All,

I feel fortunate to have come across this forum - chock full of useful ideas.

I have just entered the world of satellite radio - and starting playing around with a unit I received for Christmas. It's an old Audiovox PNP1 (BIG sale on these i think) and I hooked things up this weekend. I ran the antenna though the third brakelight through the window molding of the right side of the truck and connected the unit - it uses a FM wireless modulator. Got things to work - and noticed that the sound quality SUCKED! After doing some research - I have discovered that the only way to install these things is to hard-wire them to the existing radio (dont know if im using the correct terminology here) though a FM modulator audiovox sells. Then I got to thinking...

I would really like to replace my factory radio with an Alpine system that would work with SIRIUS. I have an FX4, 2004, SuperCrew with the audiophile system - the factory radio sounds damn good! So...am I screwing up a good thing by looking at Alpine systems? I could go out and buy an updated SIRI receiver and hard-wire it...but I'm not wanting to junk things up.

If I do go the Alpine route and get their tuner...are these things self-installable? I have some handi-man skills...but the dash on this Ford looks tough to tackle. Anyone willing to give me some thougts or tips here?

Thanks in advance!

Chris

 

Hey boss, you're better off waiting for the cables from Blitzsafe. Check out this post....

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...hreadid=179294

You cant beat the sound quality if it's directly wired. Also, if you haven't done so, check out the forums at www.siriusbackstage.com it's got TONS of good info for Sirius subscribers.

 

Yeah - i noticed that post earlier. What exactly are they coming out with? And how is it different than the FM modulator?

Thanks!

Chris

 

Sound directly through the Aux input will blow the FM modulated sound away.

BUT it will still not be cd quality, satellite radio does not sound as good as a cd, never will. It still sounds great when wired directly, the Blitz and others should be out shortly. . . I hope! A wire will go into the back of your head unit, the aux button will select this satellite input.

 

I hear ya - learning more and more about this every day!

Just hoping I can tackle the installation myself when the time comes!

Chris

 

Ok - some more questions!

Anyone know if Blitzsafe has the 1004 AUX cables out yet? Also - is there an alternative to mounting the SIRIUS PNP1 with the adhesive mount it comes with?

Thanks!

Chris

 

the fm modulator sucks , i have one in my dads truck, a 2002 ram...but in my truck i have the kenwood h/u, and the sat receiver all behind the dash, and its much better!


this forum

 

If you get an Alpine tuner it should be compatible with Alpine head units that are Siruis-ready.

I have a Kenwood head unit, the tuner plugged-in with one wire and was extremely simple to install. Yours should be similar.

 

So i just looked at some of the discussion boards on the blitzsafe website.........and what i am understanding is that the adapter they are coming out with will work only if you have a "SAT" button (which, to my understanding, the 04-05 F150s do not). Does that mean there is still no way to get the DIRECT satelite connection to the stock unit? Does that mean the only way to get satelite radio in the truck is to use an after market head unit or an FM modulator?

Also, if its true that this new adapter only works with the SAT button (which i believe the expeditions have?), is it possible to swap that factory head unit into the truck (and still maintain use of all controls and audiophile system?)

I had Sirius directly installed in my previous car via a Kenwood head unit and tuner, and it sounded far better than the modulated version. I would hate to have to go to an aftermarket head unit or FM modulator after experiencing it in such clarity.

Jason

 

IMO, I really don't have that great of skills of installing stuff, but installing the SiriusConnect (SIR-ALP1) to my Alpine CDA-9835 HU was a piece of cake. The instructions included with the SIR-ALP1 are very good so you should be able to do the installation yourself and not have to pay someone to do if for you. My 04 FX4 S-CREW also had the audiophile system and I decided to remove it and go with JL Audio and Alpine because my past experience with using JL Audio and Alpine was great and I really wanted to use my iPod in my FX4 and also I did not want to put in a FM modulator in order to use Sirius because of the quality of sound that the FM modulator produces. After installing everything, I must say the sound quality and bass is out of this world compared to the audiophile system that was in my FX4. I now can listen to both my iPod and Sirius in my FX4 with high fidelity!