Sirius-XM

[Blueox]

Couple of questions:

1) When did Ford start offering radios compatible with Sirius-XM?

2) When did Ford start offering radios with a front face RCA jack?

3) Finally, if I find one, can I install in my 2001 without much issue?

 

[Tankmbt]

Can't help on the dates but when I had Serius in our Monte Carlo it wasn't too bad to install or remove.

If you can get the bezel/radio out there's only a few connections to make.

Ours had a fm transmitter to get signal to the radio.

After a while the stations we enjoyed got repetitive and we just didn't renew any longer.

Sorry I couldn't help more. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Blueox]

Hey folks someone out there knows what year dead units and compatible with what year trucks. I really want XM without the antenna input.

 

[AllanD]

Simply put you cannot have Sirius or XM without an antenna for it.

the receiver MUST, repeat MUST have a view of the sky

I've had Sirius since '05 and it is rather unforgiving about having a line of site path to the bird in orbit

 

[Mazda]

You are going to spend way more money trying to get a Ford head unit with XM/Sirius built in than just getting a stand alone radio and installing it yourself.

You will need to get the Head Unit, XM/Sirius box, Antenna, and all wiring from the head unit to the XM/Sirius box.

For a stand alone radio. You will just need the Radio, Docking Station for the model of radio you purchased and the connection device you desire.

My setup I have in my truck now was a total of 150 or less. Also with the stand alone radio you will have the option of getting a "Home Kit" and installing it at home.

 

[AllanD]

I recommend a "Stand alone" Sirius/XM radio, because there are features that aren't generally accessable with a unit that connects to a head unit.

with the new lower price of Sirius XM service I might actually activate the Sony add on box I have around here somewhere...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have an Alpine kit in my Ranger.

It came with the HU, a receiver box and an antennae. It was on closeout for $130.

It works great for the roughly 4 weeks a year Sirius is free.

 

[AllanD]

They have recently drastically reduced their rates

http://www.siriusxm.com/ourmostpopularpackages

The top rate is now $18.99/month, it used to be five times that (~ $129/month)
and they have mostly music package for $9.99/month

Their primary competition is Pandora internet radio, but if you drive a lot or are simply a heavy listener you could use up the data plan on your smart phone, and increasing that can easily cost more than the Sirius plan which does work way out in the boonies where everyone curses the lack of cell signal...

I've had a couple of lucky finds in the junkyard, used units with active lifetime subscritions. unfortunately the better of the two died and the other has a mechanical issue with the antenna connection...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If it was in my dd it would be a lot more tempting, but for no more than I drive my Ranger and it is always short trips so it is kinda hard to justify.

 

[AllanD]

If you own more than one vehicle a "Stand alone" Sirius unit and a spare docking cradle would be the way to fly..

That way one unit can move from vehicle to vehicle like your cellphone does.

AD

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you own more than one vehicle a "Stand alone" Sirius unit and a spare docking cradle would be the way to fly..

That way one unit can move from vehicle to vehicle like your cellphone does.

AD

I know guys that do that for their pickups/semis/tractors/combines.

While I am dreaming, I am dreaming of dumping my unibutton Pioneer HU anyway. I only need two radios, one is already Sirius ready.

 

[AllanD]

Personally I have a 32gb card in both of my phones and I just switched my second cellphone to an android so I could go with Pandora, but that eats data, and as I commented above Sirius is slightly cheaper than the additional data service I'd need to run Pandora all the time anyway.

 

[lone-wolf]

My 2008 has factory sirius radio, but the audio in connection is where the power port used to be on my 97 ranger, down by the ash tray.

I find it pretty forgiving compared to my friend's chevy cobalt with factory sirius that cuts out on open highways.

 

[ridgerunner]

You are going to spend way more money trying to get a Ford head unit with XM/Sirius built in than just getting a stand alone radio and installing it yourself.

You will need to get the Head Unit, XM/Sirius box, Antenna, and all wiring from the head unit to the XM/Sirius box.

For a stand alone radio. You will just need the Radio, Docking Station for the model of radio you purchased and the connection device you desire.

My setup I have in my truck now was a total of 150 or less. Also with the stand alone radio you will have the option of getting a "Home Kit" and installing it at home.

That is what I did with my 94'. Not real pretty but works fine.

Love me some Patriot Radio channel 125!!

 

[michowski]

Or you can just get an internet subscription and use your smart phone. I've been doing it this way for the past 4 or so years. Haven't had an actual radio device since the stiletto's were new.