a Sirius Question

[PhillyVibeGT]

ok, I was just looking at a few of the posts about sat. radio. I think I remember someone saying that the m&t headunit has jacks so that it will play through the radio and no need for the FM modulator (sp). Is that correct or was I dreaming?

[Mr. Poopypants]

You can buy a wired fm modulator that plugs into your antenna in your M&T unit and the normal antenna plugs into the modulator. It is powered, but it is much nicer to have the quality of a wired unit instead of using the radio signal that is picked up by your Vibe's antenna. There is the option of using a radio frequency that uses a small broadcasting antenna (this comes with the Sirius sportster car kit) but it sounds more like FM than the digital signal you get with the wired modulator.

[ColonelPanic]

Yep, Mr. Poopy is right. The aux input deal on this radio has been kicked around a bunch here, the FM modulator is about our only choice... Unless you feel like soldering. Or unless you have an '04 or '05 with the "BAND" button instead of a button labaled AM/FM, apparently there is a unit that adds an input to those. There looks to be at least one person (that I remember at least) who has installed one of those.Like Mr. Poopypants, I have the Sportster, but I'm using the integrated FM transmitter for the meantime. It works good enough to get the signal across with little static (at least in my area, lol) but the sound isn't anywhere near as rich as it would be if the unit were directly connected. For an FM transmitter, it actually impressed me. Not perfect sound, but it is passable.I plan on getting the modulator sometime soon... See Kari's ipod setup thread for plenty of good stuff in regards to the modulator. I heard it for a few seconds at the Ohio meet, not too shabby. From Crutchfield, you're looking at around $50-something for the unit, an adapter that goes from the antenna's GM adapter to Motorola for the modulator, and another adapter from the modulator that goes from Motorola to the GM style for the radio. I'd order one today, but I kinda have to put this on hold for a few, winter tires are a bit more important to me at the moment. But I will get the modulator in the not-so-distant future.

[PhillyVibeGT]

Set up the Orbitor in the Vibe yesterday, not hard to run the wires at all. But it sounds fuzzy to say the least. I'm using the integrated transmitter at the moment but all the preset stations have actual stations broadcasted over them in Philly ie. 88.1 88.5 so I'm thinking that is my problem with the signal not coming in clear. Any ideas you guys can think of?

[ColonelPanic]

Since the frequencies the built-in transmitter uses are already in use in your area, you'll probably end up having to physically connect your receiver to the antenna to get past this issue...Looks like you'll need to either go the FM modulator route, or perhaps the "SIRSWB" adapter I've heard (just a little) about... The latter appears to be just an adapter that mounts inline with your antenna, and will cut signal coming from the antenna when you're using the Sirius receiver, and also takes the signal coming from the Sirius receiver and puts it directly to the antenna going to the radio. Check out this lengthy thread over on Sirius Backstage...http://www.siriusbackstage.com...=9553I haven't read that thread in its entirety - it looks like the link they provided to CC's site is broken now... And I'm not sure if the adapter works for the Orbiter (does the Orbiter have a wire that plugs in to the back of the cradle for the transmitter antenna?) But if you can find more info on it, that may be something to look into. From what I hear, it's less than $20. Don't know if that's going to be the answer... (hopefully someone with experience with this device can chime in.)Good luck to you! I'm still wanting to go the FM modulator route, I'll spring for that thing eventually...

[PhillyVibeGT]

hey thanks for the help, I guess I will have to get the modulator as well.

[Mr. Poopypants]

I'm not sure about the orbiter but if you use the frequency transmitter built into the sportster, you can change the broadcast frequency. Check the manual to see if you can adjust it.

[ragingfish]

I've been using my XM SkyFi modulator with my stock radio until my new radio comes in...I've tried EVERY frequency, but in NJ, every frequency is taken...so I don't get as clear a signal as I could.If you can manage a direct connection, go for it. You'll truly appreciate the leaps-and-bounds improvements in sound quality!

[Mr. Poopypants]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »If you can manage a direct connection, go for it. You'll truly appreciate the leaps-and-bounds improvements in sound quality!Agreed 100%

[ColonelPanic]

Yeah, it is definitely a pain when you're dealing with FM transmitters. Those with only a few 88.x MHz freqs aren't usable here, there are either stations on those frequencies, or near them... And having dang near every FM radio station's transmitter on the hills directly behind me doesn't help either.. Right now I'm using 106.5 MHz on the Sportster, and sadly even though it can transmit on every spot on the FM dial, that's about the ONLY frequency I can find that works good. Oddly enough, I get the best sound at 88.7 MHz -- very crisp, clear, good bass... The further up you go on the dial, the more the quality of the signal decreases. But with the lower frequencies, I get lots of static from power lines, and even from electrical stuff in my own car - i.e. any time I use the rear wiper, so it the better frequency response isn't worth it, so I have to go up the dial... Crazy... Yeah, I'll be modulatin' it pretty soon.