[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chadwick
<snip>
I'm picking up a TUA for my HU that I haven't gotten yet.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by scooby2

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by scooby2
Unless your local dealer is selling it for a lot less than $250, I wouldn't bother getting the Alpine xm tuner, it's kind of old anyway being on the market for 2 years now. The XMDirect and Blitzsafe will work with your Alpine controls and display all the xm info. Currently this interface is being used in BMWs and the new Mini with full displays and controls from the oem radio. And remember BMW/Mini had a deal with Sirius so having xm work directly with the oem unit is pretty neat. One more thing, the XMDirect unit is literally 1/2 the size of the alpine xm tuner.

 

Here is some info from Blitz's site on the universal adapter.


http://www.blitzsafe.com/blitz_catalog/bli...aixm_piov1.html

 

mike, that seems to describe a unit with an external control interface, which is not very appealing to me. very different from using the Alpine TUA with an Alpine HU - you can control/display XM on the HU that way.

I'm leaning more and more to the 9820XM. I've pretty much decided that I don't care about MP3 CD capability. I'd much rather get an iPod and an iPod interface, or any portable music device and an AUX input, and/or Alpine's MP3 CD changer. I'd really rather not mess with discs, they're a pain in the butt.

 

The way I understand the interface (info is sketchy right now) is that this WILL ALLOW you to use your headunit as the controller.

 

well, exactly, bottom line, it's all pretty sketchy right now. it seems we need to see some more concrete details before making any judgements on this whole deal.

 

I have an '04 Alpine catalog and here is what is written about Alpine "XM Ready" '04 head units:


All XM ready Alpine products are easily connected to the new XM direct receiver tuner-box utilizing third-party AI-NET to XM adapter cables to connect the XM tuner to Alpine products. The XM tuner-box is distributed by Terk and the AI-NET to XM adapter cables can be purchased through Blitzsafe.


In a way I guess it "dumbs down" the Ai-NET...but it works!

http://www.blitzsafe.com/blitz_catalog/bli...aux_alpine.html

 

mike, good info! now we're getting somewhere. so Terk makes a box called "XM Direct" which is a sort of universal xm tuner. Blitzsafe makes an adapter cable to interface Terk's XM Direct to an Alpine XM ready HU.

It's starting to clear up.

The questions that come to my mind now are: How much will these items cost? Will they be available as a package? And how much will they cost? I wonder if they're really only be $100 as scooby2 was told by somebody's rep. (Not clear that that was an XM, Terk, Blitzsafe, or Alpine rep) (waaaay too many companies involved at this point!)

Where things stand right now, I'm still leaning toward either the 9820XM or a 9807 or 9827 with an Alpine TUA-T2020XM. The TUA can be found on eBay in good shape for $100-200.

 

Sorry my question isn't about XM but no one has answered me at other threads. If I buy a Alpine HU can I use my OEM CD changer in the trunck?