[K-Dog7469]

I have been a Sirius subscriber for almost ten years now. I love the service. Driving any where in the country and never having to change the radio is an awesome thing. Knowing that Honda comes equipped with XM did little for me since XM does not have the NFL channel nor does XM broadcast the NFL games. I would have to convert to Sirius. Good thing for me Crutchfield saw me coming and has a plan so I can have Sirius in my Honda Ridgeline and control every thing with my factory head unit.

I have worked on cars for a living for 17 years now. So this task was not the least bit daunting in the least. Over all difficulty level was maybe a high four on a scale from one to ten. That said, its not a difficult task. Basic tools and skill is all you need.

here are the items needed from Crutchfield. The items are Simple Peripheral Gateway (item #541SHD11 ) This is what gets the satellite into the head unit. It plugs right into the AUX input right on the back of the Honda factory head unit. It also has a second input for a MP3 player or something like that. The cable has either an 1/8 inch TRS connector or stereo RCA connectors.
The other item is the Sirius Connect SC-C1 ( item# 607SCC1 ) this obviously is the satellite module. The antenna hooks to this, and then this plugs right into the Gateway.

 

[K-Dog7469]

Here are all the items spread out. Also in there is a panel mount 1/8 TRS connector, and a cable that I am going to use as a turn around connector.

 

[K-Dog7469]

To start, I disconnected my battery since I would be making electrical connections and didnt want any drama.
Next I lowered the steering column to the lowest point, and then using the shift lock over ride button put the shifter into the lowest position.

Next I pulled off the bezel that goes around the radio and the gauge cluster. Its crazy how easy this pops off. Honda is nice enough to leave enough slack in the wire harness that you can easily get behind there and unplug the wires. Dont worry about labeling them or any thing. All are uniquely sized and located. You can not plug them back in wrong. Every connector will have a release button of some sorts. Some you can see some you just have to feel around. Once all the wires are disconnected it takes a little skill to fish the bezel out of there but its not too bad. Go place the bezel in a safe place.

 

[K-Dog7469]

Next, the head unit. Five 8mm screws with phillips heads. The odd number of screws is interesting. I am not sure why the would not want to even it out. Either way.
There was enough slack in the wires to the head unit that I did not bother to unplug them. The wires to the passenger air bag on / off light and hazard signal button was a bit short so I unplugged that one. I set the head unit down on my fancy sliding cup holders and put a foam pad in between for protection.

Here you can see the empty port for the AUX ( Auxiliary ) input.

 

[K-Dog7469]

the Gateway plugs in with a snap.
The Gateway has ample wire length. I didnt want a rats nest under my dash so I zip tied the wires all nice and neat.

Next the Sirius unit. I zip tied the two units together with a little foam between them to avoid vibrations. Again, I had ample wire with the Sirius unit that too was zip tied all nice and neat (note the antenna has not yet been installed ). If you look at the bottom of the cluster I am holding you can also see the second input for the Gateway. I am not going to use the RCA connectors so I just zip tied them together.

 

[K-Dog7469]

Now its time for the antenna.
Yes I AM that guy. I measured the roof to find the center point to place the magnetic antenna on the roof. Fifty and a half inches from drip rail to drip rail.

Gives us twenty five and a quarter for a center point.

 

[K-Dog7469]

At some point prior to my owning this Ridgeline it got a new windshield. I am not sure if the OEM windshields have the same gaskets as mine does.
This one was pretty nice in that it has a nice lip to tuck the antenna wire into with out having to cram it into the glass channel.
I used a little spray lube and a soft plastic clip tool to tuck the wire into its place.

A keen eye can see the little lip I am using to conceal the wire.

 

[K-Dog7469]

pull the gasket out of the way at the bottom and that completes that part.

I did have to loosen the 10mm top fender bolt to fit the wire between the fender and the A pillar.

I thought long and hard about routing the wire through the fire wall some place to make for a super clean instal, but ultimately decided against it. Not only for sake of easy instal but as to not make for an opportunity for engine vapors, how ever minimal it might be to enter the drivers cabin.

I just wrapped it around the A pillar and into the dash.

 

[K-Dog7469]

following the path of least resistance I ran the antenna wire under the lower end of the dash board. Being mindful to avoid the brake pedal and any moving areas from the steering column.
One item that made the job easier is a "wire whip " or a "Wire puller" This is a rigid yet flexable tool that has a wire grabber on one end and is great for fishing wires through holes and mess and things like that. If you do a lot of radio work or wiring stuff, you really need one of these.

I fished the antenna wire so that it would come out behind the head unit. Plug it in and zip tie all the slack.

 

[K-Dog7469]

I had a TON of room behind the head unit to pile all that stuff. The headunit reinstaled with zero drama.

Salalite is all installed but I still want to wire in the input for my Droid X.

I planed on putting the input for that in the little switch covers that are in the lower part of the center console.
To remove that, pull out the "ash tray", by opeing the "ash tray" and pulling up. There is one phillips screw behind there and then on the left (drivers side) pull off the cover panel and there is a phillips screw there. (again with the odd number of screws ) This piece just pulles out as well. Unplug the two DC ports. You can see the wire for the TRS input in the photo.

Those little square things ? The switch covers ? The DO NOT pop out from the front. Learn from my mistake. They screw in from the back.

 

[K-Dog7469]

Now to build the TRS connector. I got this fancy solderless one.
I am a bit particular about not hard wiring any thing. I like all things that need to be removed to be able to be removed so I had to make a connector to be able to remove this lover trim panel. Simple enough. Get an 1/8 TRS "extension cord" cut the female end off of it and wire that into the panel mount. On the wire I used the Red was Ring and Right, and the White was Tip and Left. The shield was the sleeve which is the ground.

