I bought a 2006 xB with the upgraded ipod feature on it and I love it. However, I'm a newbie to this whole satellite radio craze.. I don't even know which I want, so I'm going to ask about both.. What do I need to buy to install Sirius or XM? I've seen people say antennas, docking stations (which I am pretty sure I don't need), car mounts, and so on.. I want to run it through my current radio, and keep the necessary wires hidden so its not really noticeable in my interior. Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

I believe "Sirius" is what is available as an OEM option on the 2006, installed by dealer or you, and it operates through the stock stereo. I have XM on my stock 2004 stereo and am very happy with it. Don't listen to much FM anymore.

 

You need the stupid $300 kit. That was the reason I replaced mine and got integrated XM.

For the same cost.

If you are interested...

http://www.trdsparks.com/displaypart...5&parts_id=328

OR

http://www.trdsparks.com/displaypart...5&parts_id=753

AND

http://www.trdsparks.com/displaypart...5&parts_id=755

 

Well depends on what you mean by "run it through your head unit."

If you mean you want to control the radio from your head unit, then you have to buy the toyota integration, or an aftermarket head unit and satellite tuner. If you just want the SOUND to issue from the head unit, you can run an external tuner module through your aux port. This is what I did and I prefer it because satellite data is so much easier to read on a six line display versus a one line display. It has a remote and it's not any more difficult. It's also substantially cheaper (mine was $129 for tuner and then $7 a month for the subscription). With some effort you could do a clean install and most of these come with neat looking docks that the wires run behind, unless you get a supercheap model.

Running an external tuner gives you the oppurtunity to remove the tuner from your car and use it at home or in your office, which you can't do with integrated satellite.

also, IMO, before you choose what to do, pick which service you prefer. That will to some extent change your options a bit. I personally have sirius and love it- family has been a sirius user since about 2002, and I enjoy a multi unit since we have multiple units in different cars. For $7 a month, it's a bargain.

 

Well more about that "running it through your aux port". Will I lose sound quality if I do that? I have a Sirius Sportster, cradle and cigarette lighter power cord.. Do I need to still get an antenna and all that jazz as well for that equipment to work? Thanks for all the ideas! I was leaning 51 percent toward Sirius and just so happened I was handed down the Sportster.. Thanks for any more advice!

 

it should have been given to you with an antenna but they're not expensive, around $30.

I'll have to double check on how to run it through the aux but it was pretty easy. You'll get the same quality that you would connecting any other device, but satellite radio is as a rule not the best quality. It's not HD radio, it's just regular radio that's bounced from a satellite. So you'll hear what's there, and it will sound better than the FM transmitters.

I'll find out and get back to you, and see what parts you're missing.
I'm hoping to upgrade to the new Sportster 4, which makes running through the aux REALLY easy, the port is right on the front of the dick with a passthrough for my iPod.

Posting your question on the forums at siriusbackstage.com will probably get you an immediate response with what pieces are missing and where to find them for the best price. They're good about that over there.

 

Champagne_supernova he is only missing the antenna, Only three pieces come with the sportser, cradle, cig lighter and the antenna(it also comes with a 6"plug with a wire to help with the free air fm modulation, but they dont work well) So he will need an a sirius antenna and a mini to mini plug for the aux in or he can buy a hard wired modulator.

One thing i do have to correct you on, is you may mislead people to thinking that it's only $7 dollars for the subscritpion to Sirius. A single plan is $14 dollars a month, each unit after that is $7 a month. Even thou you did state you had the family deal, somone is paying $14 a month for the first subscription.

 

well, yes and no. One of the recievers has a lifetime subscription, so we are not in fact paying by month for the original reciever. That worked out since that reciever is coming up on three years old. All the other radios are $7 a month.

I know the sportster replay I was looking at the other day had more in the box- but maybe it was a package with a home kit, I don't know.

 

so is there a way to hard wire the sportster into the radio? even with the aux input?

 

I have an XM Roady2 (portable) unit that is direct wired to my aftermarket head unit. I have 3 cars with cradles & antenna's installed. That way, you pay for one subscription but you can move it from car to car.

Home is not a problem as included with the XM subscription is on line listening. I have that wired from my computer to my Stereo.

WOW! Am I a geek, or what!!

Here's a pic of my install in the XB. Taken when I was still using the built in wireless FM transmitter to the stock head unit. I reccommend the direct wire install, as without you are always tuning for an open frequency on the FM to play the XM through. Sound quality is much better also.

http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ent=XMinXB.jpg

 

we do the same thing with the sirius online, the only problem being that some of the streams are streamed at extremely low bitrate and it sounds terrible over the stereo system. Also, for some reason our HP laptop is really resistant to maintaining the streams, even though they work fine on all the other computers, including more HPs. Who knows. I'm more interested in the docking for my office, not home.

Hard wiring isn't too difficult and if you don't want to do it yourself and are ok paying an installer, CC or best buy will do it for I think $60 or $70.

 

Does anyone know if the XM transceiver in this link will hook up to the factory HU and function. According to the Pioneer site it should as long as it's a "sat ready" unit.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...617510,00.html