Okay so I just got and installed my new Alpine CDA-9831 head unit, which I love. It comes with all the great features I've always wanted and it is XM radio ready. I'm on vacation this week and I'd like to get the XM hooked up.

According to the XM website http://www.xmradio.com/learn/index.jsp I still need to get one of their tuners...is that correct? So when my unit says it is "XM ready" it just means that I can *control* the XM through the Alpine, but I still need to get the XM tuner... correct?

It looks like this is what I need??? http://www.xmradio.com/commander/
Are there any other options out there or is this it? No off-brands?

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

Nice radio...
In order to get XM on it you have to purchase the tuner box and the antenna. As far as i know, youre best bet is to find a an Alpine TUA-T020xm tuner box. Its the Alpine made XM tuner box which directly plugs into your radio. like this.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...&rd=1

The Alpine tuner is a discontinued item.. from what i have heard because of an issue between XM and Alpine. I believe that there will be universal tuner box made specifically for XM ready headunits, but i dont know the exact details.

The XM commander is also an alternative.. i think you need to purchase the Ai Net cable for it to adapt.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by [626 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">95-GSR]Nice radio...
In order to get XM on it you have to purchase the tuner box and the antenna. As far as i know, youre best bet is to find a an Alpine TUA-T020xm tuner box. Its the Alpine made XM tuner box which directly plugs into your radio. like this.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...&rd=1

The Alpine tuner is a discontinued item.. from what i have heard because of an issue between XM and Alpine. I believe that there will be universal tuner box made specifically for XM ready headunits, but i dont know the exact details.

The XM commander is also an alternative.. i think you need to purchase the Ai Net cable for it to adapt.</TD></TR></TABLE>


the commander works with anything, since it uses the FM modulation.

Your best bet is the alpine tuner box, best sound, etc.

My friend is actually selling one on ebay right now at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...SE:IT

I'm selling it for him since he doesn't have an ebay account. The unit is in good shape and works fine.

 

I thought you had to buy the XM module to plug in and you pay them like $15 or so a month for their service... kinda like getting dsl internet or equivalent.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VolpeOwnsU &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought you had to buy the XM module to plug in and you pay them like $15 or so a month for their service... kinda like getting dsl internet or equivalent.</TD></TR></TABLE>


$15 a month???????

surely you must mean year!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bassisliffe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


$15 a month???????

surely you must mean year! </TD></TR></TABLE>

$15 for a year? HA

its 15 or so a month.

 

it was 10 bux a month 3 months ago when i worked @ the roadshop at circuit city...

its well worth it.. ive had it for over 3 years now.. its awesome

you can also look into getting this b/c the alpine xm tuner isnt available anymore..
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-N...ne+xm

 

How hard is the install? or should a certified someone do it?
I drive about an hour a day, and i'm tired of cd, mp3 and radio. XM would be really nice. i already have a pretty nice system going, just want something clear as XM.
But 10-15 bucks a month? Not too bad. How much would a place like circuit city or good guys do everything for? My Alpine is 'xm ready'.

 

get the tuner box that boostfed has listed and then you need to order the adapter to directly connect the box to your head unit. blitz makes the adapters and are the only people i know that have them available at the moment.

http://www.blitzsafe.com/blitz....html

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94cxhybrid-T &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get the tuner box that boostfed has listed and then you need to order the adapter to directly connect the box to your head unit. blitz makes the adapters and are the only people i know that have them available at the moment.

http://www.blitzsafe.com/blitz....html</TD></TR></TABLE>


you can find the actual alpine tuner box on EBay for around or uner $150. The alpine tuner box also has the pass-thru so you can hook up an Ai-Net changer if you'd desire. There is no adaptor required then, and install is as simple as taking a cable, plugging it into the XM tuner, and plug the other end into your radio. There's also a plug that carries the +12 and ground you have to hook up also. Pretty easy.

 

at circuit city if i remember right they charged $50 bux for the install of the tuner box, $30 for the antenna, and 15 if you had an rf modulator.. working there i thougt it was a little expensive but people paid it everday cause they wanted it done right and then...

 

I was reading on XM411.com that they are developing a kit so you could hook up your Skyfi unit to an XM ready head unit like your Alpine. The best part about that is that you won't have to pay separate subscription fees for the tuner in your car and one for your SkyFi (if you happen to have one). They currently have them available for use in BMW's and Mini's. The cool thing is that not only will you have good sound quality (not passing through an RF modulator) but the artist/song title will display on your HU like it's supposed to. They say one is supposed to be available to work with Alpines by the end of the summer.

 

For some good info on Xm check out the forums at http://www.xmfan.com.

