Hello all,

I'm planning on purchasing the XM Commander soon and I plan on wiring it to the factory DVD AUX inputs. I've done some searching around to no avail....does anybody have details on how to run wires up to the overhead rails and back to the DVD player? I want a very clean install with no wires showing.

Thanks!

 

I have the commander too... but as far as the AUX function goes your SOL until someone makes an adapter for the F-150's radio.



I have mine running through an FM modulator.. and yes the sound quality sucks worse than the radio!

 

sounds like what he's trying to do is run the wires up to the RCA inputs on the DVD player, and not to the back of the radio. Then, play the DVD audio through the system, which in turn would send the satellite radio signal through.

Seems like a lot of work when you could just get a hardwire FM modulator for fairly comparable sound quality.

 

I have my sirius running through an FM modulator.. and the quality is so bad I just stopped using it!!!!... So I am paying $14 a month for nothing!.... Before I bought my F150 i was reading all about people using these PIE adapotrs a stuff... and after I bought my F150 I come to find out its not on the 04 and newer trucks...... Im ripping my stock radio out for an aftermarket just so I can listen to sirius.

 

do you have a wired adapter, or is your modulation wireless?

Wireless sucks bad, but wired, at least in my truck, is pretty damn good.

 

jdmclemore,

the dvd is the only true line level input to the ford radios right now because of the new CAN BUSS communication used on the new radio, (also utilized by the dvd). it will sound much better that the fm modulator systems. you can quite easily route wires up the "A" pillar behind the plastic trim, across the front edge of the headliner, then above the headliner back to the dvd. you could buy a rca cnnector set from like radio shack and splice it into the existing exposed one, but have it hidden above the dvd housing. or, like i do for my IPod right now, the IPod wires come down between the second bin and dvd bin, and make a turn and plug into the aux inputs.

hope this helps.

Ramb

 

thinking some more......

if you did not want to drop the front of the headliner to route the wires back, you could come through the front console after running across the front of the headlienr, and then run the wires between the bins and the headliner (between the rails) as long as you kept the bins in place (probably always the case) you wouldn't see the wires that way either.

Ramb

 

Yes - this is what I was thinking. Just hiding the wire until I got to the DVD player, come out between the bins and plug right in to the aux inputs. I think the XM-side (audio output) is a 3.5 mm ministereo jack. I suppose Radio Shack sells a cable that goes from this connection to RCA plugs?

If its not too tough, I'll try running above the headliner.

Thanks!

 

what do you mean wired adapter?

 

meaning a wire that runs from your PnP receiver to your antenna input on your radio, with a box on it that the actual radio antenna plugs into.

 

looks kinda like this:



Without one, your FM modulation is done wirelessly, which can suck.

 

phenom,
with the the aux input available on the dvd, the fm modulator you suggest is not needed.

it is true line level input into the radio. one touch of the aux button on the radio gets the dvd playing, a second activates (opens) the dvd's aux inputs.

there are "headphone jack to rca" cables easily available. One may then need a longer rca patch chord to get all the way to the dvd if you don't park your sat radio in a bin.

jd, if you have both pillar trims down , and the overhead console bezel removed, you can take off the two pair of screws holding the fronts of the rails to the console back plate. this will allow you to flex the headliner down some. just don't flex too much or the headliner may crease.

if you take the middle bin down, you will see there is quite a bit of space in the front area of the dvd bin. this is where you conld solder in a second rca red/white/yellow jack and have the connection totally hidden. jsut remember not to fry your sat box if you plug another device into the exposed aux plugs on the dvd....

hope this helps

Ramb

 

I understand that, but the FM Mod is a much shorter cable run.

 

I never knew they made such a thing!! Learn something every day.... where can i order one of these??? I see you got the pic from circuitcity but i cant find it on their site.....

will this work with my kenwood PnP even if it has the FM modulator built in?

thanks

 

the one I pictured is for the Audiovox PnP unit. You'd have to look around to see if a wired modulator is made for your radio. I couldn't tell you, I dont' know if Kenwood makes one.