XM upgrade...Bad new for 06 owners

[RogersM]

A few days ago Hoagie posted a thread re: adding an XM tuner to your factory Dodge radio from a company called Radios and More. Seems to work great from most reports on 04 and 05 trucks and simple install. I just got a call back from a tech at that company saying that the 06 Dodge radios are NOT compatable with this unit. She explained that the new 'platform' for the truck/tuners... she called it "CAN" technology... will not work with this unit. Furthermore, even exchanging a radio from an 04 or 05 won't work either as the "CAN" tech is in the truck wiring. I have not idea what CAN tech even is but that's the story.



She did say, however, that new kits are coming out all the time and that perhaps by year's end a kit would be on the market and to keep checking their site. I will cuz I really want this conversion.



Mark

 

[RustyJC]

CAN = Controller Area Network



Rusty

 

[troll3193]

I had an AUX input adapter from Logjam electronics in my 04. My 06 has an aux port on the front, but I liked the connections behind the dash.



The stock radio had the right connection for the adapter, but the audio level was barely there. .



Ended up drilling a hole in the cubby hole under the radio to route a cable to the front connection in behind the dash. .



Bryan

 

[Bernie]

You need one of these:



http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=931

 

[HBarlow]

Mark,



Thanks for that update. I ran into that problem myself. When I ordered my new '06 early this year I read the posts here and ordered the XM adapter from Radios and More. It didn't work when installed.



My truck has, I think, the RBQ radio, with 6 disc CD, Sirius, and U-Connect. The friend who helped me install the unit was formerly a Dodge dealership mechanic and is knowledgeable of the products. It was easy to install the XM unit but when complete the in-dash head unit displayed Sirius information and the XM was silent. We couldn't find the Sirius unit. We removed the back seat assembly and searched under the dash for the Sirius unit to unplug or remove it but had no success. I reviewed all the TDR posts on the subject and spoke by telephone with a couple of members who had installed the aftermarked XM units in other model trucks. I talked to a local sound system retailer and was told the Sirius feature was probably contained inside the radio head unit and could not be removed. The local Dodge dealership was clueless. I gave up and have learned to live with Sirius but still prefer XM. I could hang one of the Roady units on the dash but don't want the clutter.



There have been many well-intentioned but incomplete posts here on this subject but most posts overlook the fact that there are differences in the wiring and electronics between model years 2003-2006. Some TDR members have written of how easy it was to install in their truck but the aftermarket XM units don't work in all trucks. There are numerous different "radio" units each year and also between the various model years. 2006 alone offers a base radio, a single disc CD, a 6 disc CD, a cassette and CD, one with the GPS navigation unit, one with blue tooth "U-connect", units with or without Sirius, etc. Some of the features I have just listed are combined into one specific unit and others are separate and different head units. Without detailed and specific information from Dodge and from an aftermarked manufacturer it is hard to know what will actually work.



I would like to buy the unit Bernie referenced above but I really don't want another expensive electronic device to put on a shelf in my shop building next to my XM adapter if it turns out not to work in my specific application.



If anyone has specific information about what aftermarket products will work with the '06 Can Bus electronics and which radio units I would be happy to buy another product.



Harvey

 

[RogersM]

Harvey,

Thanks for all you just wrote. Sad that you had to go thru all you did and find it didn't work. I had just ordered this unit from R&M and decided to call their customer scvs. to ask about install for a few questions. That's when I found out about the CAN Bus platform. I'll send the unit back as soon as it arrives. R&M was very helpfu in that area... returns. The only good news is that they said that new stuff is coming out all the time and that this is a very competetive area of the market. She told me to look back at their web page near the end of the year thinking that units for the CAN platform will surely be out by then. I suspect that's true since the item that Bernie mentioned (I'll take a pass on that too) claims to work.



I'd advise you to contact R&M to see if they will take yours back if it has not been altered/damaged by your attempted install. Never know.



Mark