So I bought a JVC head unit that is satellite ready. I'd like to get sat radio. Here is my dillema:

I would like the hidden JVC in-car tuner that hooks directly into my head unit. No extra tuner unit required to fill up the interior...

But at the same time it would be nice to be able to listen to the sat radio in another car or at work...

Is there a way to use a stand-along sat radio tuner through a satellite ready head unit? So I could buy a portable sat tuner, install it in the glovebox? of my car, and use the built-in controls on my head unit to operate it?

What do you guys have in your car? The hidden tuner, which isn't portable; or the stand-alone unit; which is just another gadget cluttering up the interior...

 

Standalone but not a lot since the audio sucks.

 

2 key things.

i have XM in my sentra and will soon have it in the FB but the quality difference between the portable standalone unit and the tuner box/h/u is amazing. I have the pioneer DEH-P7600MP and the pioneer controler hidden in my dash. its crystal clear obviously digital sound. the standalone poertable units either plugged into the 1/8in jack or looped in in another way are quieter and lesser in sound quality. of course the quality will be hugely effected by how it is routed into the system.

seconds the ease of control of the h/u is great. with the portable units as far as i know (unless something has changed in the last year or so) you cant control with the h/u it has to be directly controlled by the portable unit.

oh and one more thing. a large amount of the portable units have far worse reception. also they make the car more cluttered.

i listen to XM on my computer when im home or at work and of course in my car. i have no need for a portable unit other than to say i have it. although knowing me ill go get the inn2bk just to have it around

 

Well, you only have 64Kb of bandwidth to start, so whether you hardwire it or use a built-in FM transmitter, it's still going to sound like ***. That's my biggest beef with those guys.

 

i have never had a problem with it "sounding like ***" in fact the opposite everyone is always amazed at how clear and good music is in my car