XM Radio Conversion

[HBarlow]

Two years ago when I bought my '06 Ram I wanted XM instead of Sirius and followed the information posted on this site and purchased an aftermarket converter that was supposed to allow converting my RAQ 6 disc premium radio with Sirius to XM. Well, it didn't work. I was never able to determine whether it was because my truck had the RAQ radio or because it was an '06 with Canbus communication. I eventually bought and used a small Audiovox unit that utilized the FM radio to receive XM signals.



Now, I have purchased an '08 Ram with the same RAQ radio and, once again, would like to have XM instead of Sirius.



Do any of you auto electronics experts who are knowledgeable about what's available on the currrent market know if there are any XM converter boxes that can be hardwired into the Dodge RAQ radio to provide XM signal without a bunch of wires running here and there on the dash?



Harvey

 

[dennmont]

I got my converter from radiosandmore.com got one for my 6 disc changer and one for my navigation radio you should be able to find one there

 

[HBarlow]

DMontagna,



Is your Ram an '06 or later?



Harvey

 

[dennmont]

I have a 2005, I checked the radiosandmore website did not see anything for 2006-2008 might be worth a phone call 1-877-888-2225

 

[courierdog]

I would like to go with XM and I have the RDS model which is supposed to be satellite ready but will not activate with the Chrysler XMDirect.
It takes about an hour to remove the Dash to get at the radio.
Any info you find out in regard to the implementation of XM Satellite would be appreciated.

 

[HBarlow]

DMontagna and Courier Dog



What I ran into in January of 2006, with an '06 Ram on order, was the online vendor, it might have been radiosandmore, did not have listings for the new '06s at the time. I assumed (wrongly) that since the '05s and '06s were probably nearly identical, the XM Direct black box that TDR members were using to convert their '03s, '04s, and '05s from Sirius to XM would work in my '06.



When the ordered truck arrived a friend, who is a former Dodge dealership mechanic, took the dash apart and installed the XM Direct. It didn't work and we couldn't figure out how to disable or even find the Sirius. We then took the back seat out and searched the entire truck cab for the Sirius receiver. Never did find it. I think it is in the sound system control head in the dash but don't really know. We looked in all the locations other Ram owners told us to look with no success. I called a local aftermarket sound system retailer and asked him. He said they had a shelf lined with XM Direct black boxes and many of them would never work in the vehicle they were supposedly applicable to. He claimed he didn't know why.



Since it was at least 50% my fault for buying it based on an incorrect assumption I put mine on a shelf and forgot about it also. I never tried to return it.



A couple of weeks ago I called the same vendor and asked if they had ever developed an XM Direct that would work in '06 and later trucks or developed an additional adapter that would allow it to become compatible with the '06 Canbus system. The reply was negative and they couldn't explain why it won't work.



I don't know the real reason but think it is probably because all the electronics in the '06 and later Rams communicate via regular electrical wires using the Canbus system. I forget now what Canbus means.



If anyone would like to buy a brand new still in the box XM Direct for 2003 through 2005 Rams or even if they want to try to use it in an '06 through '08 I have one for sale. I give up.



On edit: Also, if anyone can tell me how to make the XM Direct black box work in my '08 I'm listening. I'd appreciate your help.



Harvey

 

[SBLASIUS]

sirius to xm

just get rid of the stock radio. I just put a 2004 alpine radio in my 2006 and used the stock receiver on the roof. I now have XM much easier to do.

 

[HBarlow]

That is probably the best solution but I hate to pull a brand new OEM radio out and put it on a shelf after what I just paid for it. I ordered for the upgraded 6 disc radio in order to get the steering wheel controls and 7 or 9 speaker sound system.



Harvey

 

[Sled Dog]

That is probably the best solution but I hate to pull a brand new OEM radio out and put it on a shelf after what I just paid for it. I ordered for the upgraded 6 disc radio in order to get the steering wheel controls and 7 or 9 speaker sound system.



Harvey

Harvey check with XM Satellite Radio at MyRadioStore - All Things XM

Call and talk with their tech. They had exactly what I needed to plug into the OEM= Digital sound. But mine is an 05, RAZ,no canbus, maybe they can help.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey check with XM Satellite Radio at MyRadioStore - All Things XM

Call and talk with their tech. They had exactly what I needed to plug into the OEM= Digital sound. But mine is an 05, RAZ,no canbus, maybe they can help.

Sled Dog,



Thanks, but I did already. That's the company (whose name I couldn't remember last night) I bought the XM Direct black box from two years ago and I called them again a couple of weeks ago. they were friendly and helpful but couldn't offer a solution.



