Receive XM on a Home Stereo System
Buyers of new cars by General Motors, Toyota and other manufacturers are familiar with XM satellite radio because it is a built-in feature. But if you want to take the sounds of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour or Willie's Place from your car to your home stereo, it's not complicated. Buy a home kit from XM Radio or an XM-licensed vendor and within a half hour you'll be listening to XM on your home stereo system.
Instructions
Receiving XM on Your Home Stereo
1. Purchase an XM receiver and Home Kit, which will include a power cord, antenna, home cradle and audio cable to connect your home cradle to your stereo. Open both packages. Turn off power to your home stereo. Connect the home cradle found in your Home Kit to the power cord provided in the Home Kit. Plug in the XM antenna provided in the Home Kit to the home cradle. Connect the audio cable to your stereo's auxiliary audio input port. Attach the other end of the audio cable to the home cradle's output port.
2. Unwrap the bundle of cable that is already attached to your antenna unit. Position the unit on a window or exterior wall facing south so that it can properly pick up the XM satellite signal. Plug the home cradle power card into the wall outlet. Position your XM receiver in the home cradle, and turn on the receiver. Press the "Menu" button on your receiver, and select "Antenna Aiming" by using the arrow and "select" buttons. Position your antenna so that at least two bars are activated. Once you have found the strongest signal, hit the "Menu" button twice, and your antenna has now been programmed to function.
3. Activate your XM receiver by maneuvering the arrow buttons on the unit to find channel 0, which will display an eight-digit XM radio ID. Call XM Radio at 1-800-967-2346, tell the customer service representative your receiver ID and be prepared to pay for your satellite radio service with a credit card. Consumers may also activate their receivers by visiting activate.xmradio.com. Wait 10 to 15 minutes while XM sends a signal from its satellites to your receiver. Once that is done and your full channel lineup appears, you may listen to XM by depressing the auxiliary button on your stereo.
Tags: home cradle, your receiver, audio cable, your antenna, your home stereo