NEW! Sirius SC-FM1 Starbase Satellite Radio FM Modulated Tuner System with Free shipping
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Brand:Directed Electronics Model : SCFM1 Customer Rating : 
List Price : $229.99 |
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Sirius SC-FM1 Starbase Satellite Radio FM Modulated Tuner SystemFeature for this item
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Customer Reviews
The '05 VW New Beetle, came with an excellent Bose-designed "Monsoon" sound system, equipped with an Auxilliary Input jack. So, to have SIRIUS Satellite Radio in this vehicle on that system, I did some research, where I learned that VW's factory optional satellite receiver systems utilizes a remotely mounted tuner unit, almost dimensionally identical to this system's tuner.
The Display/Control Panel looks and works beautifully fastened up along the center of the front edge of the car's sunroof opening, just aft of the sunroof control dial. There the display's blue backlight can even be set to its lowest brightness setting, and still be easily read, day or night.
The tuner's main unit (metal box) fit nicely where the OEM optional satellite tuner would've been mounted, under the carpet and fastened to the vertical (firewall) sheet metal ahead of the front passenger's foot well.
Wired into the same power circuits the factory radio uses for "Battery" (memory backup power) and the "Ignition/Accessory" voltage supply, it's been working flawlessly since it was installed over 6 months ago. I almost never turn off the SIRIUS tuner at its control panel, leaving the deactivation of the tuner to the ignition/accessory switch "control" supply voltage.
Perhaps that's why mine has never given me any problems. I suspect the click-type button switches ("Power On/Off" included) in the control panel, might not have a very high expected cycle count. Membrane switches, like those found on typical remote control keypads, probably would've been a better choice for the sake of durability.
Long-term exposure to the sun could also severely shorten the display/control panel's life expectancy. So, I nearly always close the sunroof shade when the car's parked out in the sun.
Most notably, if your car's sound system has a stereo line-level input, it's well worth the trouble obtaining the the audio patch cable with the application-appropriate end connectors (purchased separately) through which to hook up this tuner! Even though this tuner's FM interface is far better than those relying on an 'airwave' connection, I recommend only using the FM modulator interface, when no direct audio hookup can be made.
For me, the hardest and most time consuming part of the installation was partially removing the headliner so the supplied SIRIUS antenna lead could be routed between it and the roof, over to and down the "A" pillar to the tuner box. The antenna was secured to the roof, using the grey double-sided foam door guard-moulding tape available at most auto parts stores, just ahead of the factory roof AM/FM stubby antenna's base. It's possible to purchase an OEM optional AM/FM/SIRIUS satellite radio combo-antenna usually included along with a factory satellite radio. But, I wasn't fond of paying the 0~0 for it, not to mention having to fuss with adapting the dissimilar coaxial connectors, in this case.
So, with a little "creative engineering", I was able to more-than-adequately retrofit the SIRIUS-supplied antenna, resulting in an installation that imitates the factory design. It's one of those jobs that's really rewarding in more ways than one, as long as the one doing the installation is careful and takes the time needed to do it right the first time.
