XM Radio & 2005 Mercury Mountaineer Installation Options

[VWjet]

I have a 2005MY Mountaineer with a 6-disc in-dash CD changer, AM/FM, and Sirius satellite radio ready.

Photo of Head Unit
Problem: I've been a XM subscriber for a year or more, have the SkyFi, home adapter kit, and vehicle adapter kit (for a tape deck). Obviously, my receiver has no way to become compatible with my Mountaineer head unit.

I am still learning the ropes wrt all the options, so please help me in choosing the best option to get XM up and running in my vehicle. I am looking for sound quality, value, and ability to install w/o screwing anything up.

My options, as I see it are as follows:

1. Get Sirius. After all, my head unit is ready to go. However, I would need a new subscription and I would have to purchase a home adapter kit to bring me up to speed with my current XM setup.

2. Wireless FM Modulator. This should be pretty easy. Plug and play, just coordinate the FM station. I hear sound quality is poor. As bad as an average FM station? If so, that is pretty darn good, IMO.
Delphi SA10081 Universal Audio Adapter SkyFi/Roady Wireless FM Modulator - $29.98

3. Wired FM Modulator. Better reception through the radio from what I understand, however this install seems a bit more complicated. I actually bought this contraption, but had a heck of a time figuring out these instructions. How do I connect to my head unit and antenna and vehicle power? These are things I am not going to perform trial and error experiments on. I would expect explicit instructions, which I have yet to see - anywhere.
Photo of Modulator Installation Diagram
Delphi SA10112 FM Direct Adaptor - $24.98

Then, there is another wired FM modulator, but for double the price. Is it twice as good and twice as effective?
Delphi SkyFi FM Modulator - $49.98

4. PIE. Not really sure what this is or does. Seems to be very good at getting XM to sound good.
PIE OEM Digital Protocol Converter for Factory Radios - $68.98

5. Smart Digital Adapter & Universal Tuner. Claimed to be the professional installer's solution. From what I understand, this would allow me to bypass the SkyFi and control the XM stations through my head unit. However, I would also need an additional XM subscription (family plan)?
XM Direct XM Radio Receiver for Aftermarket Radios - $100

 

[BlueWeasel]

Do you know if your headunit has an AUX IN port? I doubt it, since the majority of factory units don't have it.

If I were doing it and you wanted to stick with XM, then I'd consider this (in order of best sound)

1) PIE
2) Wired FM Modulator
3) Wireless FM Modulator

If sound is important to you, then I'd avoid the modulators all together.

 

[VWjet]

Not sure if there is an AUX IN port. Anyone?

 

[Cattlegod]

it probably doesn't

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Do you know if your headunit has an AUX IN port? I doubt it, since the majority of factory units don't have it.

If I were doing it and you wanted to stick with XM, then I'd consider this (in order of best sound)

1) PIE
2) Wired FM Modulator
3) Wireless FM Modulator

If sound is important to you, then I'd avoid the modulators all together.

I disagree. If the Mountaineer system is stock, then it already sucks, and you won't be able to tell any difference in sound using an FM Modulator. If it's not stock, then that's a different story.

 

[Dulanic]

I have Sirius and that's the route I would go, atleast if you like rock, I think Sirius owns XM when it comes to rock channels.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
I have Sirius and that's the route I would go, atleast if you like rock, I think Sirius owns XM when it comes to rock channels.

How so?

 

[NutBucket]

The last two options are your best bet. If you choose #5 you'd have to pay a $5 mirroring fee for having 2 receivers (just like DirecTV).

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: Dulanic
I have Sirius and that's the route I would go, atleast if you like rock, I think Sirius owns XM when it comes to rock channels.

How so?

First off, XM plays alot of stuff I have never heard, which is great, except that a ton of it just sucks. Sure their playlist might be a bit longer, but when 50% is garbage who cares. My issue with XM is that I consistently have to change channels, with Sirius I typically leave a single channel on and am satisfied. If I wanted unknowns all the time Id tune into Unsigned.

Everyone I know who likes Rock all say the same. Buzzsaw > Bone Year. Octane/Alt Nation > Squizz/Ethel. XM doesn't have anything as hard as Hard Attack when Im in the mood for some hard hard rock. Hair Nation/Classic Vinyl/Classic Rewind > Deep Tracks. I also like Faction, mixes stuff up alot from Rock to Hip-Hop in one channel.

 

[Dulanic]

This is also what edmunds said about the 2...

And of course we can't forget rock. With both services, the rock category features the largest number of channels, the most selection, and, we're happy to say, some of the biggest surprises.

For starters, both services offer an early classic rock channel (Sirius 14, XM 46). However, when listening, we found the XM programming more adventurous, including early Genesis and Humble Pie and a Who cut we'd never heard before. Sirius countered with The Stones, Led Zep, Steve Miller and Steppenwolf ? exactly the kind of content you'd hear on your local classic rock station. (We must say, though, that Sirius wisely divides the mammoth classic rock segment into two separate channels, early and late, while XM runs with one channel. Still, we give the edge to XM here.)

The services also pay homage to hard rock, each in a slightly different manner, Sirius going with a channel it calls Hair Nation (Sirius 23), which pays tribute to '80s hair bands (when we listened, it played Van Halen, Scorpions and Def Leppard), XM opting for the Boneyard (XM 41), which again played a more eclectic mix (Black Label Society, Queensryche, Metal Church). Again, we give the nod to XM here.

As for the rest, there are really too many rock channels to discuss here, so let us just touch upon the high points. XM offers a very fine acoustic rock channel (XM 50) called The Loft which, when we listened, played such artists as Ricky Lee Jones, David Bromberg and John Wesley Hardin. Quite a breath of fresh air. Sirius has a new channel called Underground Garage (Sirius 25), which plays some of the most delightfully weird and obscure cuts we've ever heard. During our listening test it played The Nazz, Quicksilver Messenger Service and a totally bizarre live version of Buddy Holly's "Heartbeat" done by none other than Humble Pie.

For those with darker tastes, XM offers Liquid Metal (XM 41). In the time we listened, the three bands in succession were Cradle of Filth, Three Inches of Blood and Watch Them Die. Whenever you're feeling too optimistic, we suggest you listen to this channel.

Finally, delight of delights, Sirius offers Sirius Disorder (Sirius 24), a grab bag of different tunes and artists which is beyond eclectic. When we listened to it, there seemed to be absolutely no logic to the programming, and for that reason we loved it. In succession we heard Manhattan Transfer, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello and, from the new Warren Zevon tribute album, Adam Sandler's spot-on cover of Zevon's signature tune, "Werewolves of London." It was a lot of fun. That such a loony mix of tunes could strike our ears in this day and age caused us to raise our glasses high and toast the free enterprise system.

In the all-important rock category, the nod goes to Sirius.

 

[VWjet]

cool - good things