Finally, got the XM Direct working as PCR

**kingtut** · 10-20-2004, 01:35 AM

I built an interface cable as per published pinout, thanks to mitchjs for this and for answering my questions through tons of PMs.

BIG time thanks go to NOS TANG for all the info & support and the endless emails back & forth.

I wrote very small program in VB .NET to shoot the magic bytes down to the direct. If I have time this week I should be able to add command line param for port assignment so that it is not interactive, I will place it in the startup group so that it should take care of initializing the direct for me.

I tested the interface using XtreMePCR (ROCKS) and TimeTrax (****TY SW by the way, don't know what the fuss is all about - time shift does not turn me on

)

Man, it took me a while to get it working, the problem was with the serial to USB interface, once I moved it to another USB slot, it worked.

-The King

**frodobaggins** · 10-20-2004, 01:51 AM

Reminds me, I have to test mine now.

**kingtut** · 10-20-2004, 02:03 AM

Ya, you need a break man, that would be the best "brain/mind" vacation you can have.

Looks like I will build another interface, one for the carpc and one for the basementPC

- it took 10 minutes to activate, love it.

Ah, almost forgot: **** EBAY!!!

**KMorphosis** · 10-20-2004, 10:34 AM

Mr Baggins..

Can you add the pinouts that King is talking about to the sticky for schem/dia??

That would be so kind....

Neways-- nice job tut.. got some pics of your setup yet? and are you gonna post the program that sends the commands?

**edikp** · 10-20-2004, 11:36 AM

kingtut, how is the sound quality of this XMDirect-converted-to-PCR? Is it better/same/worse if compared with the XM-PCR with toslink converter installed? If you've had a chance to compare the two, of course.

**kingtut** · 10-20-2004, 01:15 PM

I am on the road now, don't have time to answer all, I just want to make it clear to all, it is not my effort, I don't take credit for what I did, I just connected the dots, there are a lot more people here and over at xmfan that deserve the credit, I am not one of them. Will answer all of you latter.

**frugalmail** · 11-15-2004, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by edikp

kingtut, how is the sound quality of this XMDirect-converted-to-PCR? Is it better/same/worse if compared with the XM-PCR with toslink converter installed? If you've had a chance to compare the two, of course.

Why should there be any different, it's still using audio out, the cable just allows you to change channels and get track/station info, right?

**stevewm** · 11-16-2004, 09:20 AM

They should sound the same! Espcially if using the digital output!

All 2nd generation XM receivers use the same exact receiver module.

2nd gen. receivers include the SkyFi1, Roady 1, XMPCR, XMDirect/Commander, Polk Component Receiver, and some newer headunits with XM built in.