I just finished installing the Soundgate adapter that allows the Kenwood Sirius unit to work with the factory GM Class 2 radio.

My 03 Duramax Silverado had factory XM and this works just the same, the display and functions are identical to the factory XM and the steering wheel controls everything except the preset program scan.

This entire install cost me less than $75, I had the Sirius antenna and the Kenwood Sirius unit is free with activation, I only had to buy the Soundgate adapter.
This now makes me 6 satalite radios http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif , I have XM in my wifes car, my company truck, my PC, and in my Impala SS show car, my daughter has Sirius in her car and now in my truck

The install is quick and simple, the Soundgate adapter plugs into the back of the factory radio and needs a constant power and ground, the Kenwood Sirius reciever recieves its power thru the buss cable and requires no seperate power, I ran the antenna thru the cab light so no drilling required, the antenna is so small you can't even see it behind the cab light, I mounted the receiver behind the glove box in a simalar location of the factory XM receiver.

Here are a few pics of the install...................

http://www.rtol.net/scornell/sir1.jpg
Here is the Soundgate adapter and the Kenwood Sirius receiver, there is plenty of cable included if you would want to mount the receiver elseware (since it requires no power wiring) like behind or under the seat.

http://www.rtol.net/scornell/sir2.jpg
Here is the Receiver installed, I secured it with the Kenwood brackets and a couple zipties around some factory mounting brackets.

http://www.rtol.net/scornell/sir3.jpg
The Sirius informatiuon displays and scrolls just like the factory XM.

http://www.rtol.net/scornell/sir4.jpg
The Serius antenns behind the cab light, I shortened the wire cover so it's only about 2" behind the light, if you don't have cab lights you could bring the wire out thru the 3rd brake light, I cut a small notch in the gasket for the antenna wire and place some black silicone under the gasket.

If you prefer XM, you can also get a Soundgate adapter for the Pioneer XM receiver or purchase the factory kit.


on edit: You can also add a Kenwood CD changer by simply plugging it into the XM receiver and it will also be controlled by the factory head unit.Edited by: Steve Cornell

Looks Great!

In fact, with that post, I just ordered mine. I have an FM modulated Sirius tuner and I saw this post and loved the factory "look".http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

One question, where did you mount the receiver? I see the pic, but cant quite figure out where that is.

Thanks for the info,
John

John,

The receiver is mounted behind the glove box, push on the tab on the right side of the glove box and lower it down and you can see where it's mounted, be sure to not mount it too close to the air return door you will see with the glove box down

Where did you purchase your SoundGate at? I checked Best Buy online as well as sirius.com and could not find a source. Also, do you know if this will work on an 05 in dash 6 disc changer. I did not order the XM option, but are the radios the same (a plug on the back of the radio for xm) Thanks for your help, this was exactly what I was looking for!!

I purchased my Soundgate adapter through a local car audio shop.

Yes the adapter will work with the 05 and the 6 disc, you unplug the 6 disc and plug it back into the Soundgate harness.

Steve-

Thanks!

John

So.....now for the $60,000. dollar question:


Which do you like bettter,


Sirius or XM ?

So.....now for the $60,000. dollar question:


Which do you like bettter,


Sirius or XM ?

IMHO, both have their good points.

I have both, XM in the sub and sirius in a couple of trucks.

Sirius has better sound quality IMO. But only on the music channels. The talk channels is a lower quality. (fine by me)

XM "seems" to have a better selection of music. They tend to play more variety. XM has good sound quality, but sounds (computerized, digitalized, for lack of a better description)...

Sirius carries the NFL games. XM, Nascar.

Its really personal preference on that..

Either way you go, Satellite radio is so much better than FM.

Johnhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I just want to thank you guys ahead of time. Check out SIRI on the stock market. It's a good time to buy, if you don't believe me compare it to XMSR from last year. Sirius subscriber base is almost 10X's what it was last year and still very affordable.

I just want to thank you guys ahead of time. Check out SIRI on the stock market. It's a good time to buy, if you don't believe me compare it to XMSR from last year. Sirius subscriber base is almost 10X's what it was last year and still very affordable.


You should have checked it out about a year and a half ago. 0.30/share X __?__ = how much today!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

How do you get a free kenwood sirius unit with activation? Also, is there a specific version of the Soundgate that's needed?


thanks!

You need to find a Kenwood dealer and they can set you up.

The Soundgate unit you need for Sirius is KNGM1
here's their web site http://www.soundgate.com/products/cd/chevy.htm

I would highly recommend finding a shop that is a dealer for Kenwood and Soundgate and order the Soundgate adapter from them, The dealer will be much more willing to help you out with the Kenwood unit if you buy something from them.

