2006 S60 portable satellite radio installation tips?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark Kingston
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Mark Kingston

Hi,

I plan to install a portable satellite radio in my S60 using a vent clip
that comes with the car dock. The radio is a Sirius Stiletto 100.

I'm just wondering if anyone out there has installed something similar in an
S60 (any model year is fine) and has any tips on where to put the antenna
and hide the wires etc. Or better yet, if you know of some interface kit
that will directly connect the portable to the Volvo's FM radio/cd changer,
that would be great!

Thanks for your help.

Mark
 
I "installed" a cellphone holder with a vent clip once and it never
worked properly. Vents are not intended for this purpose.

I have a nice suction cup mount for my sat radio that attaches to the
windshield way low in the middle so is nicely out of the way. I would
look into that kind of mount if I were you. It is a little further to
reach to change channels but you shouldn't be playing with it while you
are driving anyways. My sat. radio came with a nice little remote
anyways that is easier to use than the knobs on the radio set itself.

I know a direct hard-wired connection to your car stereo is ideal but
is a lot more trouble, involves accessing the rear of the stereo and I
am not sure there are the require RCA input jacks or whatever. I took
the easy way and just used the wireless radio transmitter option and it
worked fine.

Also took the lazy way out on the antenna, leaving it sit on the dash.
Works fine. Fishing a wire to the recommended external location will
involve pulling off internal trim and gluing the antenna to the roof of
the car. A lot of trouble, then what do you do when you change cars?

My two cents...
 
I just put an XM radio in my V70. I went the easy route, I had the shop
install mine. But it really didn't look that bad. I had them install the
cradle just to the right of the steering column. They used a clip that goes
between where two different types of plastic on the dash meet. It seems
pretty stable.

A more important question is whether or not you want to direct wire it into
your radio. If your radio is not Sirius/XM ready, you will need to connect
it through your antenna jack on the back of your radio. This may require
two adapters. A direct connection (either through the antenna or RCA jacks
if your radio has them) is far superior to the wireless broadcast system
that comes with your radio. If you use the wireless broadcast, you will
need to have the satellite very close to your radio. You may still get
static when you use your radio.

As for the wiring, it was pretty simple too. On my V70, there is a fuse
panel on the end cap of the driver's side of the dashboard. That was simple
enough to tap into power there. They just popped off the trim around the
windshield and ran the antenna wire up to the roof. The antenna is
magnetic, so it sticks to the roof.

Good luck with yours!

Tom.
 
I was hoping to use the vent mount as I do not like the suction cup on the
windshield at all.

I have the factory radio unit with the 6 disc changer and dolby surround. I
don't think that it's satellite ready as it's not even an option in the 2007
model here in Canada - not that I can see from the volvocanada.com website
anyway.

Thanks for your input!

Mark
 
Tom,

Thanks for the info. I don't think my radio is satellite ready as I don't
even see that option being mentioned in the volvocanada.com site.

I'm not very mechanically inclined so I think I'll have the shop look at it
for me as well.

Have you had any problems with theifs breaking into your car since you
installed the radio and car dock? I don't plan to leave the radio in the
car but I wonder if there are people out there who will try to steal the car
dock!

Mark.
 
Well, they could try to steal anything...... but hopefully if you just have
the dock on the dash, they wouldn't waste their time. Now if you leave the
radio in the dock, it probably would be a tempting little piece of equipment
for them. Best thing is to pull it out of the dock and put it under your
seat if you leave the car in a parking lot.

Tom.
 
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