Is there an advantage to purchasing a new receiver such as the Delpi Roady XT other then portability? I am using the stock deck now and really like XM, but before I try for the $7.77 a month I want to make sure what deck I use. If I was to purchase another deck, how does it install? Will the stock antenna work? Is it plug an play?

Thanks,

Ken

Is there an advantage to purchasing a new receiver such as the Delpi Roady XT other then portability? I am using the stock deck now and really like XM, but before I try for the $7.77 a month I want to make sure what deck I use. If I was to purchase another deck, how does it install? Will the stock antenna work? Is it plug an play?

Thanks,

Ken

If you purchase another deck that is satellite ready, there will be a tuner & antenna that you will need to buy (roughly $100.00 on top of the deck price) as well. All controls will be through the deck (as opposed to on a seperate unit like the Roady XT) & it will also look cleaner IMO. You'll also get better sound quality because it wouldn't be FM-modulated like the Roady XT.

To install the deck, you'll need a dash kit, wiring harness & antenna adaptor for the Element. The factory antenna won't work but you can run the new antenna to where it's not visible (under the exterior top side molding like another EOC member did is the best place I've seen...there's pics in another thread).

The only upside to the Roady XT (or similar units) is portability in my opinion.

If you purchase another deck that is satellite ready, there will be a tuner & antenna that you will need to buy (roughly $100.00 on top of the deck price) as well. All controls will be through the deck (as opposed to on a seperate unit like the Roady XT) & it will also look cleaner IMO. You'll also get better sound quality because it wouldn't be FM-modulated like the Roady XT.

To install the deck, you'll need a dash kit, wiring harness & antenna adaptor for the Element. The factory antenna won't work but you can run the new antenna to where it's not visible (under the exterior top side molding like another EOC member did is the best place I've seen...there's pics in another thread).

The only upside to the Roady XT (or similar units) is portability in my opinion.


I recently purchased a Pioneer Airware (XM's portable radio) and installed it.
http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-54608124176281_1883_2273569
With an instant rebate I paid $50.00 for the kit which included the radio, the car and home docking kits, multiple mounting brackets, a lithium ion battery, A/C and D/C power cords and both the home and car antenna's (Plus more accessories I haven't mentioned.) What Funkbucket stated was partially true, you can use an external device with an FM modulator, however I chose to go with a HON03-PC-SON adapter which allows a direct connection through the head unit's cd changer controls. No FM modulator and crisp, clear sound. To me the greatest thing about an external unit is that I can take it inside and hook it up to my home stereo, or since I have an XM2GO I can just take it in to the gym with me since it has a built in internal antenna. You can't do that with just an XM compaitble head unit. Another nice feature is the ability to record 5 hours (The Airware has internal memory) of XM radio for use when there is no or poor sat reception.

I'll take some pictures of my install when I get home from work.

funkbucket007

I really do not want to install another deck at all. Been there, done that through the years. But now I am thinking that maybe I could use this on my bike as well. But it looks like you have one heck of a set up in your "E". Would love to see what it looks like!.



Funktional

I do like the idea of being portable, but really did not want to lose sound quality or have to install a bunch of equipment. So if I am understanding this right, I will either have to run this through the FM and lose sound quality or plug this device HON03-PC-SON into the back of my deck. Yes? Is there no way to use the input jack on my EX?

Please do post some pics. Would love to see your set up.

Ken

I recently purchased a Pioneer Airware (XM's portable radio) and installed it.
http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-54608124176281_1883_2273569
With an instant rebate I paid $50.00 for the kit which included the radio, the car and home docking kits, multiple mounting brackets, a lithium ion battery, A/C and D/C power cords and both the home and car antenna's (Plus more accessories I haven't mentioned.)

And were did you get all this for $50.00!! :shock: Wow.

Is there no way to use the input jack on my EX?



Ken, you could absolutely use the AUX input in your vehicle as I used this method before I had the chance to do my complete install and the sound was just as good as it is with the CD changer adapter. I just wanted to reserve the AUX adapter for other electronic devices. I got the Airware through a Direct TV promotion (Even though I don't have Direct TV but Shhhhh) If you wait till April, the new generation of XM2GO units will be available and the older ones like the Airware I'm sure will be heavily discounted. I'll post pics later.

Ken, you could absolutely use the AUX input in your vehicle as I used this method before I had the chance to do my complete install and the sound was just as good as it is with the CD changer adapter. I just wanted to reserve the AUX adapter for other electronic devices. I got the Airware through a Direct TV promotion (Even though I don't have Direct TV but Shhhhh) If you wait till April, the new generation of XM2GO units will be available and the older ones like the Airware I'm sure will be heavily discounted. I'll post pics later.

