Custom iPod/SatRadio in Accord '06?

[Ray]

Hello -

I need some advice/information about a custom iPod & Satellite radio
installation in my 2006 Accord --- and a friend pointed me to this
group. So, I'm hoping someone can help me out....

I'm not currently using the stock XM radio, since I already had (and
really like) Sirius. I 'installed' the Sirius myself, which basically
amounted to fishing some wires around (sloppily, I might add). I'm
using the built-in FM transmitter to send the signal to the Honda Stock
Head-Unit. Here's what I'd like to do:
1) hard-wire my iPod, so that it gets POWER (w/out a plugin adaptor)
and transmits a direct signal to the Head unit
2) hard-wire my Sirius Sportster the same way
3) ideally, both the iPod and Sirius would be accessible via the Head
Unit/Steering wheel controls
4) utilize the stock XM antenna as a replacement for the wimpy Sirius
antenna

Can ALL of the above be done? Changing the HU isn't really an option,
so customization must use the OEM stereo. What would such an
installation cost? Break out the Parts & Labor, if possible...

Thanks for ANY/ALL input you might have!
ray

[John Durbin]

Don't think you'll find a complete integration solution for iPod & sat
radio for that car currently, but you should be able to find an iPod
integration module that also has analog AUX IN jacks you can plumb your
plug & play radio to so you can get away from FM wireless interface.

Using the stock XM antenna for Sirius is not a great idea. The two are
designed for different frequency range & also to look at different parts
of the sky (XM more horizontal as their satellites are up over the
equator, and Sirius more vertical as they have satellites orbiting up
over North America). It may work but won't work well; expect a lot more
dropouts than you would get from a properly installed Sirius antenna.

JD

Ray wrote:
> Hello -
>
> I need some advice/information about a custom iPod & Satellite radio
> installation in my 2006 Accord --- and a friend pointed me to this
> group. So, I'm hoping someone can help me out....
>
> I'm not currently using the stock XM radio, since I already had (and
> really like) Sirius. I 'installed' the Sirius myself, which basically
> amounted to fishing some wires around (sloppily, I might add). I'm
> using the built-in FM transmitter to send the signal to the Honda Stock
> Head-Unit. Here's what I'd like to do:
> 1) hard-wire my iPod, so that it gets POWER (w/out a plugin adaptor)
> and transmits a direct signal to the Head unit
> 2) hard-wire my Sirius Sportster the same way
> 3) ideally, both the iPod and Sirius would be accessible via the Head
> Unit/Steering wheel controls
> 4) utilize the stock XM antenna as a replacement for the wimpy Sirius
> antenna
>
> Can ALL of the above be done? Changing the HU isn't really an option,
> so customization must use the OEM stereo. What would such an
> installation cost? Break out the Parts & Labor, if possible...
>
> Thanks for ANY/ALL input you might have!
> ray
>

[Ray]

Thanks for the input, John .... found a unit from USA-Spec that will do
the job nicely. It's basically for the iPod, but then has RCA inputs
for another audio source (ie my Sirius).

Now, the question is this -- how do I hardwire the Sirius for power?
The unit sits in the little cubby below the HU, directly above the
cigarette lighter. Is it as simple as cutting the adaptor off of the
Sirius plug and stripping some insulator off the lighter wires? Can I
hook it up so the lighter continues to work -- I'd like to use this
same outlet for a cell phone charger.

ANY input is greatly appreciated!
TIA, Ray


John Durbin wrote:
> Don't think you'll find a complete integration solution for iPod & sat
> radio for that car currently, but you should be able to find an iPod
> integration module that also has analog AUX IN jacks you can plumb your
> plug & play radio to so you can get away from FM wireless interface.
>
> Using the stock XM antenna for Sirius is not a great idea. The two are
> designed for different frequency range & also to look at different parts
> of the sky (XM more horizontal as their satellites are up over the
> equator, and Sirius more vertical as they have satellites orbiting up
> over North America). It may work but won't work well; expect a lot more
> dropouts than you would get from a properly installed Sirius antenna.
>
> JD
>
> Ray wrote:
> > Hello -
> >
> > I need some advice/information about a custom iPod & Satellite radio
> > installation in my 2006 Accord --- and a friend pointed me to this
> > group. So, I'm hoping someone can help me out....
> >
> > I'm not currently using the stock XM radio, since I already had (and
> > really like) Sirius. I 'installed' the Sirius myself, which basically
> > amounted to fishing some wires around (sloppily, I might add). I'm
> > using the built-in FM transmitter to send the signal to the Honda Stock
> > Head-Unit. Here's what I'd like to do:
> > 1) hard-wire my iPod, so that it gets POWER (w/out a plugin adaptor)
> > and transmits a direct signal to the Head unit
> > 2) hard-wire my Sirius Sportster the same way
> > 3) ideally, both the iPod and Sirius would be accessible via the Head
> > Unit/Steering wheel controls
> > 4) utilize the stock XM antenna as a replacement for the wimpy Sirius
> > antenna
> >
> > Can ALL of the above be done? Changing the HU isn't really an option,
> > so customization must use the OEM stereo. What would such an
> > installation cost? Break out the Parts & Labor, if possible...
> >
> > Thanks for ANY/ALL input you might have!
> > ray
> >

