[sunnycrest]

I am considering getting XM, probably Roady 2. I borrowed a unit to try in my office, home and car. Everyone was good except the FM Transmitter in the car. Too many local FM stations, couldn't find a clean totally clean frequency. I am considering replacing the car stereo to get something with an AUX input but I see some units are "XM Ready". What exactly does that mean? How would a Roady 2 connect to an "XM Ready" head unit in the dash? I don't want to pay for a separate XM subscription for the car.

 

[JustJalone]

There is a "direct connection" for the FM that substantially improves reception. There is an aftermarket unit that is about $24. It is installed in-line of the fm antenna and combines the XM antenna feed.


I assume that a XM ready radio has a jack on it that accepts the XM antenna and handles everything else internally.


I bought a MyFi and it looks like I also have to invest the $24 because FM is so jammed here in Chicago

 

[sunnycrest]

I went to C*C* last night to see what XM Ready meant for myself.


According to the salesman, there is a dedicated connector on the back that connects to a dedicated tuner unit you permanetly mount in the dash. The XM controls are handled from the head unit. So, a Roady 2, MyFi, or SkyFi are not for this application. He showed me the in-line antenna unit you describe which will work with the SkiFi but not the Roady2. So, my best solution, if I want to use the Roady 2 in the car and avoid the problems of the FM transmitter is to find a head unit with an AUX input jack. You would think in the IPOD age there would be a lot of these, but apparently the head unit manufacturters are going the dedicated IPOD connector or dedicated satellite radio connector route rather than a simple universal phone jack input. I have one of these in an older car, maybe I'll swap it out.

 

[barbie845]

XM ready means you can buy an XM direct receiver to use with that headunit. Examples are Sony and Pioneer..Not only can you use a PNP like the Roady with it(auxin,FM mod) but you can also buy a Pioneer receiver for a Pioneer HU,or Sony for Sony,etc...These units hook directly into the HU using a dedicated hookup/cable..They cost around $100...


The PNP units like the Roady or SkyFi will work on any radio,the best way for those units to work is thru the AUX-IN hookup..The big advantage with the PNP is though the sound will not be as good as the direct receivers,the receivers are NOT portabe,the PNP units are..

 

[dnewhous]

Satellite radio ready means you can control the satellite tuner from the HU, but this only works if you match brand names of HU and satellite tuner.


Pioneer's proprietary interface is the only digital audio link between tuner and HU. It is the same one they use for their multi-CD storage players, so you can do one or the other but not both with Pioneer.


Kenwood uses some proprietary connection to their tuner for control, and RCA cables for the audio.


JVC units, while otherwise being kick butt, use FM demodulation as the audio link between tuner and HU.