I'm getting XM, but I'm going to be using the Delphi Roady as my tuner. To connect to the deck, you just need to get an adapter to your AUX input. If you don't have an AUX input you can get a PIE adapter that goes into the CD changer DIN connection.

 

you need Alpines XM tuner, to be able to control it from your deck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2ndchancehonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you need Alpines XM tuner, to be able to control it from your deck.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that is not true.....

the adapter i mentioned above allows you to do this with the xm universal box. i have it in my car.

 

think i can get xm radio in jamaica? is it something you can buy and fly around the world with and can play it in any car etc etc?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bassisliffe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">think i can get xm radio in jamaica? is it something you can buy and fly around the world with and can play it in any car etc etc?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Check out this coverage map http://www.xmfan.com/album_page.php?pic_id=9

 

It would be really difficult for your to get XM in Jamaica... The sattelites move in an elliptical pattern around North America, and a lot of the signal people receive are from ground-based repeaters anyhow.

Has anyone done a full XM install? I've got a '96 GS-R, and I'm about to replace the head unit that's been stolen 3 times. I'm going to put in a Pioneer DEH-P9400 and XM receiver, and I'm wondering where I should try and stuff the receiver and antenna. Will the receiver go behind everything under the dash, or will I have to run some wires to/from under the passenger seat? What about the antenna? I have a sun roof, so should I try and get it out there?

Thanks in advanced for your help!

Nick

 

I just got the 9831 and the xm commander and its bad ***. I just got it last night so I'm still figuring out all the channels.

 

There's only one problem there, XM won't activate your unit unless you have an address within the US. Same applies for the Canadian folks. Canadian folks are in luck though, since Sirius is expanding into Canada with a 2nd sat service

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bassisliffe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">think i can get xm radio in jamaica? is it something you can buy and fly around the world with and can play it in any car etc etc?</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rjr162 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There's only one problem there, XM won't activate your unit unless you have an address within the US. Same applies for the Canadian folks. Canadian folks are in luck though, since Sirius is expanding into Canada with a 2nd sat service

</TD></TR></TABLE>


hmm, i'd get someone in the us to order it for me with their adress but...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nikolai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It would be really difficult for your to get XM in Jamaica... The sattelites move in an elliptical pattern around North America, and a lot of the signal people receive are from ground-based repeaters anyhow.
</TD></TR></TABLE>


damn, i thought it was a worldwide thingy

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Quote, originally posted by Nikolai »
It would be really difficult for your to get XM in Jamaica... The sattelites move in an elliptical pattern around North America, and a lot of the signal people receive are from ground-based repeaters anyhow. </TD></TR></TABLE>

actually, that is Sirius. XM uses 2 satalites in a geosyncronous "orbit" over the equator (well close to), just like DirecTV does. These satalites actually sit in place and do not move. The Sirius ones are the ones that orbit. XM411 has a map of XM's coverage area, with approximated signal strengths for various locations and also which satalite you'd be picking up off of. I'm not sure if Jamaca was covered by either of them though.... you might want to search for the map

 

hope this helps:

http://xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=1267

"I was in Negril (on the west coast) with the SkyFi boombox in 2004 APR and XM worked very well. I was able to pick up both satellites."

also check out http://xmfan.com/viewtopic.php...print

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rjr162 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

actually, that is Sirius. XM uses 2 satalites in a geosyncronous "orbit" over the equator (well close to), just like DirecTV does. These satalites actually sit in place and do not move. The Sirius ones are the ones that orbit. XM411 has a map of XM's coverage area, with approximated signal strengths for various locations and also which satalite you'd be picking up off of. I'm not sure if Jamaca was covered by either of them though.... you might want to search for the map
</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats what i thought!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rjr162 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

actually, that is Sirius. XM uses 2 satalites in a geosyncronous "orbit" over the equator (well close to), just like DirecTV does. These satalites actually sit in place and do not move. The Sirius ones are the ones that orbit. XM411 has a map of XM's coverage area, with approximated signal strengths for various locations and also which satalite you'd be picking up off of. I'm not sure if Jamaca was covered by either of them though.... you might want to search for the map
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dang it, you guys are all makin' me get out and re-discover my XM knowledge prowess. The XM sats "Rock" and "Roll" are, in fact, geostationary as opposed to geosynchronous. Sirius' sats are geosynchronous, which produce elliptical or figure 8 patterns that are more or less stationary with regards to longitudinal measurement. So yeah, you guys have the right idea, just different naming convention. Check out this link for a better explanation:

http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/vie...#8446

Here is the coverage map for XM over North America:

http://www.radio-at-sea.com/im...l.gif

Reception discussion:

http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=774


I have some more info somewhere, but I can't find the links. Enjoy.

- Nick