[ben1364]

This is a revival of an earlier thread. Please forgive me. Have you knowlege of a kit, adaprer or whatever to use the shark fin Sirius antenna to receive XM radio signals. I understand that I will need a different receiver but hate to install an additional antenna. This is not meant as criticism of Sirius programing. I simply prefer XM. TIA.

[SteveMD]

I am not sure about the shark fin but I will say that I have standalone XM and Sirius receivers and I can use either with either antenna so the antenna technology is identical. And so obviously are the connections on the end.

[ben1364]

Thanks much. I have heard conflicting things at big box retail stores. It appears that a visit to a profesional audio shop is in order.

[KL2DC]

I saw topic on a seperate thread here...I believe some people are waiting for the Audiovox XM Direct Smart Digital Adapter (http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/s...5012&langId=-1) that is supposed to come out 1st or 2nd quarter of 2006. I wish I had seen this information before ordering the Sirius full install as I am concerned about signal strength/reception in Washington DC, an xm radio stronghold on account of their being based here.

[ScottiePP7]

Due to different voltage being used by XM and Sirius from what i know you can NOT use the shark fin.

As for swithcing antenna's between standalones...this also is new to me. The deal about the connections on the end doesn't matter as I have seen 2 different types of these connections with my XM units, its just kind of like a flavor depending on which unit you are using.

But once again according to the guys at XM411 it is impossible to use the fin due to voltage issues (this has been the case even when there was solutions to switch the entire system over to XM (pre '06 models - see blitzsafe solutions), you would still have to use an xm attenna)

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by ScottiePP7

Due to different voltage being used by XM and Sirius from what i know you can NOT use the shark fin.

I hear what you're saying but I have high hopes for this Audiovox XM Direct Smart Digital Adapter for BMW/Mercedes, it seems to be the only product with some promise though no much details are available yet. It seems to be a plug-n-play adapter specific to BMWs and MBs (with pre-wiring). Although I am not entirely familiar with Sirius, I am completely comfortable with XM and anticipate missing some of the channels I listen to regularly.

[ScottiePP7]

I am with you 100% on the love for XM, I couldn’t live without some of the stations it.

As for the high hopes....I wouldn't get too high on the hope to use the fin but that would be wonderful. I am just feeling this because of the voltage issue and even in past version where people like audiovox and bliztsafe were able to get BMWs to use XM without having a second unit they weren't able to get the fin to work (to change the voltage on something of that magnitude and of importance to our vehicles for other receptions, Bluetooth, etc just seems like a huge and costly undertaking). As for the previous versions....with an adapter from blitzsafe it was able to take over the sat function on our radios to say XM and display all the channel/song info and allow BMW owners to control it with the steering wheel.

From what I have read people just placed the XM antenna on the trunk lid and things seemed to work out well.

Here's hoping this audiovox unit makes me look like a fool and it does everything!! (and that it comes out SOON!!)

[Kimo]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

I wish I had seen this information before ordering the Sirius full install as I am concerned about signal strength/reception in Washington DC, an xm radio stronghold on account of their being based here.

Fear not.
I live in the DC area, have XM Direct in my e46, and my wife has the "Sirius full install" in her e90. Her reception is better than mine.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by Kimo

Fear not.
I live in the DC area, have XM Direct in my e46, and my wife has the "Sirius full install" in her e90. Her reception is better than mine.

Thanks! Great to hear that...