Since they were practically giving these things away last month, I bought a Sirius S50. Here is a pic of my current install. Not sure if I will keep it here or not. Anyone have any other ideas where to put it?

 

Looks good I have a similar install on my XM.

My XM Installation

 

Yeah, I got one too since they were so cheap. I have mine in the exact same position as yours.

Anyone know if there is a way to hardwire the power to the dock instead of using the cigarette lighter?

 

I had a malfunctioning S50 for a year before I got a replacement last week. I had mine mounted on the downtube on the passenger side. The "arm" that was supposed to hold it up never did a very good job, and it would fall all the time. Now I have it mounted on the pillar by the windshield on the drivers side, so it can rest on the dash.

Plus, you'll find with the S50 that when driving down even mildly bumpy roads it will eventually bounce out of it's cradle, and loose connection. Even my brand new one does this. The only solution I've found is a rubber band, lol.

 

Does anyone know if you can use the antenna that came on the car? I do not want to put the aftermarket antenna on my car.

I bought my wife a Sportster to go in her car (non Mini) for Christmas. I am just figuring out how to get it installed. I did not want the lighter electrical conection, and I got a Pro Install Kit from Cruchfield. This comes with a hard wire 12 to 5 volt adapter.

 

I do not have the “MINI” antenna that is Sirius capable. I believe that it will only work with the factory Sirius radio.
If you search through the forums you can find a thread where someone hacked up the regular MINI antenna and
inserted the parts from a Sirius plug and play antenna. I was too chicken to try it myself, so I just put the Sirius
antenna behind the factory antenna.

 

Ok, after running the S50 setup for a while now, I've realized that the sound quality sucks on this thing. Here is my setup:

1. 1/8" to 1/8" cable from Best Buy for $10
2. Crutchfield ground loop isolator
3. AUX input cable

The sound was actually a bit better when I was using the FM transmitter than it is now. When I plugged in the isolator, the sound lost all of the high and low range. Is it the cable I'm using? What's a better one to get?

Thanks for your help.

 

I hacked up a Sirius aftermarket antenna. It was the flat circular one. It does not work. The antenna is the entire size of the disc. I wanted to install it in the OEM antenna mount. Some one was successful doing it with XM though.

 

Hmm. Not sure what the problem is. My set up is:
1. The shortest/cheapest cable from Radio Shack.
2. AUX input cable.

The sound is better than going through the FM transmitter and is as good as what I was getting from my old Sirius One.

I think there are separate BASS and TREBBLE settings for the AUX input on the radio itself? Maybe? Check for that.

 

Yeah, there are separate settings for the AUX and I've messed with those plenty, even the AUX input level, and although it improves it a tiny bit, it doesn't do much.

How are you able to use your S50 without a ground loop isolator?

 

I have never had any whine issues since installing the aux input. So I never had to install a ground loop isolator.

 

Hmmmm... I wonder if it's because I am using such a long cable that it makes a difference? I think my cable is 1m long. I never installed the faceplate part of the AUX input cable, and I just made the connection and tucked it all in behind the driver's knee plate thing.

 

Not sure. I have it mounted with the face plate but without the screws in the storage cubby area. I just have it sticking through one of the little slats down there with the face plate helping to hold it in there.

If I never said before, I got the shortest cable they had at Radio Shack. I think it was around 2-3 dollars.