Posted this in the audio section, but have had 4 views in 2.5 hours... so I will post it to you guys...

my dad just bought a new Honda and it has XM in it.. I am really impressed... I love the choices you have for music. I never have been a cd collector... so I always just listen to the radio...

QUestion is, what is the best way to put XM in my C5?... I was thinking about getting an XM ready Alpine CD/MP3 player and then putting the antena in... to make it a permanent thing... I also saw the little thing that goes through the FM radio... but didn't know how it worked.. and figured you need an antena anyway...

thoughts on in dash units? what are the best bang for the buck.. im keepking stock speakers... don't need a cd changer or multiple in dash cd player... just a simple cd player.... if they make a tape/cd player combo, I am interested in that, since the stock radio is so big, im sure it would fit... if they even make those..

thanks

 

'best' is of course relative to the individual user's situation. in my case, if/when i take the plunge, i want to maximize the xm experience. i'm tempted to get a delphi roady2 kit since we can use it as well @ home & in multiple vehicles. the basic kit is, i believe, $49 @ walmart & a complete kit w/ auto & home hookups is available @ costco for $79. may well take the plunge soon. bub

 

I had a stock AM/FM/Tape Bose unit I bought a Stock AM/FM/CD unit and used the plug for my disc changer to hook up my SIRIUS unit and control it thru the head unit AUX switch..its what most people do who have the stock system....if you don't have disc changer you need the cable which is about $90

 

how are those things, sound quality wise? Its going through the fm radio.. seems like it would be less quality... if not, I will probably go with that, if its a lot cheaper than getting a head unit...

I have been looking, a good unit $150-200... plus $100 for antena and adapter.. so $250 plus tax and install, around $300 for the whole set up...

 

i bought the XM commander for my z06, but until i get off my lazy butt, it will sit in the box. i did however install a roady2 in my 85. it's a wireless fm modulator and it took a while to zero in on the right fm station for best results (107.5). sound quality, its almost a good as the factory bose. you have to take in to account, all the noise associated with driving a car, so overall, its not too bad. i'm happy with it!

 

Friend,
I went with the Delphi Roady2. I added a sub to my BOSE system and pretty much wanted to keep that stock so eveything could be pulled quickly if I ever get the hankering for a C6. The antenna is small and hidden inside the car. You can see the Roady2 over the stock head unit in this pic. It has a really cool little mount for AC vents. Also, the BOSE speakers that are in the C5 will only work with the head unit.

 

Where did you put your antenna????? I was looking at this and the guy at best buy said it should be outside or in a window. Is this true? Or can I just put the antenna anywhere in my car and still recieve a signal?

 

i had the alpine unit in my old civic and i really liked it, i have the myfi in my vette running thru the tape adapter and it sounds pretty good, but i want to put an aftermarket system in at somepoint.

 

I bought a MyFi and LOVE IT!

Installed the antenna on the top of the rear window, ran the wires (easily) to the console and put the power from the lighter-plug in the console.

I put the MyFi in the cup-holder. Works great and I also use in in my other cars, motorhome and boat.

 

I've got the MyFi!

 

You can put your antenna almost anywhere in the car. The antenna supplied is a little bit wider than a 9volt battery and is black. I chose to put mine in the the very front corner of the dashboard on drivers side. I pulled the column cover off (pulls straight towards you and it pops off-I watched a buddy do his first. ) and ran it up that way. It does not show up and the reception is just as good as when it is located outside the car. (I have tested many places for the antenna). The only place it does not do well are under the dash or under metal, like the A-pillars or the place between the targa and hatch.

Note: I can only speak for the Delphi Roady2 using XM radio. I have not monkeyed with any other brand or Sirius.

 

I bought a Roady2 for the ease of installation, and with the intention of switching it to the wife's car while the Vette is sitting. Doubt that will happen, and I may not renew the subscription. Too late, I discovered that Sirus seems to have better programming plus the poor reception.