Harvey

 

[MStrain]

If you wait long enough, the XM/Sirius merger may go through and then it wont matter which one you have, they will have the same programming. Anyway I am a Sirius fan, and a long time Howard Stern fan. I love sports, and Sirius has NFL, NHL, Nascar etc, and XM only has MLB, I have installed XM for a lot of my clients and I find the station names to be confusing when you are trying to figure out what type of music they are playing, I think Sirius is the better service, but that is just my opinion. The merger may go through sooner than you think, making it easy for us all to choose, awful commercial ridden "free" FM radio, or works no matter where you are in North America and is really cheap satellite radio, with no commercials. End of rant.

 

[Jeepr]

hbarlow, after experiencing it in a few rental cars, I think I prefer XM over Sirius, and I have an 05. Didn't I also hear that that conversion displays song & artist unlike my current factory Sirius? Does it just hook to the factory radio and antenna? If so, I may be interested.



BTW, in searching for the Sirius box, did you look way up in the dash above the parking brake pedal? That's where my 05 is.

 

[HBarlow]

MStrain,



Yeah, I'm quietly waiting for the merger hoping I can subscribe to some of the XM programming I prefer with my factory Sirius radio.



Preferences between XM and Sirius seem to age related with younger people preferring Sirius and older, like myself, often preferring XM. Personally I'd rather sit on the floor with my arms and legs around a toilet and watch it flush repeatedly than listen to Howard Stern but that's a personal matter.



Jeepr,



I don't know the answer to your question. You can find out by contacting MyRadioStore. I don't want to make a false claim regarding display of artist and title. If you do and want mine I'll sell it for less than MyRadioStore wants.



I don't remember if we looked above the emergency brake but we looked in every location suggested by other Ram owners at the time.



I'll look there on my new c&c.



Harvey

 

[yogibear]

ROFLMAO, boy Harvey, I've heard a lot of comments on listening to Howard Stern, but yours is the best!!!

I've got XM in my CTD and Sirius in my 07 Pacifica, and I really miss the XM truckers channel with Bill Mack and Bozo. I sure hope they merge soon.



Larry

 

[MStrain]

Hey, Howard is just an entertainer, and a great one at that, he has kept me laughing on my way to work for 14 years, I don't get offended by much in this modern world. Jokes are just jokes, the only thing that offends me is pedophiles, murderers and the like. Most people who I meet who can't stand Howard Stern, have never heard his show for longer than five minutes, not long enough to understand what its all about, you might find yourself laughing like a nut in your car.

 

[MMeier]

Hey, Howard is just an entertainer, Most people who I meet who can't stand Howard Stern, have never heard his show for longer than five minutes, not long enough to understand what its all about, you might find yourself laughing like a nut in your car.

Then again I may not find myself laughing like a nut, the guys an idiot!

 

[MMeier]

Personally I'd rather sit on the floor with my arms and legs around a toilet and watch it flush repeatedly than listen to Howard Stern







Harvey

Man, that is just too funny, true, but funny none the less!! :-laf Harvey, how does that XM converter hook up? How much you want for it, maybe I'll put that in the '03 and move my skyfyII over to the '93!

 

[HBarlow]

I'll take your word for it.



Harvey

 

[DeezelDood]

Man, that is just too funny, true, but funny none the less!! :-laf Harvey, how does that XM converter hook up? How much you want for it, maybe I'll put that in the '03 and move my skyfyII over to the '93!

This post makes me glad I have the base radio on SLT. I don't know what the Dodge Sirius unit has for features, but prefer my aftermarket XM Sky Fi II. Big screen shows artist and song, list scroll feature, 20 of my favorite songs stored so when they play on any station I get a beep, handy remote etc etc. I don't listen to FM or AM radio anymore. The FM signal is a minor inconvenience at best, and only when travelling from one city to another. I installed an FM antenna adapator that eliminates this problem, and interference from other vehicles. I travel a lot and rent a lot of vehicles, when I don't have access to the features I have on my Sky Fi I miss them.

 

[HBarlow]

Man, that is just too funny, true, but funny none the less!! :-laf Harvey, how does that XM converter hook up? How much you want for it, maybe I'll put that in the '03 and move my skyfyII over to the '93!

MMeier,



Sorry, I guess I missed your post earlier.



If I remember correctly you just run a 12 volt supply over to it, mount it up behind the glove compartment, and plug it into an unused receptacle on the back of the in dash unit.



I think I paid around $100 plus shipping. I'd take $75 plus the cost of shipping it to you. You can verify what the price is on MyRadioStore. Whatever it is I'll take 75% to recover most of what I paid.



Harvey