[ski]

XM radio - I'm installing the XM Commander this weekend. I plan on running the wire(19'of it)to the rear of the car, popping up the back seat, slit the carpet, and use a coat hanger to run to the spare tire area, then up the back pillars and out. yes I will have to drill holes but I have an assortment of grommets to use, then I'll dab a small bit of silicon to seal it all up.

I may look at going up the A pillar but that all depends on the header panel and how the headliner snaps in. The front may be easier, but I'll post a follow up; it all depends on where I can get the drill in the easiest without taking more stuff off than I have to. I just hope Mercedes is not as bad as Porsche is putting shoving "stuff" into spaces.

 

[Buellwinkle]

Why go through all that trouble for a Comander, the Roady 2 is complete in one small package and has a super tiny antenna that you can hide on top or under the dash pad. Then you can pop it out and use it in a rental car when traveling or in your house or office.

 

[whitewagon]

i agree,
I installed the Roady 2 in the ashtray...I mounted the tiny antenna (it's magnatized) to the metal grill on the dash by the windshield. It works great...

 

[ski]

Well I may think about it, the only good reason is to avoid two subscriptions; I hate seeing cables out in the open in anything. I also didn't like the ugly A$$ brackets that are with the other units, however, the ashtray is a good choice if it will fit and still close - thanks for the suggestion(s).[]

 

[ski]

Well I took the advice and bought the Roady2...what a PITA! I HATE seeing cables out. It has a 6vDC power requirement so you have to use the PC board in the lighter attachment or get one at Radio Shack. Yes, you can use it between cars but if you want hidden assets then you have to work your way around that. The only Reason I would offer up this unit for anyone is a single subscription...period.

The antenna was no big deal. I placed it on the roof, made one tiny cut in the wx stripping(sealed it back) and ran it along the top seam between the weave and the headliner - took out the trim pc under the steering wheel, and then ran it over to the glove box. I wired in an "alternate power" source in the glove box for power and fashioned a "custom" braket for the glove box door. So all the wires are in the glove box, lower section, and you pull the unit out, hang it, and you have a couple of inches of wires from the side of the glove box. You can grab, hang and use it on the FM modulator. This way I can take it between cars if I run the same $hit in the other cars.

 

[Buellwinkle]

Some people have put the Roady in their ashtray and then no wires to see, close the ashtray and no Roady to see. Also I used the Delphi FM Modulator which comes with the 6 volts needed. But yes, if you don't use that then you have to wire a cig lighter outlet so you can plug it in. In the back of the factory radio there are three block connectors, on the smallest one there's a thin black wire, tap into that and the Roady will come on whenever you turn the radio on (regardless of the ignition which is cool as you can listen to the radio/roady with the key out of the ignition with a 30 minute timer).

I have some pics on my website in different locations.

 

[ski]

Well...I ran the antenna, new power wires to a "alternate power" source in the glovebox. I fashioned a very small bent bracket, sort of dog leg on the back, so that she can simply pull it out of the glove box and hang it on the glovebox, close the glovebox when she wants to use it. This is mainly for our child on road trips - Disney channel but I'm sure we'll enjoy it as well.

The back of the bracket/Roady 2 is protected by a small foam sheet that protects the glovebox door. Sort of "cheesy" but I don't have the factory manuals on CD yet(on the way) so taking the console apart, I need to find out where all the tabs are. I wired the Explorer in 45 minutes and my 944 turbo in an hour, but I know where all the wiring is on those, plus manuals and schematics, plus take everything apart.

 

[ski]

Buell, what is the Seimens controller in the passenger footwell? Alarm or something to do with AirBags or...? There is a wire on there with 12vdc ignition on that I may vampire(yes I hate them to) until my manuals come in just to test the power supply.

 

[Buellwinkle]

Sorry, don't know what that is.

 

[ski]

Well, the red wire with green stripe is 12vdc ignition on power. The stainless frame that holds this computer in place is behind the front carpet in the passenger footwell. There are three plastic 10mm nuts that hold it in place, 1 at the upper right and two each bottom left and right, but first you have to remove the foam insulation from the frame...oh and the plastic cover under the dash area/glovebox area with #8 torx screwdriver.

Anyway, go the alternate power source rigged in the glove box, got the power/line out/antenna in there own nice little tie wrapped harness; all this was done by drilling a 3/8 hole in the bottom back of the glove box and passing the wires through it. The power plug is also FM modulated so that kills two birds with one stone as they say. So my wife just opens the glove box, takes out the Roady 2, hangs it on the glove box door(the bracket I made is padded with a cream foam), close it and hit the road with sat. tunes.

 

[Buellwinkle]

Pictures, lets see some pictures!

 

[ski]

I'll take you some next week when I get home and post them.