XM on Carputer THE GUIDE

**tbird2340** · 07-02-2005, 10:40 AM

UPDATE

I'm now getting channels to show up. Still have a quesiton.

Which program am I supposed to use? Thanks

**jcdillin** · 07-02-2005, 11:03 AM

well i'm looking for the xmdebug program right now, because thats the best way to make sure you are getting the correct signals

if the screen is blue on the frodo XM application that means that the skin path is wrong in the ini file

but you should be able to use either one

on a side note, does this thread look screwed up to anyone else, it's squashed for some reason

**jcdillin** · 07-02-2005, 11:04 AM

lol, too slow

you can use either program

the frodo radio application is faster as far as getting channels and starting up, but I like the built-in player because it doesnt have as many preformance issues. ie the frodo radio application has a bad habit of locking up sometimes and you have to reboot the machine

**MoFo** · 08-13-2005, 12:50 AM

My XMPCR stopped working so I'm going to have to give this a shot.
I just got one of these cables and I'm going to get a XM direct. I noticed this cable has a molex cable and needs to get 12v from a ATX style power supply.
The only thing is...I'm hooking it up to a laptop. I dont have a power supply giving me a 12v power connector.

Whats to best way to hook up a XM direct to my laptop using the cable discussed in this thread?

by the way, my laptop is powered by an inverter.

**tbird2340** · 08-14-2005, 10:30 AM

You could just tap into your head units 12V..

**Viscouse** · 08-15-2005, 01:55 PM

This seems like it would nicely fit the bill for a 8-pin to DB9 cable. A bargain at $7...
http://www.pccables.com/cgi-bin/orde...les.com&rcode=

But it doesn't seem to match up quite right.
Darn...so close. I even thought about swapping pins, but the DB9 seems molded & unservicable. Better to just make a new one.

**BoyNextDoor** · 08-15-2005, 02:03 PM

if anyone needs the "tools" to fix up your own cable (connectors [9-pin mini-din, serial w/housing], cables 8-pin mini-din 6' long with two male connectors) let me know, b/c i'm selling them off. I don't want to bother with fixing them up anymore. I'll sell the accessories of one cable (everything included) for $8 shipped. And you have the fun of soldering it together. Let me know... i have about 15 avilible...

**Viscouse** · 08-15-2005, 02:43 PM

Does anyone think that it would be possible to use phone cord (the 4-wire kind) to build the cable with? Would the wires be too small to carry the signal?
I feel a little silly making a huge 9-wire cable when you only need 3 wires. I can make a phonejack->serial header cable and a DIN8->phone plug cable and I'm good to go.

But I'm wary of the small phone wires. Any opinions?

**BoyNextDoor** · 08-15-2005, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Viscouse

Does anyone think that it would be possible to use phone cord (the 4-wire kind) to build the cable with? Would the wires be too small to carry the signal?
I feel a little silly making a huge 9-wire cable when you only need 3 wires. I can make a phonejack->serial header cable and a DIN8->phone plug cable and I'm good to go.

But I'm wary of the small phone wires. Any opinions?

you need at least five wires. 3 for the serial, and 2 for power... i woildn't do it with any other cable b/c interference...

**Viscouse** · 08-15-2005, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by BoyNextDoor

you need at least five wires. 3 for the serial, and 2 for power... i woildn't do it with any other cable b/c interference...

I need 3. I have a commander that is already wired intot he car. I will not change any power (and I wouldn't carry power in the same cabel anyway, just like your cable), just signal. There are 3 signal wires.

Question still stands.