aldive
Elite In Memoriam
- Joined
- January 17, 2001
- Messages
- 24,569
- Reaction score
- 30
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1999 XLT
I recently purchased an Alpine CDA-9883 HU ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192029&highlight=alpine ) and have now decided to get my hands on their Sirius Satellite radio ( http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1018209032790 ) add on ( http://www.crutchfield.com/S-pSlflTrlj8C/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=700SIRALPc ) to augment the HU’s capabilities [ is HD radio ( http://www.crutchfield.com/S-z5MhEcm9KAK/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=500TUAT500 ) on the horizon for me? Maybe; time will tell ].
I purchased the Sirius/Alpine package from Crutchfield ( http://www.crutchfield.com/ ). The cost delivered to my door was $130.97.
The package includes the Sirius Connect Universal Tuner ( SC-C1 - http://www.crutchfield.com/S-C32zQC87Js1/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=607scc1 ) and the Alpine KCA-SC100 Sirius Adapter ( http://www.crutchfield.com/S-C32zQC87Js1/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=500KCASC10 ) as well as the required cables. The KCA-SC100 Ai-Net Adapter lets you control a Sirius satellite radio with the Alpine HU.
I started the installation by routing the tiny magnetic base antenna ( 1.605" wide x 0.505" tall x 2.005" deep ) from a position in the center of the roof toward the rear ( where my old XM antenna was located. The 21’ antenna cable was routed under the liftgate through a cut in the weather striping ( resealed with black RTV ) then to the passenger side headliner molding, down the A pillar and under the carpet to the center console, and to the SC-CI tuner. The excess cable was bundled in the console.
The SC-CI tuner as well as the KCA-SC100 Ai-Net interface was mounted inside the center console ( to a previously made a plywood frame with various sized compartments ) with 3M molding tape ( http://www.amazon.com/3M-COMPANY-03609-Molding-Tape/dp/B000BO913C ) as shown in the photograph.
The SC-CI tuner was connected to the KCA-SC100 Ai-Net interface via the included 8 pin DIN SiriusConnect Interface cable. The excess ( and there was plenty ) was coiled and tie wrapped. Too bad shorter cables are not an option.
The 63” Ai-Net cable ( that integrates power, audio and control through a single connection ) from the KCA-SC100 Ai-Net interface was routed through in the plywood frame and under the console to the HU and attached via the AI-Net connector on the HU. The included power harness for the KCA-SC100 Ai-Net interface was also routed through the hole and connected to ignition switched 12v power and to ground.
Alas, time to fire it up. I selected the source button on the HU and it switched from tuner to Sirius to CD to iPod.
I noticed on the Alpine packaging that the components were “made in China”; not too comforting to me due to the recent Chinese goods fiasco. Also, the HU, Alpine CDA-9883, was made in China.
The new goodies promptly arrived and the above install procedure was repeated.
With fingers crossed, the system was started and this time the satellite radio worked perfectly.
Telephone activation is available by a brief call to Sirius ( 888-539-7474 ). The ID/ESN number of the receiver and a credit card is needed for activation. Online activation can also be accomplished at https://home.sirius.com/; I opted for the later method. Several subscription plans are available; I opted for the yearly plan ( $142.25 ) to save a little money. There was a one time $15.00 activation fee.
The activation of the satellite radio took about 1 minute.
The installation took only an hour the second in the stifling Florida heat/humidity.
With the Alpine CDA-9883 HU, one can store 6 Sirius satellite channels ( of the 198 available from Sirius ), on the same buttons that the radio stations are stored, and have one touch access. The following features are available:
Quick Search: Use Quick Search to browse all artists and songs currently playing on all channels.
Music Alerts: You can get alerted when your favorite songs or artists are being broadcast. With the push of a button, you can jump right to that broadcast and catch the songs you want to listen to.
Instant Replay: This feature supports the SIRIUS Replay function, so you can pause, rewind, and replay live broadcasts for up to 44 minutes. This way you can listen to your favorite programming again at your convenience.
Game Alert: Your Ai-Net Alpine head-unit will be able to display a text message if your favorite teams' games are being broadcast. You can jump to that broadcast with the push of a button so you can listen to your game play-by-play. You can also get the latest score updates while you listen to other broadcasts.
I have yet to utilize all of the above features but an impending 1500 mile road trip to the ranch near Atlanta will allow me to “learn the ropes”.
One feature, or better stated, lack of the feature, was a way to enter a channel via a keypad ( on the HU or remote ). I could easily accomplish this with my XM remote. Nevertheless, once my favorite channels ( 6 ) are stored, this will likely be a non issue.
As was expected the Sirius satellite radio’s audio quality is amazing. I am no stranger to satellite radio since I have had XM for years ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72754&highlight=skifi ). The main reason I left XM is the better Sirius compatibility with the CDA-9883 HU ( the sports programming [ college - http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1096483195628 and NFL football - http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1156176860909 as well as NASCAR - http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Genre&cid=1160595941547 ] was also a major deciding factor ).
