scroll through the
previous or next channel until
the channel is reached. Selecting a Channel Using the
MENU/SEL Knob
To select an XM channel using the
MENU/SEL knob:
Turn the MENU/SEL knob to
highlight an XM channel. The
channel is selected after a short
delay.
To select a channel using the menu:
1. Turn the MENU/SEL knob and
select Channel List.
2. Select the desired channel.
Selecting a Channel Using the
Menu System
1. Turn the MENU/SEL knob.
2. Select XM Category List.
3. Select the category.
4. Select the channel.
Page 181 of 428

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-21
Storing an XM Channel as a
Favorite
Channels from all bands can be
stored in any order in the favorite
pages.
Up to six channels can be stored in
each favorite page and the number
of available favorite pages can
be set.
Storing a Channel as a Favorite
To store the channel to a position in
the list, press and hold the
corresponding 1 to 6 button until the
channel can be heard again.
Retrieving Channels
Press the FAV button to open a
favorite page or to change to
another favorite page. Briefly press
one of the 1 to 6 buttons to retrieve
the channel.Removing or Adding
Categories (Radio with CD and
Touchscreen)
Removing or Adding Categories
1. From the Home Page press theConfig screen button or the
CONFIG button on the faceplate.
2. Select Radio Settings from the Config Menu list.
3. Select Add/Remove XM Categories.
4. From the Add/Remove XM Categories screen, select or
deselect any category to be
used in XM mode. A checkmark
will indicate that the category is
selected. Turning XM Album Art On or Off
1. From the Home Page press the
Config screen button or the
CONFIG button on the faceplate.
2. Select Radio Settings from the Config Menu list.
3. Select XM Album Art to turn on or off.
XM Messages
XL (Explicit Language
Channels): These channels, or any
others, can be blocked by request,
by calling 1-800-929-2100 in the
U.S. and 1-877-438-9677 in
Canada.
XM Updating: The encryption code
in the receiver is being updated, no
action is required. This process
should take no longer than
30 seconds.
Loading XM: The audio system is
acquiring and processing audio and
text data; no action is needed. This
message should disappear shortly.
Page 182 of 428

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
7-22 Infotainment System
Channel Off Air:This channel is
not currently in service. Tune in to
another channel.
Channel Unauth: This channel is
blocked or cannot be received with
your XM subscription package.
Channel Unavailable: This
previously assigned channel is no
longer assigned. Tune to another
station.
No Artist Info: The system is
working properly. No artist
information is available at this time
on this channel.
No Title Info: The system is
working properly. No song title
information is available at this time
on this channel.
No CAT Info: The system is
working properly. No category
information is available at this time
on this channel. No Information:
The system is
working properly. No text or
informational messages are
available at this time on this
channel.
No Subscription Please Renew:
The XM subscription needs to be
reactivated. Contact XM at
www.xmradio.com or
1-800-929-2100 in the U.S., and
www.xmradio.ca or
1-877-438-9677 in Canada.
No XM Signal: The system is
working properly. The vehicle may
be in a location where the XM signal
is being blocked. When the vehicle
is moved into an open area, the
signal should return.
CAT Not Found: The system is
working properly. There are no
channels available for the selected
category.
XM Radio ID: If tuned to channel 0,
this message alternates with the XM
Radio eight‐digit radio ID label. This
label is needed to activate the
service. Unknown:
If this message is
received when tuned to channel 0,
there could be a receiver fault.
Consult with your dealer.
Check Antenna: If this message
does not clear within a short period
of time, the receiver could have a
fault. Consult with your dealer.
XM Not Available: If this message
does not clear within a short period
of time, the receiver could have a
fault. Consult with your dealer.
Radio Reception
Frequency interference and static
can occur during normal radio
reception if items such as cell phone
chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic
devices are plugged into the
accessory power outlet. If there is
interference or static, unplug the
item from the accessory power
outlet.
Page 183 of 428

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-23
FM
FM signals only reach about 16 to
65 km (10 to 40 mi). Although the
radio has a built-in electronic circuit
that automatically works to reduce
interference, some static can occur,
especially around tall buildings or
hills, causing the sound to fade in
and out.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere with
each other. Static can occur when
things like storms and power lines
interfere with radio reception. When
this happens, try reducing the treble
on the radio.
XM™Satellite Radio Service
XM Satellite Radio Service gives
digital radio reception from coast to
coast in the 48 contiguous United
States, and in Canada. Just as with
FM, tall buildings or hills can
interfere with satellite radio signals, causing the sound to fade in and
out. In addition, traveling or standing
under heavy foliage, bridges,
garages, or tunnels may cause loss
of the XM signal for a period of time.
Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage can cause
interference with the vehicle's radio.
Multi-Band Antenna
The multi-band antenna is on the
roof of the vehicle. The antenna is
used for the AM‐FM radio, OnStar,
the XM Satellite Radio Service
System, and GPS (Global
Positioning System), if the vehicle
has these features. Keep the
antenna clear of obstructions for
clear reception.
Audio Players
CD Player
For vehicles equipped with the
MyLink or IntelliLink infotainment
system, see the separate MyLink/
IntelliLink Features and Functions
Guide for more information.
The player can be used for CD and
MP3 audio.
With the vehicle on, insert a disc
into the slot, label side up. The
player pulls it in and begins playing.
While playing, the navigation
system is available.
The system is capable of playing:
.Most audio CDs
.CD-R
.CD-RW
.MP3 or unprotected WMA
formats
Page 184 of 428

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
7-24 Infotainment System
When playing any compatible
recordable disc, the sound quality
can be reduced due to disc quality,
the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been
recorded, or the way the disc has
been handled.
There can be increased skipping,
difficulty in recording tracks,
difficulty in finding tracks, and/or
difficulty in loading and ejecting.
If these problems occur, check the
disc for damage or try a known
good disc.
To avoid damage to the CD player:
.Do not use scratched or
damaged discs.
.Do not apply labels to discs. The
labels could get caught in the
player.
.Insert only one disc at a time.
.Keep the loading slot free of
foreign materials, liquids, and
debris.
.Use a marking pen to label the
top of the disc.
Loading and Ejecting Discs
To load a disc:
1. Turn the vehicle on.
2. Insert a disc into the slot, labelside up. The player pulls it in the
rest of the way. If the disc is
damaged or improperly loaded,
there is an error and the disc
ejects.
The disc automatically plays once
loaded.
Press
Xto eject a disc from the
CD player. If the disc is not removed
within a short period of time, it is
automatically pulled back into the
player.
Control Buttons
The buttons used to control the CD
player are:
CD: Press to choose between the
CD and AUX player.
lSEEK orgSEEK: Press to
select tracks or to fast forward or
rewind within a track. INFO:
Press to display additional
information about the CD that may
be available.
MENU/SEL: Turn to select tracks.
X(Eject):Press to remove
the CD.
k: Press to pause a CD or MP3
track; press again to resume
playback.
Playing an Audio CD (Radio
with CD)
Press the CD button. If there is a
disc in the player it begins playing.
Information about the disc and
current track is shown on the
display depending on the data
stored.
Selecting a CD Track
Using the control buttons:
.PressgSEEK orlSEEK to
select the previous or next track.
.Turn the MENU/SEL knob.