SIRIUS Satellite Radio / US Music Royalty Fee Letter and my reply.

[mwilson]

Good Morning Harvey,

The dealer site that I use is leeparts.com



They are a big dealer up here in Maine and this site gives the part numbers for the accessories unlike most other Mopar sites. I will try to post a link to the interface but in case that fails go to leeparts.com, up top is a drop down menu called "shop auto parts" where you select "dodge parts" first, then go to the right and select your "2006-2008 ram". The section that you want is "audio". Forth item down, then click on "more info". While in that area if you are a patient man you can open the installation instructions. Fairly big pdf. as this interface works in many of the Mopar vehicles. Dodge Ram is about halfway down the pdf. and shows very clearly which wires have to changed over for this to work. That is another reason I use the Lee site because I can see the instructions in advance of purchase. My feeling is where it is not specified anywhere that the 6 CD changer doesn't affect it. You can call the toll-free number and ask them straight up. Very good parts department there and they will get you the answer. If they don't, let me know and I will put a little "Parts Department Peer Pressure" on them.

Toll-Free 1-866-765-7278.



The link Dodge Ram FM Modulated iPod Interface



P. S. Just read BrianJ's post again and I think this is the interface that he wanted installed at the Dealer when they changed his blend air door. He said it would have worked with the changer but would not fit his 2004 due to the wiring. I bet this Mopar one is what you need.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Mike,

Thanks for the links. The installation instructions were easy to download and review. I wish there was more of a verbal description and discussion of what it does and whether it is capable with the RBQ receiver AND Bluetooth. I think I'll call them later this morning and ask. I wonder, for example, why the install instruction shows a visual of the radio front with FM 87. 9 tuned on the display screen. Does that mean the radio must be always in the FM mode with that frequency selected? My guess is it does.

Are you also an employee of that parts department or another auto parts department? If you prefer not to answer in public pm me. An insider to the MOPAR parts world can be as valuable on the TDR forums as the three or more dealership Cummins techs who provide authoritative information.

 

[HBarlow]

Continuing the original poster's discussion which I confess to highjacking and hereby apologize to the OP for, I posted recently in this thread that at my request my wife cancelled our Sirius subscriptions.

This morning I received an email from Sirius offering me 1/2 price for six months for a one year subscription agreement and no activation fees.

My polite reply was to unsubscribe from their junkmail list.

I'm only a dumb old Texas redneck and my favorite music most of the time is classic country. Since Willie bought and reformatted Hank's Place I no longer care to listen. I can listen to all the classic country I care to hear on my wife's IPOD. Can't see any reason to subscribe to Sirius unless they offer it to me free for one year.

 

[mwilson]

Harvey, I don't mind answering your question on here at all.



I am a Parts Manager at a Freightliner / Western Star Dealership. I do 99% of my own work on my Chrysler / Dodge vehicles which makes me search out the best parts people at those dealerships to deal with. I only contact them when I cannot get the answer from web based sources, etc. as being good at what they do means they are busy. I have a couple of Mopar parts guys that have helped me in the past answer questions in these forums with their consent.



I do not accept any half-hearted answers from parts people anywhere as I know the game and also know when smoke is being blown and immediately remove them from my trusted sources. #@$%!



It is always my pleasure to assist anyone in the TDR. You have collectively saved me a pile of time and money on the 3 CTD's that I have had and am always ready to try and return the favor.





We are also a Cummins dealer and have access to the "B series" engines that we all own. All I need is a valid ESN to help look up parts, find bulletins, etc.

We have a lot of CTD owners come here because my son and I know those trucks and help them find affordable solutions.

 

[BrianJ]

The link Dodge Ram FM Modulated iPod Interface



P. S. Just read BrianJ's post again and I think this is the interface that he wanted installed at the Dealer when they changed his blend air door. He said it would have worked with the changer but would not fit his 2004 due to the wiring. I bet this Mopar one is what you need.



Mike.

It was NOT an FM Modulator, I have tried those and they just don't work where I live and travel. The adapter they were going to install was a direct connection to the iPod. I do know it works with the 6 disc changer on models beyond the 2004. 5, I don't know what other radio models it will work with or what other features it offered (i. e. charging). I do know that it did not offer total control of the iPod and had to make music selections on the iPod itself. I saw it on another truck at the shop so I know it is available for a 6 disc in-dash changer.

 

[mwilson]

That Mopar one is a direct connection. Hardwires into the rear of the radio and the aux input jack goes into the left hand side of the glove compartment. I don't think that it transmits thru the FM, calling the dealer right now. Can't take it, gotta' know. Will post answer as soon as I get one.

Mike.



Update** Just called Lee Dodge and they say as I do, it is "Direct Wired" and does not transmit through the FM. The description is mis-leading. They sell a pile of 'em.



STILL DIGGING LIKE A GOPHER****

Found the text below after googling the part number directly so I take it that is FM Modulated but directly enters the tuner rather than broadcasting a weak signal like a wireless Sirius or XM unit does.



