DELPHI SKYFi XM Radio $44.97 AR and FREE first month + FREE activation.

[Monster8]

There is the FM modulator kit available. CircuitCity may be a place to find it if BestBuy doesn't sell it and you do not want to buy it from Crutchfield.
But for the question asked about how you would get this to work if you only have a CD player on your head unit... If your Head unit has auxillary inputs on it or in the back of it you could hook it up that way.
Or you buy this FM modulator kit and hook it up to your new XM radio. Then you simply tune your head unit's radio to a station that the FM modulator tells you to use.
FM modulators in general work very well. I am not sure if you can hook up a regular FM modulator not made for this unit to it or not, but if you can, then you will be able to pick up a cheaper one.

 

[dealmaker]

Is XM worth the 10 bucks a month. I recently upgraded to a mp3 deck, and was thinking, dang I have enuff music! Anyone know if the new kenwoods have aux input? Thanks!

 

[KeninMI]

Thanks for the info I am off to BB today to snatch this up as an Xmas present

 

[Scubadiver]

Guys, if you don't have a cassette deck on your indash radio, you can use an rf modulator as mentioned. You can also use any cheap computer or walkman type speakers with it. I even tried a cheap little pair of regular am/fm headphones and that works too; but I don't know if it's legal in most states for the driver to be wearing headphones.

But there are lots of options if you don't have a cassette deck in your car.

 

[Monster8]

dealmaker, yes some of the kenwood head unit's have AUX inputs, like the Kenwood KDC-MP819 has rear AUX inputs. You can just look up your model of your head unit on the internet, maybe at crutchfield.com or even kenwood's website and see the specs on your head unit and it will tell you.

I would be careful about wearing headphones while driving... just because my dad got pulled over and a ticket for wearing heaphones while driving last year.

 

[huesmann]

What's the point of getting "CD-quality sound" if you're just going to use an FM modulator to listen to it?

 

[NauTiKa128]

Originally posted by: huesmann
What's the point of getting "CD-quality sound" if you're just going to use an FM modulator to listen to it?

it still sounds VERY good..

 

[Monster8]

According to this kenwood site:

Is the sound quality of a FM modulator changer as good as that from changers that connect directly to the in-dash receiver?

While it's true that the frequency response with a direct connection is slightly superior to that of an FM modulator system, that isn't the complete story. Unlike a FM radio station, an FM modulator changer signal is interference-free, because it's wired directly to the aerial. For this reason, you can be sure it will sound better than the best FM station.

In our own informal listening tests, we've found it difficult to distinguish between the sound from a FM modulator CD changer setup and "pure" CD signals. Finally, even if your vehicle is particularly quiet, background tyre, engine and road noise is likely to mask any frequency response difference. So the quality gap is more significant on paper than it will be to your ears.

 

[bubbadu]

thanks for the great info guys!

-Bubbadu

 

[Robbed]

I bought the skyfi unit when it first came out, and it has major design issues. Read up on it at the Xm radio forums and you'll find that there isn't one FM-Modulated application with this thing that doesn't have just trecherous noise. The power-supply in this unit absolutely contaminates the signal when it is used in-vehicle without a direct connection. They were supposed to release a Skyfi FM-Mod kit, but it had problems and hasn't come out yet. I assume it's going to have a ground-loop filter and signal-isolater built into it, which will affect the sound quality.

Good Luck!!

Rob.

 

[Farbio]

sweet, just scored all the pieces at bb in tallahassee...they had no prob doing 3 seperate transactions so i could use all the coupons, they just had to punch in the numbers manually, but no probs at all.

thanks for the deal monster8!!!

 

[Richter]

is this coupon still up? I can't find it.


NEVER MIND I FOUND IT

 

[aiko]

Check this out....

The Delphi XM SKYFi Audio System -- the boom box with the SKYFi receiver -- retails for $229.99 (MSRP). The System contains a pair of high-quality speakers with an integrated high gain antenna and a port for the SKYFi receiver. It can be powered by an A/C adaptor to create a high quality countertop/ bookshelf XM system for the home or office, or used with six "D" batteries to experience XM in virtually any location. XM listeners who already own the SKYFi receiver can purchase the boom box portion alone for $99.99 (MSRP).


SkyFi BoomBox

 

[dealmaker]

farbio, did they do a manual override or did they just punch in the coupon code? Thanks!

 

[Richter]

I have some advice for anybody trying to use more than one.

I tried to buy all three Delphi models at once because it says NOWHERE on the coupon that it is one per customer. Had I not done this, I would been fine because the cashier would have done one no problem but all three he needed to check with a manager.

