Hello All,

I have a question regarding installing my Delphi SkiFi XM Receiver.

I ordered the Car Kit w/ an FM Modulator before I saw that my truck has the "Aux" on the Radio (it's not a 6-CD changer, however).

I have a 2004 F-150 SuperCab XLT 4x2 truck I would like to install the XM Radio in.


Here's my dilemma:

If I install the FM Modulator and such with my Delphi SkyFI Receiver (which I had in a 2001 F-150 CrewCab XLT 4x4), then sound quality won't be as crisp as possible.

If I install the AUX harness to the radio, how do I get the XM radio to hook in? After I read a few threads with people who have done it, I noticed that I had to get a 6' cable with a headphone mini-jack to RCA. How do I get my XM Radio to receive power? The AUX harness only plugs into their unit...

I just need some guidance on installing the XM Radio. If I knew where the power is coming from, I might be able to install it. The RCA to Headphone mini-jack isn't a problem.

EDIT:

Would a package like this work for my truck? http://www.myradiostore.us/xm-radio-...01-frd100.html -- It seems like it would, but I just have a question about the wiring harness if it's the same as the AUX-FORD04?



Thank you,



Jason Brousseau

 

are you taking about an original skyfi, or a skyfi2?

I've never had a skyfi, nor do I know anything about the aux adapter. If you know the PIE aux adaptor FRD04-AUX will work on your radio, then problem solved. If the aux adapter provides RCAs, then you are right, you simply need a mini stereo headphone jack to rca cable. This should plug into your skyfi's car cradle where the cassete adapter would go.

You will still need to get power to the cradle no matter how you connect the audio to your head unit. You can use the normal cig lighter plug that comes with it. If you don't want the exposed wiring, you can get a simple female lighter socket with a wire coming out of it, and plug your cig lighter plug into it and hide the whole deal behind the dash. Or, you could spend a couple more bucks and get one of these:
http://www.myradiostore.us/power-acc...r-adapter.html

connect either option to a ground and a switched ACC +12v, and you're good to go.

As far as I know, the xm direct package will not work with your radio; what it is for is say you had a factory sirius unit installed from ford, and wanted xm. This is the unit you would use. It could also be used if your radio had the plugs for factory sat., but the option was not installed. Since sat wasn't an option for you, the radio doesn't have the necessary controls, connections, and display abilities for the xm direct tuner to work. You would need an external control and an FM modulator (the xmdirect tuner+ an fm modulatur + external display/control = xm commander)

There is a promising item called an RDS smart cable, which would allow the xm direct tuner to be used with your factory radio without an external display, but it would only work through FM modulation, the exact thing you are trying to avoid. The ford RDS cables aren't yet available AFIK.

 

Thanks for the explanation. I don't know if my radio will support the PIE AUX harness FOR SURE, but it does have what appears to be a 16-pin connection. It's a Factory OEM CD/AM/FM Radio; not a 6-CD Changer; but it does have an AUX Button.

I am trying to go all integrated, but if what you say is true, then I will use my Original SkyFi Receiver.

I'm assuming with the FRD04-AUX package, looking at the package as a whole, that it also includes the RCA input unit that would plug into the harness....and from there I would hook up the SkyFI into the RCA jacks without the need for FM Modulation.

This appears the way I will go since at least I won't be using FM Modulation and have to worry about tapping into the original wiring harness.


Thanks,


Jason Brousseau

 

Jason - I just installed my SkiFi II using the PIE adapter for 04's and up. It works great and I ran the XM receiver power line to an "Acessory delay" fuse -so I wouldn't have to turn off the unit every time I got out of the truck. Works well - MUCH better than the FM modulator route.....the PIE adapter will work with Ford stock head units that have the "AUX" button - not the "CD/AUX" button.

The PIE adapter is really easy to install - just pull off the center stack trim piece and you can reach up behind the radio and plug in the adaper (no need to even remove the radio!!)...there's plenty of space in there so you can zip tie the adaper and plug in your RCA to mini line and be good to go. Be sure to adjust the "line level setting" on the PIE adapter before you reinstall the trim piece....you want to be able to switch between FM, CD and XM - and have the same volume level.
Good luck!!

Good luck!

 

All you have to do is get an inline FM modulator. Don't get the broadcast modulator. Its a powered unit that goes into the antenna cable, and when active it overrides all static and provides clean, crisp sound. I know, I have one on mine