SOUNDS GREAT!

Even though it is FM modulated, since it is connected directly to the antenna of the radio, the sound is CLEAR, and much better than those adapters that broadcast their signals (no drift or static)! *From a Mopar Parts Website*

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey, I don't mind answering your question on here at all.

I am a Parts Manager at a Freightliner / Western Star Dealership. I do 99% of my own work on my Chrysler / Dodge vehicles which makes me search out the best parts people at those dealerships to deal with. I only contact them when I cannot get the answer from web based sources, etc. as being good at what they do means they are busy. I have a couple of Mopar parts guys that have helped me in the past answer questions in these forums with their consent.

I do not accept any half-hearted answers from parts people anywhere as I know the game and also know when smoke is being blown and immediately remove them from my trusted sources. #@$%!

It is always my pleasure to assist anyone in the TDR. You have collectively saved me a pile of time and money on the 3 CTD's that I have had and am always ready to try and return the favor.


We are also a Cummins dealer and have access to the "B series" engines that we all own. All I need is a valid ESN to help look up parts, find bulletins, etc.
We have a lot of CTD owners come here because my son and I know those trucks and help them find affordable solutions.

Mike,

I figured you must be a parts manager somewhere. It's good that your parts department also carries Cummins ISB parts. I hope members with older trucks and members who do their own work pick up on this thread. You can be an excellent source of information and perhaps attractive prices on parts as well for those seeking to repair or rebuild earlier Cummins engines.

I think it's always best to deal with a fellow TDR memberd whenever possible.

Also, thanks for the updated info on the FM modulated IPOD adapter. I'm going to have to think about it a bit. I had an aftermarket FM modulated hardwired adapter for an XM receiver on my '01 Ram. It was a great improvement over an air transmitted signal but it was still a pain when traveling through cities to always be seeking a new FM station when the one I was using suddenly picked up a local transmitter and overrode my XM signal.

 

[Scrappy]

I just looked at one on a Mopar Parts Store Website, Item# 82210181AB. FM Modulated I-Pod Interface. Shows it fits 2006-2008 Rams and some other models. Plug installs in the side of the glove box. Says that radio head will control volume for and charge the I-Pod. All other functions must be run on the I-Pod itself. Does not mention the 6-CD changer at all.

Looked at the pdf. for installation, looks straight forward and very clear for the wiriing required. $113. 00, possibly Avondale could do better.

Mike.

Honestly, why would you want a cd changer that can only hold 6 cds when you can have an Ipod the can hold 60 cds worth of music?

 

[HBarlow]

IIRC the reason I wanted the six disc CD was it was part of the premium sound system with more audio power and more and better speakers. I'm not sure now but I don't think I could order premium sound with the basic single disc CD.

With IPODs there is little reason to want a six disc changer any longer.

 

[gsbrockman]

Honestly, why would you want a cd changer that can only hold 6 cds when you can have an Ipod the can hold 60 cds worth of music?

For those of us that have been purchasing / collecting CD's for the last 20--25 years or so, it doesn't make sense to duplicate all of our music collection over to IPOD.



My CD changer's "eject" and "load" functions still work great also... ... :-laf

 

[mini14]

mine came to me free for life when the other owner bought lifetime membership

 

[Scrappy]

For those of us that have been purchasing / collecting CD's for the last 20--25 years or so, it doesn't make sense to duplicate all of our music collection over to IPOD.



My CD changer's "eject" and "load" functions still work great also... ... :-laf

Nearly all of my Ipod music is loaded from my CDs. Just rip them to the computer and then load them on the Ipod.

This way I don't have to worry about scratching them and having to buy a replacement. also "IF" your truck ever gets broken into you only lose a Ipod(if you leave it in the truck) VS all your CDs. it is cheaper to replace 1 Ipod vs 100+ cds that the ins co wouldn't pay for! Mine has been and I lost almost 100 cds that the Insurance wouldn't replace.

 

[HBarlow]

That's an excellent point. My wife probably has a hunded or more CDs as well, a sizeable replacement cost and they can be damaged. By comparison an IPOD is chump change.

 

[PatrickMarshall]

I too have had and unsubscribe from Sirius Radio. They have called on numerous occasions to try and rein-list me, to no avail.



On one of the phone conversations I had with one of the sales people they told me that there really is NO lifetime subscription. It is only for 8 yrs. but no one is supposed to know that. I cannot verify that, but it would make sense do to all the trouble I've had with trying to get statements and confirmations from them. Their communication with their subscribers is terrible.

 

[Scrappy]

I got a suprise today!

When I start my truck, the radio defaults to Sirius, and normally I switch it to the Aux immediately. Today I did not and it started playing music! It was probably a mistake on their part and I will probably will lose it soon. The truck is 2. 5 yrs old and it hasn't worked before today so I know that the complimentary subscription is up. I am not going to use it anyways!