Installing Aftermarket Satellite Radio in your vehicle

This guide will help you with the basics and geplicated unwritten installation issues you might encounter when installing a satellite radio add-on into your vehicle. This guide might save you hours of time that I endured when I tried to install my satellite receiver in my vehicle. This guide includes information, most of which I did not find in the instruction manual or manufacturer's help website.
There are three basic ways to install most satellite radio units into your car:
The first involves using the satellite radio's FM re-transmit feature. This is the simplest and most gemon installation. Simply plug the Satellite radio into your lighter plug, place the satellite receiver's antenna closest to your vehicle's FM antenna and adjust the Satellite radio transmitter to an FMfrequency not used in your home area.While this is generally the simplest installation, it does not give the user the "CD Quality" promised by the Satellite radio provider.
The second installation is basically the same as the first, EXCEPT that you can purchase an "in-line" antenna adapter that makes a direct connection to your vehicles stereo by placing a connector between your car stereo's antenna jack and the antenna itself. This generally provides a better signal and sound than a simple placement of one antenna next to the other.
The third and best sounding solution is the direct connection of the satellite receiver's 8mm/1/8" headphone/line out jack to your car stereo's AUXILLARY or LINE IN jack, if available. Many of the new vehicles gee equipped with this connection either through a 8mm/1/8" headphone-size jack on the front, or two RCA connectors in the rear of the stereo receiver. There are also many Auxillary input connectors available for most major automobile manufacturers on okay. Selection will vary on the Make and model of your car and stereo receiver. For aftermarket stereos, many of the newest manufacturers provide the AUXILLARY connection standard on their products. Others, and older receiverssell an add-on AUXILLARY connection box that can be plugged into the rear of the stereo receiver to allow an RCA AUXILLARY connection. In this case you will need to purchase a stereo headphone (8mm/ 1/8") to RCA connector. Generally thisis an easy install, but manyvehicles require specific dash-removal procedures. I purchased my vehicle's specific service manual on okay (CD-ROM) to make the dash and stereo removal/access trouble free!
Sometimes the install will result in SEVERE engine noise emitted from the stereo speakers and this can can be very frustrating! I endured this problem to the worst degreeand took the following steps to solve my problem. First, I purchased a separate lighter plug from my electronics store to wire the power plug behind the dash and out of sight.. Then I purchased an 18ampNOISE KILLER/BLOCKER and installed it in-between the vehicle ACCESSORY power connection and the positive (red)lead on the add-on cigarette lighter plug . I wired the ground (black) leaddirectly to the vehicle chassis/frame. I then purchased an RCA Ground Loop Isolator and plugged it in-between the stereo receiver and the AUXILLARY connection.This solved all of my engine noise issues. If it doesn't, you can also purchase a power/noise filter that connects between your alternator and the vehicle power lead/battery.
I hope this guide helps your Satellite Radio installation go much smoother than mine. Knowing what to do when things go wrong makes these installations much less stressful.