Thread: Powering XM Commander

I would assume you should be able to do it (if its based on the same box), however, I would look at some tech docs first -- if you don't have/can't read those, it would be something to ask the guys on the hardware sub-forums.

Originally Posted by bruha

I've been playing around with an XM Direct XMD1000 box and an XM Commander box (the same thing except it has FM modulator and external power). The XM direct gets it power through the 8-pin connector, while the XM Commander has an external connector to get its power.

Can I power the XM Commander through the 8-pin connector without hurting anything?

I think the problem people are having with the XM Commander boxes not working in RR might be how it gets powered, and I want to check without damaging my XM Commander.

The answer is unequivicably YES! I have Commanders in all my cars and it can be powered either way without damage. I ran mine for years off the USB.

Two things to note about the Commander: a) On the negative side, text is limited to 15 characters whereas the newer 1000s can do 32(or was that 30) characters. On the positive side, if you power it off the external with the FM modulator hooked up - you can use it with or without the carPC.

Originally Posted by bruha

Ok, I powered it up and it works, but not in RR.

There is definitely something different between the two boxes, and RR doesn't like the Commander.

GizmoQ, have you ever had any success with running your XM Commanders within RR? I'm thinking about just buying a XM Direct box and transferring my activation.

All the time! RR doesn't care if its a commander or an XMD, it doesn't see any difference in my boxes. They may have changed something in the newer commanders (I haven't bought on in over a year) but the trick for me was initializing the USB driver. Its been a while but it sometimes would initialize as an HID Device and I had to manually update that so it would come up as a serial port.

Otherwise, I know RR initializes the port at startup so I believe if you're running a fast PC or cut power to the Commander everytime you shutdown or both, RR is trying to initialize a box thats not ready. Try powering the external power connector, plug it into the commander, and run Timetrax to initialize it outside RR. Then close Timetrax, wait 10-15 seconds and run RR. Everything should work. I think I remember this issue once before, but since all mine are powered off the external connector it doesn't affect me.

Another benefit of using the external power connector and FM modulator (at least for me) is I get to listen to the last XM station tuned without the PC or Commander headunit just by dialing it in on the headunit.

Hope this helps,

Giz