Can someone explain satellite radio to me, please?

Question

I'm thinking about purchasing a kit that includes: Includes satellite radio receiver, car cradle, remote control, UL listed DC adapter, antenna, cassette adapter, car mount, and vent clip.
I see that this has a casette adapter, but will this work without using the casette adapter?

My husband has a 2007 Ford Ranger with no tape deck. He wants satellite radio for Christmas, and I want to surprise him. I just don't want to buy the wrong thing cause I'm totally clueless!!

If this wont work without tape deck, can anyone explain how to hook these up or give me any recommendations of a kit to purchase that's easy to install?

There's another I've looked at that includes: Express EZ XM receiver
XMSC1 sure connect antenna
Home dock
Mobile dock
AC adapter
12V power adapter
RCA audio cables
Vent clip
Three-month XM activation card.

Basically, I am so confused! HELP!

Answer 1

You don't want the cassette adapter if you have no cassette. Ask the store you're buying from about one that plays through an FM radio without cassette deck. They have an adapter that is a small transmitter that transmits very short range so your FM receiver can pick it up. Usually works on one of the seldom used frequencies at the lower end of the FM dial. With that adapter it will work with any FM radio. I love my XM, by the way. We bought it primarily for our motor home but use it when we're in the house also. If the store doesn't have the adapter try XM's website. I think they sell it direct as well.

Answer 2

You can get a good signal even in bad weather, radio is not like TV, it's not necessary to have strong signal because it's just audio data as opposed to audio and video. There are now car radios that are capable of receiving AM, FM & XM with and incuded CD player, prices vary. There is also an adapter that can be installed and then you can swap the receiver and use it in the car and at home, cost to install this is about $200 and it includes the receiver. Installation is not too intrusive the antenna is about the size of a matchbox and mounts magnetically to the roof of the car, in my installation no wires are vissible. There is also a "boom box" which has a place for the receiver, so you take it out of the car and put it in the receiver at home. The boom box has an antenna with a loooong wire, I can keep the antenna indoors at my house, but I can see where there are places where it would need to be outside. XM also has a "portable" unit, the Inno is the best one I have no personal experience with it but I've read reviews on the Circuit City website and they are 50-50 pro/con. XM charges $12,95 a month for service, there are discounts for paying a year in advance, "activation" is $9.99. If you travel a lot by car it's a great service, because there are areas where radio stinks. You will not be able to receive a signal in a tunnel, or while under an overpass. The radio has a "buffer" so if you drive under an overpass it's ok, but if stopped for a traffic light it cuts out.

Answer 3

Here's the deal: your satellite radio tuner will come with an antenna that needs to be mounted to the outside of the vehicle. It will pick up the satellite radio signal from this antenna.



Once it's tuned in the signal, you have to get the sound from the satellite radio into your car radio. There are several ways to do this:



1. The cassette adapter. Won't work in your case, because you don't have a cassette player.



2. The built-in FM transmitter. This is a feature of all portable satellite radio tuners. It converts the satellite radio sound into an FM signal so you can pick it up on your car radio. Unfortunately, the built-in FM transmitters are required by the FCC to be extremely low power so you don't interfere with others' radio reception. This makes them fairly useless in most vehicles.



3. The included "sure-connect" adapter. This takes the FM transmitter output and moves it closer to your antenna. Basically you're supposed to stick one end of the sure-connect on your antenna mast and plug the other end into your satellite radio. These are kind of hit-or-miss; they work fairly well in some vehicles and not so well in others. Additionally, they look ugly on the antenna mast and can be awkward to route back into the car to plug into the satellite radio unit.



4. An FM-direct adapter. This sends the FM-transmitter output directly into the antenna plug at the back of your radio. At the same time, it cuts off the regular antenna signal so you don't get any interference. This is a very reliable and effective method, but it's not included with the basic car kit. You'll have to buy it separately: http://www.myradiostore.com/fmmodulators/fm-direct-sa10112.html Also, it requires you to make a connection at the back of your factory radio, which might be difficult in some vehicles.



5. An auxiliary input adapter. These are available online for a wide variety of vehicles. They can convert your factory radio's proprietary auxiliary input for universal use, so that you can directly connect your satellite radio. This is the best sound quality method, but the adapters are quite expensive, and won't work with every factory radio. They also require a connection at the back of the factory radio.

Answer 4

You can buy an FM modulator, they are dirt cheap, however the sound quality is not all that good. Being a late model Ranger, the radio might have an "aux. input". Check for that first. In that case, you can just plug a wire right from the satellite radio receiver.

Answer 5

I would seriously consider getting it professionally installed.

I have Sirius satellite radio and I had it professionally done. It's not THAT much more expensive and you can get a gift card to cover the radio and installation.

Please don't do this yourself if you're technologically challenged -- like me.



By the way, you do realize you have to pay a monthly subscription for this to work, I hope.

Answer 6

go to crutchfied.com they will give you exactly what you need and the best installation advice on your vehicle. They are experts on satallite systems. good luck

Answer 7

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