I can only hope the not to distant merger ( http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/17/ap4030631.html ) of XM and Sirius will not dictate the purchase of new hardware.
I purchased the Sirius/Alpine package from Crutchfield ( http://www.crutchfield.com/ ). The cost delivered to my door was $130.97.
The package includes the Sirius Connect Universal Tuner ( SC-C1 - http://www.crutchfield.com/S-C32zQC87Js1/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=607scc1 ) and the Alpine KCA-SC100 Sirius Adapter ( http://www.crutchfield.com/S-C32zQC87Js1/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=500KCASC10 ) as well as the required cables. The KCA-SC100 Ai-Net Adapter lets you control a Sirius satellite radio with the Alpine HU.
I started the installation by routing the tiny magnetic base antenna ( 1.605" wide x 0.505" tall x 2.005" deep ) from a position in the center of the roof toward the rear ( where my old XM antenna was located. The 21’ antenna cable was routed under the liftgate through a cut in the weather striping ( resealed with black RTV ) then to the passenger side headliner molding, down the A pillar and under the carpet to the center console, and to the SC-CI tuner. The excess cable was bundled in the console.
The SC-CI tuner as well as the KCA-SC100 Ai-Net interface was mounted inside the center console ( to a previously made a plywood frame with various sized compartments ) with 3M molding tape ( http://www.amazon.com/3M-COMPANY-03609-Molding-Tape/dp/B000BO913C ) as shown in the photograph.
The SC-CI tuner was connected to the KCA-SC100 Ai-Net interface via the included 8 pin DIN SiriusConnect Interface cable. The excess ( and there was plenty ) was coiled and tie wrapped. Too bad shorter cables are not an option.
The 63” Ai-Net cable ( that integrates power, audio and control through a single connection ) from the KCA-SC100 Ai-Net interface was routed through in the plywood frame and under the console to the HU and attached via the AI-Net connector on the HU. The included power harness for the KCA-SC100 Ai-Net interface was also routed through the hole and connected to ignition switched 12v power and to ground.
Alas, time to fire it up. I selected the source button on the HU and it switched from tuner to Sirius to CD to iPod.
I noticed on the Alpine packaging that the components were “made in China”; not too comforting to me due to the recent Chinese goods fiasco. Also, the HU, Alpine CDA-9883, was made in China.
The new goodies promptly arrived and the above install procedure was repeated.
With fingers crossed, the system was started and this time the satellite radio worked perfectly.
Telephone activation is available by a brief call to Sirius ( 888-539-7474 ). The ID/ESN number of the receiver and a credit card is needed for activation. Online activation can also be accomplished at https://home.sirius.com/; I opted for the later method. Several subscription plans are available; I opted for the yearly plan ( $142.25 ) to save a little money. There was a one time $15.00 activation fee.
The activation of the satellite radio took about 1 minute.
The installation took only an hour the second in the stifling Florida heat/humidity.
With the Alpine CDA-9883 HU, one can store 6 Sirius satellite channels ( of the 198 available from Sirius ), on the same buttons that the radio stations are stored, and have one touch access. The following features are available:
Quick Search: Use Quick Search to browse all artists and songs currently playing on all channels.
Music Alerts: You can get alerted when your favorite songs or artists are being broadcast. With the push of a button, you can jump right to that broadcast and catch the songs you want to listen to.
Instant Replay: This feature supports the SIRIUS Replay function, so you can pause, rewind, and replay live broadcasts for up to 44 minutes. This way you can listen to your favorite programming again at your convenience.
Game Alert: Your Ai-Net Alpine head-unit will be able to display a text message if your favorite teams' games are being broadcast. You can jump to that broadcast with the push of a button so you can listen to your game play-by-play. You can also get the latest score updates while you listen to other broadcasts.
I have yet to utilize all of the above features but an impending 1500 mile road trip to the ranch near Atlanta will allow me to “learn the ropes”.
One feature, or better stated, lack of the feature, was a way to enter a channel via a keypad ( on the HU or remote ). I could easily accomplish this with my XM remote. Nevertheless, once my favorite channels ( 6 ) are stored, this will likely be a non issue.
As was expected the Sirius satellite radio’s audio quality is amazing. I am no stranger to satellite radio since I have had XM for years ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72754&highlight=skifi ). The main reason I left XM is the better Sirius compatibility with the CDA-9883 HU ( the sports programming [ college - http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1096483195628 and NFL football - http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1156176860909 as well as NASCAR - http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Genre&cid=1160595941547 ] was also a major deciding factor ).
I can only hope the not to distant merger ( http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/17/ap4030631.html ) of XM and Sirius will not dictate the purchase of new hardware.
