XM Direct vs Pioneer's XM tuner??

**mgithens** · 11-17-2004, 06:17 PM

I currently own the DVH-P5000MP in dash DVD player as my head unit and am interested in adding XM for my trips into the mountains where radio reception is non-existant. So I am looking at the Pioneer P910XM and the XM Direct units.

My first problem is that I cannot find any information that guarantees that the XMDirect unit can connect to my head unit. Some information simply states that if your unit has a "P" in the name and has a "function" button then it will work. The lists exclude this rarer, non-mainstream deck. Anyone have verification of this working or not??

My second question is about functionality differences between the two setups. Are their different features offered between the two choices, will I be more limited if I go with the XMDirect setup?? or will they be virtually identical??

(I searched and found squat about this comparison, for the benefit of all - please post info about differences between other popular name brand tuners vs the new XMDirect unit)

**KMorphosis** · 11-17-2004, 06:24 PM

Heres a list of compatible head units that is listed on XMs website.. yours isn't listed

2003
DEH P2500
DEH P3500
DEH P4500MP
DEH P5500MP
DEH P6500
DEH P7500MP
DEH P8500MP
DEH P9400MP
KEH P2030
2004
DEH P2600
DEH P3600
DEH P4600MP
DEH P6600
DEH P7600MP
DEH P8600MP
DEH P9600MP
KEH P2030

2003 Premier Models
DEH P250
DEH P350
DEH P450MP
DEH P550MP
DEH P650
DEH P750MP
DEH P850MP
DEH P940MP
DEX-P9
2004 Premier Models
DEH P360
DEH P460MP
DEH P560MP
DEH P660
DEH P760MP
DEH P860MP
DEH P960MP
DEH P8MP

But I would suspect that it will work. All Pioneer XM ready head units are the same. As long as it says XM ready on the face it should work. Protocol is same.. etc..

**KMorphosis** · 11-17-2004, 06:25 PM

Found it.. it works

Compatible with the following 2003/2004 XM Ready Pioneer head units:

DEH P2500, DEH P3500, DEH P4500MP, DEH P5500MP, DEH P6500, DEH P7500MP, DEH P8500MP, DEH P9400MP, KEH P2030, AVH-P7500MP, AVH-P6500MP, AVH-P6400CD, AVH-P6400, DVH-P5000MP, DEH P2600, DEH P3600, DEH P4600MP, DEH P6600, DEH P7600MP, DEH P8600MP, DEH P9600MP, FH P5000MP, KEH P2030, AVH-P7500MP, AVH-P6600MP, DVH-P5000MP, AVIC-N1, DEH P250, DEH P350, DEH P450MP, DEH P550MP, DEH P650, DEH P750MP, DEH P850MP, DEH P940MP, DEX-P9, DEH P360, DEH P460MP, DEH P560MP, DEH P660, DEH P760MP, DEH P860MP, DEH P960MP, DEH P8MP

From XM411.com

I would go with the Pioneer one though. It allows IP bus through pu for add on module such as cd changer, dvd changer, tv tuner, etc...

I have a Pioneer DEH P7600MP, Pioneer 12 disc changer, and Pioneers XM tuner. Love the setup and everything..

**mgithens** · 11-18-2004, 01:17 PM

"IP bus through pu "

not sure what you meant here... but I assume you mean that you can have more than one device on the IP bus if I go with the pioneer unit... ??

I definitely have to have this to get my audio inputs into the deck... make sense?? (thanks for your input)

**mgithens** · 11-23-2004, 12:54 AM

Ok, so now my next question... you seem to have basically the setup I am after, but I have no need for a cd changer (as of now), but I do want to use the AUX input. Turns out they offer two P-bus adapters - the RB10 and RB20, the difference being that the RB20 has the pass through connection. So I would think that I would only need one pass through?? So cost wise I can either spend $75 on XMDirect and $55 on RB20 (for $130 total) or I can spend $135 on Pioneer XM tuner and $25 on RB10 (for $160 total).

I am not positive that this setup is correct but it seems as though the XMDirect needs to be "the end of the line", and the RB10 also acts this way. So if the daisy chain mentality than I am understanding is correct then I can get away with the XMDirect and the RB20...??

(thanks again for your response... steer me right...)

**mgithens** · 11-29-2004, 12:31 PM

current status... I bought the XMDirect unit, and it does in fact work with the Pioneer P5000MP. It doesn't display any info on the LCD screen (I didn't think it would), but it seems like a fairly easy task to display the info on the screen... the info is displayed on the head unit (as expected) but it just shows one line of info at a time (channel number, channel name, category, artist, song name)... too bad, it would be a major bonus if all of these would show on the LCD...

The RB20 Aux adapter is in the mail, I will be able to test them together this week. One unusual thing that I have noticed as of now, is that the XM radio feed plays when I select XM radio and I have full control... but when I select AUX (as of now without the AUX adapter) the XM feed is audible, but there are no tuning controls - it just plays whatever station I left it on... so this is beginning to make me wonder if the RB20 is gonna work, but only testing will tell...

**mgithens** · 12-07-2004, 01:36 AM

the STUPID thing works exactly as I feared... the audio feeds just keep on coming in regardless of which input is selected... either XM or AUX and you hear both feeds coming through...

I think I am dumping the Pioneer connector and getting the serial cable and just running the whole thing through the car computer... it sucks still, but the side effect is that I will have all the song info on the LCD now...

but CRAP, this sucks... oh well... hopefully my post will keep someone from running into the same problems as me...