'06 Owners with Stock Radio & Factory Installed XM

2181 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Dnick, Apr 27, 2015

Pizza Man

Discussion Starter · Apr 24, 2015

Long story...

ROC member, typesfanatic, sold me a stock radio from his '06 to replace mine. His was only used for about a month before he replaced it with an aftermarket headunit. I thought it may be easier and cheaper to replace mine rather than repair mine with no working backlights.

I decided to add XM while I was swapping radios. Before the radio arrived I purchased from Crutchfield an XM receiver with the magnetic antenna and an adapter cable to connect to the factory XM Ready headunit. Low and behold, the replacement headunit from typesfanatic is not XM "Ready", but an XM headunit.

Now my question for '06 owners with factory XM. Does the factory XM headunit have XM built into it or is there an XM receiver located elsewhere in the truck?

Thanks in advance.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

e_piph_a_ny

· #2 · Apr 24, 2015

PM,

I think this post will answer your question.

IIRC, the OEM HU that is XM ready does not have the XM tuner inside it. The XM tuner is behind the back seat.

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9774

Good luck!

Pizza Man

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 24, 2015

e_piph_a_ny said:
PM,

I think this post will answer your question.

Good luck!

Thank you, sir. Looks like I may have jumped the gun on the Crutchfield purchase. :act018:

Dnick

· #4 · Apr 25, 2015 (Edited)

I'm not sure what model your 'new' one came from, but I believe XM was only available on 2006 models with Sunroof & Navi. In those models, the XM receiver is located behind the back seat. They do indeed hook up to the roof mounted antenna. If that's the case, maybe you can get him to pull the seats/panel & retrieve the XM receiver for you to work with.

I don't know about the XM "Kits" at all (dealer installed), but you can get them at Handa.com, antenna & all.

If the 'new' one came from a 2006 RTL with factory XM install, then it will have a navigation display screen (only available on Sunroof/Navi models).
If it is NOT from a navi model, then it will not have had the XM from the factory (would be "XM-ready" instead), but would rather be subject to the dealer kit. How aftermarket kits compare to those dealer "accessory" kits, I haven't a clue (sorry).

Anyway, I'm fairly certain the above is correct, but I'm sure you (& I) will hear if it is not. I don't know how things were offered after 2006 (I know they all had sunroofs!), but maybe you want to find out what year & model your new radio came out of.

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Pizza Man

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 25, 2015

The Unit I purchased came out of a RTL with a moonroof, no nav. As near as I can tell, there is no way I can interface the XM receiver I purchased from Crutchfield to the headunit I just purchased from typesfanatic. I would be able to do it with my original factory head unit, however.

At this point, it would be easier to swap out my factory unit with an aftermarket headunit. Thanks for your help, dnick.

Carsmak

· #6 · Apr 25, 2015

This is the unit right?

yukoff said:

Because I believe one of these will do it. This one would end up with a spare AUX along with the ability to access iPod playlists (first 5)and charge the connected iPod/iPhone (30 pin connector)
USA SPEC PA11-HON2y

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e_piph_a_ny

· #7 · Apr 25, 2015 (Edited)

Carsmak said:
Because I believe one of these will do it. This one would end up with a spare AUX along with the ability to access iPod playlists (first 5)and charge the connected iPod/iPhone (30 pin connector)
USA SPEC PA11-HON2y

PM, I thought about suggesting this approach also. I installed the USA SPEC cuz I wanted to retain the OEM look. But when I fubar'ed the solder fix for the OEM HU backlight (detailed on the ROC), I went the aftermarket approach.

Your Choices are:
The USA Spec is about +/-$140 (IIRC) and you get your XM fix on.

OR

Go the aftermarket approach, spend more $ BUT get much more features.

CAVEAT, the aftermarket dash trim (holds the aftermarket HU) is always subpar and the color/surface most likely will not match the OEM dash.

Dnick

· #8 · Apr 25, 2015 (Edited)

Pizza Man said:
The Unit I purchased came out of a RTL with a moonroof, no nav. As near as I can tell, there is no way I can interface the XM receiver I purchased from Crutchfield to the headunit I just purchased from typesfanatic. I would be able to do it with my original factory head unit, however.

At this point, it would be easier to swap out my factory unit with an aftermarket headunit. Thanks for your help, dnick.

WHAT YEAR RTL??? Is it a US model (not Canadian)? Since it's not a NAV unit, it will have a place on it to add XM, assuming it's the same as 2006. See if there is a place on the back for a 14pin Bus cable connector. There should be. That is what will interface you with the XM receiver (You do NOT have an XM receiver inside that unit, no matter what.... even the factory XM/Nav HUs have XM rcvr remotely placed!). I believe if it truly does NOT have that connector hole on the back, it must be either a Canadian model (not sure, but have read XM is not available in Canada), or is NOT from an RTL. (I could be wrong about that)

Check out the install instructions at handa.com (I've provided link below)... it should give you a pretty clear idea of what you are looking at to get XM hooked up to that unit (you DO need an XM receiver, either scrounged from an old RTL w/Navi, or bought separately or with an install kit... like the handa.com pdf shows). I guess the "add-on" receiver location for these kits is under the front seat (see instructions) vs. behind the back seat as in factory install.... in factory units the Nav unit takes up the space under the front seat, so XM rcvr gets relegated to behind the back seat). My guess is, the Crutchfield guys should be able to help you know exactly what to do, once you're well versed in exactly what you have in hand. "Most of them" are pretty sharp with this stuff. It's doable.... just have to decide what you want to do. Between their guidance/instructions, and the handa.com OEM kit instructions, you should be able to formulate a plan.

