Ok, here is the deal, I just purchased and installed the Sirius Sporster 4 kit in my car. I wired it to the stock head unit using the FM modulator, The Sirius radio works, but when I turn it off my reg. FM radio does not work, just static! I thought that both are supposed to work with the modulator! Also I noticed that even with the tuner level turned all the way up on the Sportser I'm almost maxing out my volume on the stock headunit to really get it loud, I'm wondering if this is normal? Is there any other way I can wire up the Sirius for better sound quality and less wiring running all around the dash. I'm pretty stereo stupid when it comes to this stuff, I just know the bare minimals to get by, so any help would be greatly appreciated! I thought the Sportster 4 was one of the better units out there, I hope I was right, any feedback on personal experience with this unit would be great! Thanks!

 

Well with the FM modulator, you have to have it on a channel that doesn't have frequency, so chances are, when you turn off the sirius, that channel will have nothing on it. This may be a stupid question, but did you try changing the channel?

 

Actually I have it on the first channel that Sirius website gave me for being the best freq. in my area, I did not try the other ones listed below it, I'll try that today on the way to work! I still think that the sound quality should be better, As I was listening to it on the way home from work last night the songs and voices just seemed to have a echo or somthing to them! I thought that Satellite radio was supposed to be clearer than reg. FM radio?

 

Yeah it should be. In my old car, I had XM with an FM modulator, and it was amazing...barely any cut out or interference. I'm ready to just spend the money and get it hooked up through the stock head unit.

 

Well I guess no one else has any more info on this, so I'm gonna have to figure it out some how!

 

get yourself something like this http://www.logjamelectronics.com/pietoy03aux.html
and use the audio out mini jack to an RCA cable and plug it in to the back of your head unit

 

I'm guessing that I need to get the PIE 3.5-RCA6mm adapter cable to go from the converter to the Satellite unit? This set up will be clearer and higher quality than using the FM modulator I hope right? Cause I really don't feel like waisting another $100 down the drain if its not going to sound alot better! For the money I'm spending to get this portable unit to work right I should of just bought a aftermarket head unit! Hey thanks guys for your help, I have not really found to many people that know a whole lot about this satellite stuff!

 

Ok I didn't read any responses above but it is normal for the volume to have to be maxed with those modulators. The output signal from the sporster is very low. As for the FM reception you have to turn off the sportser to get FM reception. Also make sure you plugged the factory antenna into the modulator.

 

The antenna and connections are hooked up correctly, when I turn the Sportster off I just get static through the reg. FM radio on all stations. Why would the Sportster have a low output?, It's one of the more expensive units! Which units would have a higher output?

 

They all have low outputs thats just how they are. As for the antenna it sounds like your modulator isn't turning off or has a bad passthrough for the regular radio. I would get it swapped out.