Long story short the Manager decided it should not even be used on the kits unless the reciever was being purchased (wich makes no sence at all). He wouldn't budge. He decided he was god period. I even had him call XMRadio and they said the same thing. Claiming it was not meant to be used for the kits!?#! It CLEARLY says you can use the $50 off toward XM Equipment in 15 point letters and then lists the model numbers of the kits, But if you read the small print it says "One coupon per radio" This got him saying it was a misprint and they didn't have to honor it. I waisted an hour trying to persuade him.

I drove to another BB and got what I wanted but save yourself the trouble and just check out using different cashiers or freinds or something.

 

[Farbio]

dealmaker -
they didn't need to override, just punched in the code

 

[MrHans]

I dont understand the hype about having to pay for radio. I do understand free=having to listen to ads and xm=not having to listen to ads. I cant imagine that it will stay subscriber only for long. Nothing coming out of Taiwan yet that just uses this service without subscriber fees??

 

[Richter]

I dont understand the hype about having to pay for radio

man I drive a lot (30,000 miles a year) and I live in New Mexico. CD's get old and talk radio is very limited. 10 bucks is a good price for this but I can see why not everyone would buy it.

Personaly I can't wait to get mine installed.

 

[ADUDE]

this is such a good deal! i was ready to buy this today at Circuit city, NO way i was paying full price. :=)


thanks
Monster8

 

[Scubadiver]

Originally posted by: mrhans
I dont understand the hype about having to pay for radio. I do understand free=having to listen to ads and xm=not having to listen to ads. I cant imagine that it will stay subscriber only for long. Nothing coming out of Taiwan yet that just uses this service without subscriber fees??

I remember hearing this argument years ago, when something called cable television first appeared.

And what do you mean by your last part of your message?

 

[DanoSaurus]

Great Deal!

I picked up all three pieces yesterday at the Atwater Village (L.A.) Best Buy. Didn't even have to deal with cashiers or managers, the car audio dude rang up the transaction and entered all three coupons. Even had it installed for free. I have been wanting XM for a long time but I just couldn't see spending >$300 to get started.

BTW they also had the Sony kits on clearance for $150-$75 rebate=$75. Sony kit comes with vehicle mounting kit, antenna, remote and either an RF modulator or cassette adapter. The kits with the RF adapter are pretty much sold out everywhere. The Sony home kit is an extra $100. I still went with the Delphi set up because the display is way bigger, remote is better and I got the radio, vehicle and home kits for $105 with the coupons.

I know a lot of people are saying "Hey why should I pay $10/month for radio?" You know, there was a time when they thought people would never pay for television but look at the cable and satellite industry now. Personally I think $10 is well worth it...you get commercial free channels, specialty programming, great sound quality (I was actually impressed with the sound quality through the cassette adapter, it's better than my RF CD changer) and nationwide coverage. I live in L.A., one of the biggest radio markets in the country, and I'll tell you the free stuff sucks...it seems like half the stations here are in spanish. I think I'll be very happy with XM!!!

 

[sat4fun]

Originally posted by: mrhans......Nothing coming out of Taiwan yet that just uses this service without subscriber fees??

There is a hack that allows you to clone a unit to multiple units, but there is not a hack to get the service for free.

 

[bubbadu]

hey dano thanks for the info about the sony kit... you wouldnt happen to know the model number on it.. i was wondering if i could use the coupon... thanks again

-Bubbadu

 

[DealMonkey]

I live in L.A., one of the biggest radio markets in the country, and I'll tell you the free stuff sucks...it seems like half the stations here are in spanish. I think I'll be very happy with XM!!!

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree, the LA area with nearly a bazillion people living here, doesn't have more than 2-3 decent stations. The three I listen to, and then only reluctantly, are: 93.1 Arrow (classic rock), 95.5 KLOS (rock) and 106.7 KROQ (alterna-rock). Arrow repeats the same 30 songs all damn day, KLOS talks all morning long and doesn't play actual music, and KROQ repeats songs so much you can hear the same song 5 x in one day.

Free radio is fast becoming so crappy, it's difficult to watch it happening...

 

[MrHans]

Originally posted by: Scubadiver

Originally posted by: mrhans
I dont understand the hype about having to pay for radio. I do understand free=having to listen to ads and xm=not having to listen to ads. I cant imagine that it will stay subscriber only for long. Nothing coming out of Taiwan yet that just uses this service without subscriber fees??

I remember hearing this argument years ago, when something called cable television first appeared.

And what do you mean by your last part of your message?

Sorry, I thought it was pretty clear... I'm surprised there isnt some product that just takes the service/uses it without having to pay. I'm not really interested in it right now, living in Chicago gives me many many choices to pick from up and down the dial. I see however if someone lives outside a major market that this would be good. I remember WXRT here in Chicago did an April Fool's Day spoof and said they were switching over to a digital subscriber based signal the next day. This was maybe about ten years ago...