The "free" Sirius offer may no longer be available?? if not you can buy the Kenwood Sirius receiver for $50.

What does the soundgate do? I have factory XM, seems OK but get lots of dropouts, especially when heading East along a tree lined road. STill can see clear sky above but get sporadic drops, frustrating. Dealer replaced cable to antenna but doesn't seem to have helped. Apparently they can have a kink (per XM tech service) that can affectperformance. Seems to me the SIRIUS mount used above makes more sense...middle of the truck closer to middle of the road. I would have switched the XM and Onstar antenna for the same reason.

Anyone else with lots of dropouts? Solutions?

Steve-

Quick question. I've just installed the same setup as you, only a couple of differences. My truck has the Bose 6 disk, and is using a SR903 Kenwood with the Soundgate adapter.

When you change channels, do you get a slight pause of 1-2 seconds before the sound gets to 100%? I can change channels, and the sound is muted- very muffled- than it comes up and on just as it should.

I'm thinking it's normal, but figured it was worth asking you to see what you thought.

Thanks!

When you see the display on your stock radio, does it give you the artist and catagory?

I just completed my conversion this weekend and it works great. I do get the pause between stations (with no noise), but it was that way when this system was in my 90 with the Kenwood head. I have the bose 6 disk changer also. Only one slight problem is that the display does not always keep up with what's playing. Example: I have it set to display the artist. If the artists name is longer than the display will allow, about 1 out of 50 times when the next artist comes on, the display shows the remaining previous name. Pushing the INFO button several times until I see what I want displayed shows up works, or waiting until the next artist.

DmaxYukon, I'm not sure if you were asking MinnDmax the question or in general, but I'll answer it anyway. Yes, it does show the display (artist, channel, category, song, ect) but one at a time.

I really like the soungate, quite pricey for no more than you get, but I have heard those connectors are expensive. Sure beats having a modulator. Thanks for the insight Steve...

Ordered my stuff yesterday. Went to the local moble audio dealer and they wanted $80 for the antenna alone! ebay: $26. They were getting $49 for the Sirius receiver, but again eBay: $35. Got the Soundgate for $80

edit: well, try finding a soundgate in stock anyplace! the one I ordered apparently wasn't in stock. However I did manage to get one (actually 2, but that's another story!) shipped yesterday for $120

Installed yesterday. Took about 4 hours, mostly 'cause of a lot of investigative work on where everything should go.

The antenna wire is just long enough to run through the third brake light at the top of the cab, down the back piller, through the floor boards and up the passenger kick panel on a crew cab. Had about 6 inches left, just enough to plug into the kenwood receiver. However I was not able to find a secure place to mount the kenwood behind the glove box, so I pulled the antenna wire and put the kenwood under the back seat.

To install the Soundgate, I pulled the dash trim and removed the factory radio, the the wires on the back were too short to get my hand behind for the disconnect. So I had to remove the temp. control just below so I could tilt the radio down and get my hand behind.

I connected the Soundgate power to the hot lead on the lighter -- I had to trim just a bit of the tab that comes on the Soundgate's power lead to insert it into the lighter plug. Got a nut/bolt and grounded the black to the metal brace behind the glove box and just let the Soundgate sit behind the dash under the little dash compartment (which I had to remove to get at the lighter plug).

Works Great!

Does anyone have a link for the Soundgate. This sounds like a great idea.

Thanks

http://www.soundgate.com/ :D

thanks max...I did not read page two.

Does the Soundgate work if you don't have factory XM?? Also, where did you get the free Kenwood Serious receiver??

Does the Soundgate work if you don't have factory XM?? Also, where did you get the free Kenwood Serious receiver??
The soundgate is just an expensive little converter that converts a sirius signal to one that the factory radio will be able to use. So, yes, the Soundgate will work if you don't have the factory XM. Sirius was giving out free stuff a couple years ago when they were at the make it or break it stage. I got a free tuner, antenna and RF modulator, all made by Kenwood. I have not heard about more free stuff, but there are forums out there where you can find out if they are or ane not. I would ASSUME that they are not. Well worth and amount of money spent on the satellite radio!

Steve or Don.... What kind of silicone did you use to seal where you routed the antenna wire through? is it better to go through the 3rd brake light or the middle clearance? I got the sirius home and auto pack with the small contol head. works great. would like to have had the NASCAR channel but thats gonna have to wait. I get pwr for the control unit through the cig lighter.... can I splice that wire into the radio pwr wires ? I have the pro-fit mount coming and just want ot clean up the "wire jungle" some. Thanx guys... Happy new year..... Billy