NOTE: I also posted this in the 'Second Generation RL ---> Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics, and Navigation' forum. I'm new here, so I wasn't sure which would be more appropriate.



Ok, here's the deal: I want my Sportster Sirius radio and my ipod to work in my newly purchased (but used) 2005 RL. The Sportster sucks, but I recently got a Sirius FM Direct Adapter to increase it's virility. Likewise, I can no longer countenance the technological insubordination of the FM transmitter I've been using for my ipod, so I just purchased the USA Spec PA11-HON2y. Here are my questions:

1) Satellite hard wiring vs. FM transmitter mode. The USA-Spec has an auxillary input that I could use to hardwire my Sportster and forget my newly acquired FM adapter all together --- but this doesn't seem like such a hot idea. I don't mind making the occasional station switch on the radio if there's interference (and sacrificing a little sound quality in the process)....if it means I don't have to mess with the little switches on USA Spec module every time I want to transition from between ipod and satellite (which I'm assuming I'd have to do). Is this line of thinking sound?

2) Once I get Sirius up and running, is there anything I need to do with the XM (disconnect anything, etc).

3) Will I have to purchase a Sirius antenna? I don't see an XM antenna --- just the usual 'shark fin' on top of the car. Can this antenna be used for both XM and Sirius?

4) Where is a good place to actually put the USA Spec module?

5) Once the module is installed, where is a good place for ipod cable to come out? I know there's the glovebox option, but I was wondering if there were other alternative locations people have had success with?


.....and yes, I'm technologically retarded. Any tips, ideas, or cautionary tales will be MUCH appreciated.

Thanks!
CLS

 

To be honest there haven't been many RL audiophiles in this section of the forum. So I haven't seen anything when it comes to installs or even options for the 2nd gen RL. I'll do some searching and see if I can't find anything.


When it comes to reusing the antenna for Sirius instead of XM I believe the only option is a after market adapter if one is produced. More then likely you'll need to run the antenna. And I do not believe you have to do anything with the current XM setup preinstalled in the RL.

 

cls3,

I think you've got something a bit wrong about the adapter. You only need to set the dip switches once, and then you can leave it alone and have both Sirius and XM hardwired in! The USA SPEC enables the "CD-C" mode on the radio, which gives you 6 "disc" options. If you set it to disc 5, you are on your ipod, and if you set it to disc 6, you're on Sirius (or whatever you put on those RCA ports.) No need to fiddle with anything. You just install it once, and then then you're done. You use the buttons on your dash to toggle input modes and what you want to listen to, all with perfect quality and 0 interference.

HOWEVER, 2 things:

1. I have never seen someone install the USA SPEC in a 2G RL yet. Not saying it can't be done, just that we haven't seen it in here. Since RL has its own A/V sub-forum, most of those guys stay over there and frankly I never read that section, so there could be people in there running it sucessfully and I just haven't looked.

2. Have you heard of the Hon SC-C1 XM-to-Sirius adapter? (read this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/audio-video-electronics-navigation-22/sirius-hon-sc-c1-installed-w-factory-antenna-tsx-08-awesome-388389/) This thing looks FANTASTIC. It should work for your car as well. It converts your stock XM functionality to Sirius and preserves everything. If I were you, I'd say screw the sportster entirely and use this for Sirius, and then install the USA SPEC in ipod-only mode and use that for iPod. That should be the best possible setup for you.

Good luck!

 

Well, that's good news overall, though a little conflicting. Somebody else tells me I can use both without to mess with the module switches.....but I'll have to disconnect one before using the other.

I've looked into that adapter and it's pretty cool. I really want to do it, but, man, I already have this Sportster just sitting here looking me in the eye. I feel like I really need to put it to use.

 

Nope, can have both plugged in at the same time and toggle sources on your dash "CD +" / "CD -" buttons.

 

I think I understand it a little better after watching this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duqwtmXJQ1M. It was conceptually a little difficult to envision but this helped a lot.

One more really quick question: to hook up the Sirius receiver to the USA Spec, do I just need one cable that goes into the RCA jacks of the usa spec module and then to the "audio out" of the sirius receiver? Do I have to worry about the "Dc-5v" power source, or the "FM out" in/outputs on the receiver?

Besides the anntenna cable, am I going to need anything else?