Here's link to install instructions: (DO LOOK AT THESE!)
http://www.handa-accessories.com/ridgeline/07xm.pdf

and here's the kit from handa.com (don't know what Crutchfield kit might be equivalent.... but you might already have it).

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Pizza Man

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 25, 2015

2

This is the headunit I just purchased, front and rear. The photo carsmak posted is the same as my original. The differences:

In carsmak's photo the XM Ready symbol is to the right of the display. On my newly purchased headunit photo there is no "Ready" symbol. The rear view shows a white connector, the third from left, with the 14 pins Dnick mentions. It's not labeled, so I don't know if that's the XM Input or not.

For the price involved in purchasing the Honda Kit, I'd rather go the aftermarket Headunit route. There's a sweet Kenwood unit that has bluetooth, HD Radio and a USB input built in and is XM Ready and it will interface smoothly with the XM receiver I already have. The Kenwood Excelon DPX791BH is only $199.

Now, does anyone want a factory headunit .... Cheap? :act010: It came out of a white RTL and the color of the radio seems to be a shade different than my original.

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Heli ATP

· #10 · Apr 25, 2015

Once you get a HU with Bluetooth, Pandora might meet you music needs unless you want XM for the sports? If you go the XM radio route Be sure to review the XM thread on how to get the discount.

Pizza Man

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 26, 2015

Heli ATP said:
Once you get a HU with Bluetooth, Pandora might meet you music needs unless you want XM for the sports? If you go the XM radio route Be sure to review the XM thread on how to get the discount.

Thanks, Heli ATP. I don't use a smartphone. The Bluetooth is only for hands-free phone use. I'm more likely to use the XM for music, sports news and their talk stations. My wife has XM in her car and I like not losing stations on road trips. I've been getting the XM discounted rates (thanks to the ROC) since 2008, when we bought her car.

Dnick

· #12 · Apr 26, 2015 (Edited)

Hit me in the head! I just noticed that the listing for the OEM "Kit" on Handa.com (pictured above), states "2007-2011".... and does NOT include any 2006, which would exclude even the RTL! I guess the non-Navi (non-XM!) RTL in '06 was NOT XM-ready..... which of course reflects everything OP has observed & listed here so far. 'Still puzzling that the connector is on the back of OP's radio though.... maybe they were in the process & that was for "future use" when they finally got to "XM ready" in 2007. Interesting how that all evolved.
Now I'm still wondering if the Canadian models are the same or not (as US). Who knows about these little things.
Anyway, all for naught at this point. Good luck with your aftermarket adventures.

EDIT: Follow-up.... I see that the listing for this XM Kit on Bernardiparts.com actually does include 2006, but specifically excludes RTL! Interesting.......

Pizza Man

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 26, 2015

Dnick said:
Interesting.......

And in my case, frustrating! In my situation, if my backlighting didn't fail, I would have been able to simply install the XM Receiver, Antenna and the appropriate adapter connector to plug in the back of the original factory radio and be done with it. What screwed me up, apparently, was swapping my radio out for a radio that came out of a RTL with the factory XM already installed. Therefore, the back of the radio must have an XM connector different than my original. My original radio has a front panel pushbutton for XM/Aux. The replacement radio has only an XM pushbutton.

I also understand since the Sirius/XM merger the connectors have become standardized.

carolinaridgeline

· #14 · Apr 26, 2015

Dnick said:
I'm not sure what model your 'new' one came from, but I believe XM was only available on 2006 models with Sunroof & Navi. In those models, the XM receiver is located behind the back seat. They do indeed hook up to the roof mounted antenna. If that's the case, maybe you can get him to pull the seats/panel & retrieve the XM receiver for you to work with.

I don't know about the XM "Kits" at all (dealer installed), but you can get them at Handa.com, antenna & all.

If the 'new' one came from a 2006 RTL with factory XM install, then it will have a navigation display screen (only available on Sunroof/Navi models).
If it is NOT from a navi model, then it will not have had the XM from the factory (would be "XM-ready" instead), but would rather be subject to the dealer kit. How aftermarket kits compare to those dealer "accessory" kits, I haven't a clue (sorry).

Anyway, I'm fairly certain the above is correct, but I'm sure you (& I) will hear if it is not. I don't know how things were offered after 2006 (I know they all had sunroofs!), but maybe you want to find out what year & model your new radio came out of.

I have a 2006 RTL with sunroof and NO NAVI. I have OEM XM radio in my head unit.

e_piph_a_ny

· #15 · Apr 26, 2015

carolinaridgeline said:
I have a 2006 RTL with sunroof and NO NAVI. I have OEM XM radio in my head unit.

Confirmed the above that 2006 RTL w/SR and no Navi can have the OEM XM. This is right from the Honda brochure.

That's right folks! I still have the '06 sales brochure. :act035:

Pizza Man

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 26, 2015

e_piph_a_ny said:
That's right folks! I still have the '06 sales brochure. :act035:

I just knew you would, Dan!

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Dnick

· #17 · Apr 27, 2015 (Edited)

This is so bizaare.... what a strange set of info on this topic. Way too many confugurations for me to sort out. I guess I stand corrected. Checking the parts lists for these models doesn't seem to help much clarifying this information.

BTW, IS the XM unit (receiver) actually IN the HU of those radios you guys are citing????? Or is it not behind the back seat, as it is in RTL sunroof/navi????? (next to subwoofer enclosure)

I guess I can imagine that they only put it there due to loss of space to the Nav unit...... but I'd be very much surprised by this.

I wonder if our friends at HandA have any more refined expertise on all of these variables???? Help Guys!

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