[John Durbin]

If your radio is one of the older 12V models, you can do that... but
make sure before you try. There's also a more elegant solution:

We're selling a kit now that provides an in-line 5V/12V power adapter
for hard-wiring the radio. It has a regulated 5V supply and a filtered
passthrough for 12V, with two different harnesses. They plug into the
adapter on different plugs & the coax ends match the older 12V and newer
5V jacks Sirius uses on their radios/cradles, making it impossible to
use the wrong cable/voltage. Also comes with a semi-custom bendable
bracket with swivel so you can get creative on the mounting rather than
just sticking a suction cup on the windshield, then gives you both an FM
relay if you want to use hard-wired modulation and a 3.5mm to male RCA
audio cable (like what comes with home kits usually).

In your case you can use the audio cable & the power adapter, possibly
the mounting bracket and/or swivel if you decided to mount the radio
differently. The FM relay is a leftover since you have the USA-Spec part
(which is a good choice in my experience) but you can always donate that
to someone in the friends & family arena that may have a plug & play and
wants better FM performance than they're getting from wireless modulation.

The kit model # is SIR-PVK1, info on it here:

http://www.directedsirius.com/products/Product.aspx?ProductID=3100

Circuit City has been carrying it and many of the other on-line places
like Crutchfield, Sirius' web store & our own have it also.

JD

Ray wrote:
> Thanks for the input, John .... found a unit from USA-Spec that will do
> the job nicely. It's basically for the iPod, but then has RCA inputs
> for another audio source (ie my Sirius).
>
> Now, the question is this -- how do I hardwire the Sirius for power?
> The unit sits in the little cubby below the HU, directly above the
> cigarette lighter. Is it as simple as cutting the adaptor off of the
> Sirius plug and stripping some insulator off the lighter wires? Can I
> hook it up so the lighter continues to work -- I'd like to use this
> same outlet for a cell phone charger.
>
> ANY input is greatly appreciated!
> TIA, Ray
>
>
> John Durbin wrote:
>
>>Don't think you'll find a complete integration solution for iPod & sat
>>radio for that car currently, but you should be able to find an iPod
>>integration module that also has analog AUX IN jacks you can plumb your
>>plug & play radio to so you can get away from FM wireless interface.
>>
>>Using the stock XM antenna for Sirius is not a great idea. The two are
>>designed for different frequency range & also to look at different parts
>>of the sky (XM more horizontal as their satellites are up over the
>>equator, and Sirius more vertical as they have satellites orbiting up
>>over North America). It may work but won't work well; expect a lot more
>>dropouts than you would get from a properly installed Sirius antenna.
>>
>>JD
>>
>>Ray wrote:
>>
>>>Hello -
>>>
>>>I need some advice/information about a custom iPod & Satellite radio
>>>installation in my 2006 Accord --- and a friend pointed me to this
>>>group. So, I'm hoping someone can help me out....
>>>
>>>I'm not currently using the stock XM radio, since I already had (and
>>>really like) Sirius. I 'installed' the Sirius myself, which basically
>>>amounted to fishing some wires around (sloppily, I might add). I'm
>>>using the built-in FM transmitter to send the signal to the Honda Stock
>>>Head-Unit. Here's what I'd like to do:
>>>1) hard-wire my iPod, so that it gets POWER (w/out a plugin adaptor)
>>>and transmits a direct signal to the Head unit
>>>2) hard-wire my Sirius Sportster the same way
>>>3) ideally, both the iPod and Sirius would be accessible via the Head
>>>Unit/Steering wheel controls
>>>4) utilize the stock XM antenna as a replacement for the wimpy Sirius
>>>antenna
>>>
>>>Can ALL of the above be done? Changing the HU isn't really an option,
>>>so customization must use the OEM stereo. What would such an
>>>installation cost? Break out the Parts & Labor, if possible...
>>>
>>>Thanks for ANY/ALL input you might have!
>>>ray
>>>
>
>