Does anyplace sell head units with satellite radio already built into them like you see on a lot of newer cars? I can only see to find the kind you have to wire to the exisiting head unit.

3/9/2011 7:11:13 PM

isnt it pretty common? some will require an extra adapter, but its not something you see.

3/9/2011 8:42:55 PM

^

I see more aftermarket HU's with sat radio capability than not. Where are you looking? Go to best buy and look at the upper left/right corners of the faceplates.

3/9/2011 9:25:32 PM

The best I can find are head units that are "satellite radio ready" but you still have to buy a tuner for them....so I guess I am going to assume that by hooking the tuner up to the head unit you can control (change stations) with the head unit instead of having to have an extra receiver seperate from the normal radio.

3/9/2011 9:53:50 PM

yeah, the antenna and receiver are separate to keep costs down but they are behind the scenes

3/9/2011 9:59:19 PM

^

3/9/2011 10:47:54 PM

^^^Yes if its SatRad ready then it will control the tuner unit. I had a setup like this from Pioneer in my truck 10 years ago.

3/10/2011 9:34:24 AM

Ok I got a satellite radio installed but I got the kind that mounts to the dash and is wired to the factory head unit since it was a lot cheaper to do that. I am glad I did because I really like the display on the Onyx receiver I got. The problem I am having now is that the sound coming from the xm radio is kind of week (I have to have the volume turned up to 75% but with the normal fm and cd player I only need it at 50% to make it sound as loud as I need it to) it doesn't sound bad or anything it just seems like there is lack of power. Would adding an amplifier help this? I also plan on putting in some new speakers at some point too.....but I don't know if I should get speakers installed first or an amp first. I kind of want to do the amplifier first. I really don't want to throw down a whole bunch of money to have both done at the same time. Just want to see what any of you guys thought because I am really naive when it comes to car audio or any audio in general.

[Edited on March 12, 2011 at 9:21 PM. Reason : .]

3/12/2011 9:20:55 PM

they probably have it hardwired through an fm modulator, so there is not a whole lot you can to. as you start to amplify it you will notice that you are also amplifying the noise that comes with a setup like that. yeah, anything that makes the speakers louder will make it louder, but the quality won't be as good as a CD. on the little satelite display unit you will have some output settings somewhere probably, you may be able to turn it up a little more from that. typically they leave it about halfway because if you try to amplify the signal out a lot you introduce a lot of noise.

3/12/2011 9:33:47 PM

go through the menus on the onyx and there should be a menu for "sound level" or "volume" or something like that. max it out.

3/13/2011 8:01:43 PM

I have the volume on the onyx all the way up and it is still pretty low

3/13/2011 9:35:01 PM

Are you using the FM modulator or using the SatRadio output line hardwired with normal 3.5mm audio cable to the head unit? If you hardwire it, you won't get near as much random static and then (depending on your head unit) you can adjust the aux input volume down accordingly. One thing, if you do end up going the hardwire route you'd need to shut off the SatRadio if you wanted to use your own mp3 player unless you have another aux input/USB port on the head unit.

3/13/2011 11:14:25 PM

i've got an onyx. i used the FM antenna hardwire kit like this:

http://www.12volt-travel.com/hardwire-kit-for-xm-satellite-receivers-xmck10axmck5xmc10a-p-11816.html

the volume level is reasonably close to the regular FM radio or CD player

[Edited on March 14, 2011 at 7:24 AM. Reason : b/c my factory HU doesn't have an aux input]

3/14/2011 7:23:24 AM

The guy at Best Buy did it so I am not sure about everything. I do atleast know that it was hard wired through an fm modulator. There isn't any static or other extra crappy noises so I am pretty convinced I should just add an amp. It is very tolerable the way it is but if I am going to put in any new speakers in the future I am going to for sure need an amp.

3/14/2011 6:26:37 PM

Well at least you'll finally get to enjoy it, I just got another car and with the stock radio having a broken CD player and no aux in I'm going apeshit changing the station every 5 minutes when I drive across NC for work. Can't wait to replace the HU in the damn thing.

3/14/2011 7:54:39 PM