XM / iPod questions

[iocat]

Hi, sorry if this is a repeat. I have a 2006 base model Vibe (Salsa) with the very basic 1 CD, no MP3, 4 speaker stereo. It does have the Band button and CD/AUX buttons, not an AM/FM button.I am very interested in adding XM and/or iPod support to my car. Ideally, I'd like to do this *without* having an extra control unit for the XM; I'd like to be able to see the stations on the current, stock head unit (I'm pretty used to XM, I don't need much in the way of display) and change channels from there as well. Is there any chance of doing this?Has anyone had any luck mounting the iPod or charger in their center unit? I hear that there is 12 volts underneath which is pretty easy to tap into?Also, and again I apologize for being stupid, whats the dif. between an FM modulator and just regular FM broadcaster? In my old '95 Grand Prix I had a tape player, so using XM or an iPod was easy. Someone stole my old XM device, so I can buy whatever may work for this application.Thanks for any help you can offer!-iocat

[josholiver1]

My understanding is that you need a radio from GM with XM capability to have it. I dont think you can just have a part added to the back and an anntena, i think it has to be built in from the factory. A seprate unit for xm is needed with the FM ModulatorOr you might get lucky and find a radio with XM, but then you would have to add the antenna. And you cant have the AUX and XM together unless the "build" page is wrong on http://www.pontiac.com..The solution that sounds best to me is purchasing a new Pioneer Head Unit with MP3, XM and AUX Capibity. The head unit will be so much better and so will your sound, and it will be easy to install and take out if you ever sell your car.I belive you can get a Pioneer HU with XM and AUX for around 250 bucks...not sure... Correct me if im wrong here...HOPE THIS HELPS!

[Jahntassa]

You won't be able to get the 'factory' XM because getting factory units that aren't installed at the..factory..is a very hard feat.There is an XM direct thing you can get to be able to control through the radio, but I don't know if it works through that particular radio, nor do I know if it'll show artist/title info.There was a recent post about an iPod adapter that may work for you. You can try this: http://store.xmfanstore.com/xmdirect.htmlIt says it works with all radios but the basic am/fm radio..whatever that means. I think they have a pretty good return policy if it doesn't work, though.

[slvrvibes]

Unless you have a car that is XM ready directly from the dealer, you will still need to buy the XM receiver & tuner box and the head unit will need to be XM ready.

[pcconrad]

i've got a similar situation to iocat...i just bought an 05 vibe this weekend, and it's the base model with the single cd changer, etc. what exactly IS that "aux" option for? what can be piped in there? i had a skyfi2 in my last car (that, alas, had to stay in it for the trade) that was wired directly to the cd changer input in the factory head unit. is the "aux" on my vibe head unit simply an audio input? anyway, i've got six months left on my xm subscription and i'd love to get it into my vibe while it still works.also...i asked crutchfield.com, "what fits my vibe?" one of the results was an xm adapter that allows head units with RDS ("radio data service", which allows FM station info to be displayed on the LED) to work with xm receivers. The way I took it was that the RDS-capable head unit in the vibe can display xm program information, whether the head unit is actually xm-ready or not. don't know how much hardware is necessary, but crutchfield seems to think it can be done.i'm a newbie, please be gentle! thanks, all,paul

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by pcconrad »i've got a similar situation to iocat...i just bought an 05 vibe this weekend, and it's the base model with the single cd changer, etc. what exactly IS that "aux" option for? what can be piped in there? i had a skyfi2 in my last car (that, alas, had to stay in it for the trade) that was wired directly to the cd changer input in the factory head unit. is the "aux" on my vibe head unit simply an audio input? anyway, i've got six months left on my xm subscription and i'd love to get it into my vibe while it still works.also...i asked crutchfield.com, "what fits my vibe?" one of the results was an xm adapter that allows head units with RDS ("radio data service", which allows FM station info to be displayed on the LED) to work with xm receivers. The way I took it was that the RDS-capable head unit in the vibe can display xm program information, whether the head unit is actually xm-ready or not. don't know how much hardware is necessary, but crutchfield seems to think it can be done.i'm a newbie, please be gentle! thanks, all,paulCan you post a link to the product that Crutchfield told you about?Your Vibe 1CD can be set up to access an external audio source one of two ways. Both require an external adapter that makes the 1CD think it is connected to:1) An external CD changer. You switch between the internal CD and the external audio source by pressing the "CD/AUX" button.2) A factory XM receiver. You select the external audio source by pressing the BAND button until it says "XM1"NOTE- that the buttons won't select these unless the adapter is there to make the head unit think the external units are there.It's quite possible that somebody has made a "translater" that makes the head unit think it is talking to a factory XM tuner, when in reality it's talking to a third party XM product, allowing it to display channel info etc.If you would post a link, that would help us figure out if it will work in the Vibe.

[Jahntassa]

XM Direct for FACTORY radios (That's just what it's titled. )

[pcconrad]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-5...DRDS1