Installing Satellite Radio
on 12.25.04, 08:35pm in life • comments (6)
I spent some time today wiring in a Sirius satellite radio (a Sportster to be exact) that Liz got me into the Xterra. Wanting to keep the installation as ‘professional’ looking as possible, I ended up routing the antenna from the roof next to the rear wiper fluid grommet, then through the inside panel on the rear drivers side and onto the floor. The next step is to fish the wire through the center console and up to the dash where it will connect to the car kit.
Since the Xterra stock radio (a Rockford Fosgate 6 CD changer) doesn’t have an auxiliary input, I decided to go with a hard wired FM modulator that plugs directly into the antenna rather than replace the entire head unit. While I’m aware that it’s not going to sound as good as a direct connection, it should provide decent enough sound quality.
What’s cool is that when the modulator detects an audio signal, it automatically switches to the input signal and cuts off the antenna, so the sound should technically be much ‘cleaner’ than a wireless FM transmitter.
One other thought that I had was that while I have the console apart was to also hardwire in a connection to the iPod (using a Belkin Auto Kit). My current plan is to connect it directly to a switched 12V line and to wire the audio-out jack into the FM modulator (using some Y-adapters). This way, I can not only move away from using the iTrip, but will have a ‘built in’ charger for the iPod.
Sometimes it feels really good to be focused on a task that isn’t really computer related.
Steve Makofsky's WebLog (December 28, 2004 @ 11:11 pm)
Satellite Radio Installed
Michael Kizer (December 29, 2004 @ 9:36 am)
I just completed part 1 of a Sirius install in an Xterra over the weekend (the Audiovox PNP3). I too ran the antenna wire from the back hatch to the front (tucked under the headliner along the passenger side. I had to order the hard wired FM modulator so that’s the task for part 2.
I’m also going to try hard wiring the power cable into the one cigarette lighter socket that is tied to the ACC key position, that way everything turns on/off with the key. I believe I should be able to snip the end off of the power cable and tap into cigarette lighter socket behind the dash. Should make for a fairly clean install.
I also ordered a Pro-Fit mounting plate (http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/VSM/) so I can place the unit to the right of the stock radio.
Steve (December 29, 2004 @ 11:57 am)
I ran everything off the cigarette lighter socket aswell. My only problem remaining is that I get some engine whine when listening to the sat radio - I think I need a better ground.
Alex (February 23, 2005 @ 3:14 pm)
Steve - if you are getting the engine whine, you probably need to install a ground loop isolator (GLI). This page below talks about the install on a Acura, but the GLI part (along with Radio Shack part #) should solve your problem. (5th question)
http://tsx.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3148&perpage=15&pagenumber=1
Alex
Scott (June 5, 2005 @ 10:27 am)
Can you go into more detail about tapping into the cigarette lighter’s power. I’ve tried to do this to install an FM modulator, and I end up blowing a fuse. I tapped the modulator power line into the lighter power line, and the modulator ground line into the lighter ground line. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Philip Arnold (April 13, 2007 @ 3:00 pm)
My XM cradle and face were stolen. They cut the wires that stick out of the dash. Do I need a new FM mod. or can I just replace the stolen parts and the wires?