Guys need some help...
Have a 1-week-old Cayman (non-S) with Bose. The audio shop (not the dealer) installed an XM Commander that only sporadically works.
Symptom: XM Commander works great for a day or two; then for no reason will not turn on (head unit still works fine though). If I'm extremely lucky it will eventually turn back on but I have not identified any combination of events or alignment of the stars that is relevant.
Took the car back to installer and they "changed the power connection to fuse box and ground connection" for the XM COmmander unit, and the system began to work again. Then a day later same symptoms (Commander dies, everything elase works).
Things I am curious about - perhaps you can shed some light:
(1) Is there any "trickery" going on with the Porsche electronics where the system "checks" a connection and turns it on based on some analysis?
(2) If so, can my symptom be remedied by connecting the XM Commander to the 12v outlet on the Bose sub enclosure? I have read on this site that some folks connect the XM Commander that way.
(3) It seems odd that with the key in the "off" position I can run the head unit (FM or other) but the XM Commander powers down (on those few instances when it was actually working). Seems like it should act just like the head unit (syat on until key removed). Thoughts?
I am loosing confidence in the installer, and want some advice before I go back for my "final showdown" with them. They need to either fix the blasted thing or take it out and give me a refund.
Thanks in advance for the help.
The problem must be your installer or your Commander. I had one installed and have had no problems. I wish I could be of more help but did not do the install myself.
Problem resolved! The hidden XM Commander unit had gone bad. Replaced it - everything works as it should.
Info on XM Module...
Can you give me some info on this product? How much, where purchased, can do yourself, features???
Anything to help educate me
Thanks!
Sure PACayman...
The "XM Commander" is made by Terk. It has just recently been discontinued because a new replacement product is imminent. Too bad - the XM Commander fits perfectly in the small storage area beneath the radio and in front of the gear shift. No word from Terk on when the replacement product will be released, or whether it will be the same size. A few pics enclosed.
If I were installing right now I would purchase one new-in-box from ebay for $100 (roughly) and install it myself. I had an audio shop do it when they tinted the windows - but it really did not look that difficult. Some hints:
(1) Wire to the a fuse location that is hot only with ignition on (that way you do not have to tur off the unit manually when you exit the car.
(2) See picture for location of antenna. No signal loss and not very obtrusive. There are a couple of locations that are alternatives that are perhaps less obtrusive than the location I chose - one is inside the car in the dash very near the outside location (you may experience some signal degradation in this location); the other is underneath the plastic "cover" that is just in front of the wipers (this would be invisible but would be a more involved install).
Feel free to post with additional questions - I'll help however I can.
Ebay link for a unit:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TERK-XM-COMMAND...itemZ140122337808QQihZ004QQcategoryZ109258QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
where have you been
PACayman,
thought you were lost, where have you been?
are you selling? car that matches yours was listed for sale in PA?
welcome back!
I have actually ordered one of these off of eBay, as it appears to be the only solution that I find acceptible in terms of mounting.
So, putting that aside, where did you fellows mount the remote tuner unit? I am thinking it will fit easily in the storage slot where the Porsche CD changer would go.
And I am assuming that doing so would require that I run the radio (not the satellite) antenna lead from the back of the factory radio to the XM tuner, and back again, along with the control cable for the display panel?
I did try to find the manual for the Commander kit, but all I located was the head unit instructions.
Best Regards,
Brian
The easy way is to install the XM remote unit inside the car (not in the under-hood area where the CD changer is). The area behind the radio is free and contains plenty of room for the remote unit, and it makes connection via the FM antenna easy (plug the FM lead from the original unit into the XM control module, then run the supplied lead from the XM control module to the original radio). Also makes it easy to grab power from the fuse block by the drivers left foot. Would not recommend using the 12v power socket on the Bose bass unit as that lead is hot all the time (I preferred to have the XM unit go off when ignition turned off).
One more question David.....
Did you need to get adapters for the radio antenna cables? I think I read somewhere that the antenna plugs for our cars are different in size frm the US standard.
And if so, are they a regular "radio shack" kind of part?
Best Regards
Brian
Never mind!
K-manS's article had a link for the adapters.
Brian
Glad you found the info - I was traveling on business for a few days and could not get to the site...
Hope all goes well.
