Satellite Radio for an old Volvo?

[njprncss]

The radio in my 1993 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon works sporadically. My mechanic
says I should just get a new one, as it is not worth fixing. I would like
to update everything with a satellite radio and CD player. Which one is
best for my girl?

 

[James Sweet]

The radio in my 1993 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon works sporadically. My mechanic
says I should just get a new one, as it is not worth fixing. I would like
to update everything with a satellite radio and CD player. Which one is
best for my girl?

This is not really a Volvo question, as any non-factory radio you install
will be a standard DIN sized unit so you'll need an inexpensive install kit
for your specific car. I suggest you do some research online for reviews and
go check out some head units in stereo shops and see what you like. Perhaps
there's a newsgroup dedicated to this as well, once you find something you
like it's a fairly simple matter to install it in your 940.

 

[Peter K L Milnes]

A fix for your radio should be a lot less expensive than replacing it. Try
checking all the connections and connectors between the car, radio and
aerial.

Cheers, Peter.

 

[Raymond Cruz]

As stated it's not a Volvo question but I'll give you the consensus view
anyway.
XM has a lower monthly fee but the difference is less in 12 month or
multi-year contracts. Both companies have continuously increased the number
of channels and there is a channel./quality trade off so don't pay attention
to old quality reports. Sirius has a more sophisticated satellite system
deploying 3 satellites in which two are active at any given time and they
are at higher angles than the 2 geostationary satellites in XM's system. XM
needs far more ground repeaters because this difference makes their signal
more susceptible to blockage by buildings or even trucks along side your
car. An unexpected benefit of the ground repeaters is that XM has been able
to develop a walkman like device that only receives the ground signals but
don't expect it to work if you're out of range of a ground station which on
a geographical basis probably includes much of the country. Many people
like Sirius programming better and it's been reported that Sirius does not
repeat programming as frequently but you should compare the programming to
your tastes at the web sites. Both companies have announced plans to
provide back seat video programming.

 

[Rob Guenther]

Is there any way to hear actual radio stations in digital format?... I don't
like just pure music all the time, I enjoy a bit of radio banter, and I
don't want to lose any of my favorite local stations if I went digital
radio - I just don't like that staticy, crackly, not so hi-fidelity sound of
FM radio... But I love the music selections of several stations - any time I
leave their broadcast zone I am sorely disapointed by other cities choices
of stations.... the Greater Toronto Area has the best radio stations out
there ;-).

 

[James Sweet]

A fix for your radio should be a lot less expensive than replacing it. Try
checking all the connections and connectors between the car, radio and
aerial.

He wants a CD player with satelite radio, why bother to repair the old
clunky factory radio? They were never particularly great when new.

 

[Raymond Cruz]

Not yet but it's coming, see ...
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/digital/
BTW Sirius and XM are U.S. based and it's illegal to subscribe if you're
Canadian because of Canada's law requiring a certain amount domestic content
in broadcasts but Sirius and XM are negotiating a compromise with the
Canadian that will make it legal to subscribe.

 

[James Sweet]

Not yet but it's coming, see ...
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/digital/
BTW Sirius and XM are U.S. based and it's illegal to subscribe if you're
Canadian because of Canada's law requiring a certain amount domestic content
in broadcasts but Sirius and XM are negotiating a compromise with the
Canadian that will make it legal to subscribe.

That's silly, I know a few Canadian people who have Sirius, I do recall they
had to get someone down here to fill out the paperwork though.

 

[Rob Guenther]

Go figure - Canadian laws are terrible for getting Satelite material...
Funny tho, because some stations advertise they are now broadcasting in
digital... I wish I knew on what radio tho.

 

[R51reed]

This is not really a Volvo question, as any non-factory radio you install will
be a standard DIN sized unit so you'll need an inexpensive install kit for your
specific car.

MY QUESSTION - Does anyone know of an install kit that DOES NOT have the new
aftermarket unit jutting out into the car interior. The ones I have seen LOOK
like they are aftermarket units. I would like to install a new Alpine unit,
but would like it to fit IN the dash.

TIA

Ronald Reed, MBA
Austin, TX
'90 745T, '91 940 GLE w/clunky aftermarket install kit, '92 940 GL looking to
install a new satellite radio

 

[Raymond Cruz]

http://www.siriusradio.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1065475754231

Look at the links for "head units" and "tuners". The head unit fits in the
dash and typically gives you CD, AM, FM, and satellite. The tuner goes in
your trunk or maybe under a seat. There are several units listed with the
Sanyo appearing to be the cheapest at about $169 retail for head unit and
tuner (you can often get significant rebates). There are lots of Alpine
head units. You also need an antenna of course. This arrangement is not
portable into your home -- those types typically jut into your interior.