Issues with the Roady2 are poor reception and interference on the FM channel. On the first road trip I had FM interference around almost every city and found it too much trouble to switch channels. This could be eliminated with a direct hook to the AUX port, but would eliminate use of the CD changer.
The antenna is mounted on the deck lid with the lead run under the rear window weatherstrip. This is best location I've found, but trees beside the road block the signal...very irritating. My daughter has a Sirus on her mini van and son-in-law has one on his pickup. Both have larger antennals (mounted on roof metal) than the Roady, and very seldom lose the signal. This antenna will not pick up a signal through the body panels as some have found with the larger antennals.
Maybe others' experience has been better than mine.

 

Intersting. I live north of Atlanta commute torwads the city and do not get any FM interference with my station tuning. My home is down some very wooded roads. I will not claim that there is never a dropout but I will say they are very few and far between. I have driven from Atlanta to Destin Florida and left it on the same station and did not have 1 second of interference nor have to change station pre-sets. I might conatact the manufacturer if I were having those types of issues

 

My in dash CD player quit working so it was the perfect excuse to replace the head unit. I got an Alpine CDA-9820XM. The installed price was $650 approx. which inlcuded the doo dad to hook to the Bose systems and the external antenna. They mounted the antenna on my dash in the far corner in front of the driver. It is hardly noticeable. The Alpine unit is fantastic. I was not looking forward to putting an outside unit on the car such as I have with the WiFi on my Yukon. (Even though it is more versatile). Just my 2 cents.

 

I have my antenna velcroed just outside my passenger door on the black plasitc piece below the windshield wiper blades. I use the micro antenna and its barely noticable.

 

Interesting. I had mine there too, and the reception was really bad, dropping out at every tall tree. As Nathan suggested, it's time to contact XM support.

 

FYI... I have the Roady II and mounted the unit inside the ashtray, it snaps in tight (fits perfect) just used the lighter plug for power and mounted the ant. on the read window. This way I can pull the unit out easy and use in the house or the other car.

 

Here is what I wound up doing.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1074000

I started with the Blose head unit and the Commander. Worked OK but the sound quality sucked (IMHO). Decided to junk the whole setup.

Here is where I put the antenna. Not too noticeable


A friend has the MyFi and I would give that serious consideration if I had to go back and do it again. That said, the Blose speakers still would have to go.

Hope this helps. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions!

.

 

Guys,
This is the setup to get....
xm commander
pie xmc-gm10 adapter
12 disc changer wiring harness (if you dont already have one)
This adapter has power, ground, and signal right there in the trunk. The commander ant can be put inside back bumper on ledge above the tag. display can be put in ashtray completely concealed. This is a direct input setup and I guarantee you has cd quality sound. I just did this in my 04 vert and love it!

 

I have two units, a SCIFI II in my Jeep (that is also used in the house) and I love it. Sound is great, reception is great and the screen (white/black letters) can be read at anytime day or night.
In the Vette I installed an Audiovox XR9 with the blue screen (to match the blue LEDs installed in the radio/HVAC and all the switches); believe me, you cannot read the information during the daytime. No matter how many adjustments I make to the contrast and/or brightness, it is impossible (with or without sunglasses). At night, it looks cool.
I cannot compare the sound, except to say the Jeep with the SCIFI sounds better, but I have a decent system along with some great speakers in the Jeep; while the Vette has the infamous stock Boze system.
The unit is mounted just to the right of the radio, with a standard bracket I customized to fit in this location. It is not in the way of the passenger air bag, something you want to consider when installing. It is convenient to use, and is convenient to see; at night.
The antenna is mounted approximately one inch below the top of the rear hatch glass, in the center. Wire runs down the bow molding, down the door molding, under the sill molding, under the carpeting (by the fuse box), up inside the console, then out of the console where the unit is attached.
No rain leaks, and no dropouts at all where the antenna is installed.

As for service with XM, I just traveled 5K miles in the Jeep and the only places I lost service were in the very deep narrow canyons of Colorado and Utah, and under metal canopies in service stations.. Other than those places, service was excellent and this was the first long distance trip I have taken in years, without a couple carriers full of CDs.

(PS If you like the Audiovox unit, it is for sale...$27500.00, includes the car too. )