Cool!!!! I would rather use the input. I might wait until April then. But it depends when they (XM) calls me to subscribe. Don't want to have to call them to change decks later.

Thanks bud, looking forward to seeing your pics.

Ken

KSB, I'm feeling a little thick-headed here, so help me out. You have an EX with built-in XM. Unless you're dissatisfied with the head unit overall, why would you want to buy a separate XM receiver at all?

KSB, I'm feeling a little thick-headed here, so help me out. You have an EX with built-in XM. Unless you're dissatisfied with the head unit overall, why would you want to buy a separate XM receiver at all?

Yes, you are correct (my wife is looking at me funny as well:| ). I do already have the XM built in and I am no way dissatisfied with it. But not sure if that is the best way to go or not. Never had satellite radio before, so this is all new to me. But if I understand correctly that the account is based on the unit itself. So once I sign up (and pay for it) it is only good in my truck. Now that is not a problem, but I figure as long as I am paying for it why not use it else were too? But again, I really don't want to lose sound quality.

I travel quite a bit on my motorcycle and thought I might be able to hook a portable unit to that as well. But we also have a camp in the Adirondacks, and our radio reception really sucks there. So this might work out. Don't know. Hope I am making some sense here.

Yes, you are correct (my wife is looking at me funny as well:| ). I do already have the XM built in and I am no way dissatisfied with it. But not sure if that is the best way to go or not. Never had satellite radio before, so this is all new to me. But if I understand correctly that the account is based on the unit itself. So once I sign up (and pay for it) it is only good in my truck. Now that is not a problem, but I figure as long as I am paying for it why not use it else were too? But again, I really don't want to lose sound quality.

I travel quite a bit on my motorcycle and thought I might be able to hook a portable unit to that as well. But we also have a camp in the Adirondacks, and our radio reception really sucks there. So this might work out. Don't know. Hope I am making some sense here.

What you can do is continue or begin using the XM built into the Element and buy the XM2Go as a second radio on your plan. The second radio costs an additional $6-7/month. They don't charge full fare on the subsequent units.

Yes, you are correct (my wife is looking at me funny as well:| ). I do already have the XM built in and I am no way dissatisfied with it. But not sure if that is the best way to go or not. Never had satellite radio before, so this is all new to me. But if I understand correctly that the account is based on the unit itself. So once I sign up (and pay for it) it is only good in my truck. Now that is not a problem, but I figure as long as I am paying for it why not use it else were too? But again, I really don't want to lose sound quality.

I travel quite a bit on my motorcycle and thought I might be able to hook a portable unit to that as well. But we also have a camp in the Adirondacks, and our radio reception really sucks there. So this might work out. Don't know. Hope I am making some sense here.

Makes perfect sense to me, I appreciate the fact that I have an aftermarket XM radio due to most of what you stated above. I have also read many stories of people putting XM receivers on their motorcycles as well. One of the greatest things about XM is use in the mountains. I go to Smuggler's Notch on just about a weekly basis and before XM my FM station of choice would cut out approximately half way there. I can now drive all the way to Smuggs with only one very brief spot of cut-out where I am driving in a fairly deep canyon road. Other than that, the sound quality is a huge improvement over FM and the content is great. Keep in mind also Ken that you can add an additional radio on to your account for just 6.99 more a month so maybe this is a possibility for your wife's car if she does not have XM. Then you would still have XM in your car, but would have the portability of an external receiver.

You might want to wait until you take the Element to the Adirondacks camp to make sure you have a signal there before buying a second unit. Some north-facing hills don't have access to the satellites, which are low in the southern sky.

Here are the pics of the Airware I promised. I will post more info later as we're heading out to see some friends.

Last one showing wires and bracket

Thank you very much for posting the pics. Looks great.

Ken

One other thing of note is that with your XM account you get access to XM radio online listening ability, just go to their site and click to the listen online option i do it all the time here at home :D

KSB, I'm feeling a little thick-headed here, so help me out. You have an EX with built-in XM. Unless you're dissatisfied with the head unit overall, why would you want to buy a separate XM receiver at all?

I yanked the stock HU out of my '06 and replaced it with an HU and a separate XM receiver so that I can scroll thought the channels and see what's on them before I select one. I was use to that and when I traded my '04 E in for the '06 I was seriously disappointed in the way that XM channel selection worked. Now I scroll down and see the artist/song and when I see one I like I press a button and *blam* I have the song. While I'm scrolling the original song is still playing.