How can I hook up a satellite radio unit in my car w/o a docking unit?

Question

I would like to hook up satillite radio in my car, but I want to know if I can just do it through my car stereo (it's an old car). I don't want to install another thing into my dash, I just want to plug and play. Is this even possible?

Answer 1

Yes, you can install it plug in play, but you still need either a docking unit or car kit. This doesn't mean you need to install it in your dash. You can just unplug it all and take it out. The antenna is the most difficult part so I'd leave it on and the cord tucked out of the way. Some people just stick it on the centre of their roof (its magnetic) and run the cable through their door and close the door on it. I would NOT recommend that you do this unless you don't care if you damage the cable over time. Run it under the window moulding and in from the trunk or under the hood and through a firewall grommet like the instructions suggest.

As far as the radio itself, Plug and Play radios have an antenna connection and a cigarette lighter plug for power. There's a built in FM transmitter that transmits the sound to your radio on an empty frequency that you pick. The transmitter is pretty weak and I'd highly suggest you get the wired FM relay option which does require you to get to your radio behind the dash and put it inline with your FM antenna. This cable you can also tuck away when not in use and it will not affect your FM reception. Personally, I set my Sirius Starmate in a little compartment behind my cup holder and if I need to take it out, all I have to do is pull out the three cables (audio, power and antenna) and tuck them away. It's not installed into my dash at all.