Drill a hole in the switch cap.

The back had to be worked a good bit since there is support plastic ( for lack of better terms) and the over all plastic was a bit thick and I could not get the nut on the front of the connector. A little time and attention from a light grinder and a file and all fits well.

 

[K-Dog7469]

Here is the whole thing installed.
For perspective, you are looking from the top down.

Every thing put back together looks no different that any other Ridgeline other than it has Sirius as opposed to XM. Well that and the groovy 1/8 TRS connector on the lower dash.

 

[K-Dog7469]

The whole project was well under two hours all said and done.

As a point to remember ( learn from my mistake ) is that you want to have your radio code on hand to unlock the radio and test every thing.

Here is the one issue. The AUX button on the Ridgeline actually has various setting. If you just push the AUX button it wont necessarily take you to the Sirius player.

You have to go from either CD or AM/FM, hit the AUX button, then quickly hit the tune up/down button. Then you will scroll though I-POD, SIRIUS, XM or AUX. Not the most graceful way to go through it, but since I will be on Sirius 90% of the time and rarely using the music on my Droid, its pretty much a non issue. Its just there if I need it.

Once I got all that down I got the signal activated and all was good.

Next I put all the windows down and went for a drive jamming to
HAIR NATION :act035:

 

[RustyH]

Even though I had my Sirius radio installed by a professional, I was very impressed with your write-up and photos. Thank you

My install was not done with the stock radio, but with a Kenwood in-dash DVD player. One think my installer did that you might want to consider is he simply put the Sirius antenna under the headliner near the upper console. I've never had an issue with getting a signal and I keep the clean roofline.

 

[kirk180]

Nice install. I agree with Rusty on keeping the roof line clean though. I've never liked those antennas sitting up there. They just don't look like they belong. No biggie either way. And I know the Sirius and XM directions always seem to recommend the exterior roof install, just as you've done there. However, mine sits inside the right upper hand corner of the windshield (interior), out of site near the passenger, and has never had a signal problem. The install looks clean, and unless you pop your head over the dash to look up under the windshield, you don't really notice it's there. You can just run the wire through the passenger side A-pillar. Regardless though, nice job still.

 

[Nuke83]

K-Dog,

GREAT install and pics.

That said, I hate to burst your bubble, but both the NFL network and all games ARE available on XM. In fact, I've been listening to them on XM since I had to jump over from Sirius when I purchased a car that had factory XM about 3 years ago.

The only thing you lose is BOTH home AND away game feeds. You get all games, but only the Home feed. So you're still able to listen to your favorite games, just have to listen to the dribble of the opposing announcers half the games.

NFL Channel is 88 on XM.

 

[kirk180]

Nice catch Nuke! I was looking more at the install, as opposed to the reason for the install. Yeah, every since the companies merged and became siriusxm, we've had it.

 

[K-Dog7469]

K-Dog,


The only thing you lose is BOTH home AND away game feeds. You get all games, but only the Home feed. So you're still able to listen to your favorite games, just have to listen to the dribble of the opposing announcers half the games.
.

So I was half wrong. (two thirds wrong actually ) My bad. Yeah, we travel a fair amount and some times on sundays so missing a RAVENS game would be distressing to me.
Well either way. Whats done is done. My wife has Sirius in the Accord any way. I did research the possibilities of a XM and Sirius subscription and was told that as far as payments and subscriptions are concerned there is no bundling the two. I would pay significantly more for a XM and Sirius as opposed to two Sirius.

Thanks every one else for the support and kind words.

 

[Nuke83]

Kevin,

It is a great mod for someone that has to have Sirius. Also, by adding Sirius, you can "buddy" your subscription and save by having both Sirius.

I wasn't trying to be a d!ck in any way by pointing out that you can get the NFL on XM, so sorry if it came across that way. You provided a great solution for someone that must have Sirius. Just trying to save someone else from spending money to mod for Sirius if they thought it was the only way to get NFL on satellite radio.

Believe me, while I love the Sirius/XM product, their billing, fees, bundling etc., since the merger leave ALOT to be desired.

I was a long time subscriber of Sirius when I purchased a car with XM integrated. So I tried to activate it as part of my Sirius. I was told that it would be separate. No big deal, so I asked them to charge me the "buddy" rate on my portable Sirius and I'd purchase the lifetime on the car. No can do, they told me. I'd have to cancel ALL my Sirius, purchase a second XM radio, and move everything to XM.

I wasn't real pleased, but went with it. I do hate not having the home feed for ALL of my favorite team games. Tried to get DISH so I could get Sunday Ticket, but too many trees in my yard to get line of site, so my only hope to ever hear Charger games living in Atlanta is my satellite radio.

In the meantime, I'm on the winning side of the lifetime subscription since I've already gone past the 28 month break-even period for what I paid (about 14 months ago). I figure I'll keep that radio if it dies or I replace it, just to get the reduced rate on a second/third unit.

 

[K-Dog7469]

I wasn't trying to be a d!ck in any way by pointing out that you can get the NFL on XM, so sorry if it came across that way. You provided a great solution for someone that must have Sirius. Just trying to save someone else from spending money to mod for Sirius if they thought it was the only way to get NFL on satellite radio.

.

No I did not take it that way in the least. It didnt ever come across as such to me.
I was wrong. Uniformed. No worries.