Need advice about XM-RVR-FM001 and mp3car.com USB Adapter for XM Direct

**plbyrd** · 03-13-2009, 08:21 AM

I have not hooked this up yet as I wanted to know if anyone had an opinion first so I could avoid a warranty claim. I purchased an mp3car.com USB Adapter for XM Direct. Since the XMD1000 was not in stock, I ordered one from a vendor who shall remain nameless for now. The item I received is an XM-RVR-FM-001.

I have a couple of questions:
1) Is this XM Direct receiver compatible with the USB Adapter? Has anyone actually tested this?
2) The XM-RVR-FM-001 has a power connector, but I'm assuming that it would only be necessary if using the FM modulation and not when powered by the controller/head unit. Correct?
3) If I need to supply power to the XM-RVR-FM-001 separately, does anybody know the pinout and what male plug to use as the unit did not come with a power cable.

Thanks!
Payton

**GizmoQ** · 03-13-2009, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by plbyrd

I have not hooked this up yet as I wanted to know if anyone had an opinion first so I could avoid a warranty claim. I purchased an mp3car.com USB Adapter for XM Direct. Since the XMD1000 was not in stock, I ordered one from a vendor who shall remain nameless for now. The item I received is an XM-RVR-FM-001.

I have a couple of questions:
1) Is this XM Direct receiver compatible with the USB Adapter? Has anyone actually tested this?
2) The XM-RVR-FM-001 has a power connector, but I'm assuming that it would only be necessary if using the FM modulation and not when powered by the controller/head unit. Correct?
3) If I need to supply power to the XM-RVR-FM-001 separately, does anybody know the pinout and what male plug to use as the unit did not come with a power cable.

Thanks!
Payton

1. Yes, I have one of these in each of my cars. Works great for me cause sometimes I don't have my tablet in a car and all I have to do is plug in it's headunit and the FM modulator and I still get XM. Tested and running for three years.
2. Yes, but.... Using RR the XM module needs to be on before the PC and because I do the above, I have it powered via power jack.
3. If you bought it new it should have come with the power jack. The plug is identical to the 4 Pin Molex P4 12V Power Connector. The pinout when viewing the back while plugged into the unit:

________^_______
|.empty..|.ground|
|--------|-------|
|...red....|.yellow|
------------------

Goog luck with your install.

**plbyrd** · 03-14-2009, 05:30 AM

OK, I've got it wired up and the USB driver installed. Centrafuse finds the USB XM-Direct controller, but there are no channels listed. The behavior is the same whether the XM-Direct is plugged into the USB adapter. Is there an external tool that can be used to trouble-shoot the setup?

**mitchjs** · 03-15-2009, 10:31 PM

on my site
downloads section

XMID, (xm interface demo)

but you should have gotten a XM Direct 2, and the interface from mp3car!

**plbyrd** · 03-16-2009, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by mitchjs

on my site
downloads section

XMID, (xm interface demo)

but you should have gotten a XM Direct 2, and the interface from mp3car!

OK, I got the only USB interface for XM on the mp3car.com site. Can you point me to the page for the correct item? If I cannot get this working I'll send the "old model" back to mp3car.com and get the correct one.

**Bugbyte** · 03-16-2009, 10:06 AM

You should all the parts you need to make it work. Use Mitch's XMID to check it.

He's just saying you should have bought HIS interface for the XM Direct 2 at the store.

**plbyrd** · 03-16-2009, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by mitchjs

on my site
downloads section

XMID, (xm interface demo)

OK, I downloaded XMID and it does not find the XM Radio. What happens is that when you start the software after about 4 seconds it announces that no radio is found. I turned on the debug window and then used the ON button in XMID and I get this output:

LOOKING FOR XM RADIO ON PORT COM12
TO XM: 5A A5 00 01 31 ED ED
LOOKING FOR XM RADIO ON PORT COM1
TO XM: 5A A5 00 01 31 ED ED

The mp3car.com USB Adapter is located on COM12 (confirmed in Device Manager under ports).

I get the same result regardless of whether the XM Direct is plugged into the adapter or not.

**plbyrd** · 03-16-2009, 10:22 AM

OK, I just did some digging on XM Direct 2. According to the following page the unit already includes USB for programming the unit. Does it also mean you can simply hook up the XM Direct 2 directly to the PC for controlling the unit? Is it possible to get the audio digitially over the USB? Finally, does it work with Centrafuse?

http://www.xmradio.com/xmdirect2/index.xmc

**Bugbyte** · 03-16-2009, 10:27 AM

Are you supplying the XM adaptor from mp3car with 12 volts? If not, the XM Direct won't get any juice and won't turn on.

**plbyrd** · 03-16-2009, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

Are you supplying the XM adaptor from mp3car with 12 volts? If not, the XM Direct won't get any juice and won't turn on.

Yes, I'm using the supplied power cord for the adapter. I am also supplying 12VDC to the XM Direct using a cable wired per the instructions above. The USB Adapter is working in-so-much as the computer recognizes it and it shows up as a device in the ports. Other than that, I have no idea if it works. It would be nice to have a diagnostic program for the adapter to rule it out as the problem. After reading about the XM Direct 2 this morning I have more than half a mind to just go to Best Buy and pick one up and return the mp3car adapter and send the XM Direct back to the place I got it.