Stereo Instiallation?
 

Alright, here goes. I have decided I am going to change the radio in my car. But I have a few very specific questions I need to figure out the answers to before I can, I have not had much luck in finding the answers yet but I would like to get this done soon so I am hoping somebody of you guys can help me.

Anyway I am probably going to go with the Kenwood DNX9960 and I'll probably just get kenwood's rear view camera, (I am open to suggestions though) so that part is pretty straight forward.

My question is in switching from XM to Sirius radio I don't want to just stick another cheap antenna onto the car. So my plan is to scalp an antenna off something else that came with sirius, considering how ugly my antenna is now it should also offer a cosmetic improvement. Is there some reason why I wouldn't be able to use the OEM antenna from another car that originally came with siruis on an aftermarket radio? If anybody could point me towards some suggestions for a AM/FM, Sirius antenna, obviously the closer to OEM it fits the better.

Finally, I have also had no luck in finding a wiring diagram for this car so I am still hoping somebody can help there also? The head unit I am looking at has a button to activate the phone, I am waiting to hear back about how it actually works but if it has a button and my steering wheel has buttons why can't the two work together. I am hoping I can just connect the wires from the steering wheel to the radio where it's button would go normally, but I need to figure out what those wires are.

Otherwise I guess it's just business as usual.

The antennas use different connectors and different power sources meaning the xm can not be used with a sirius so no you can not use the stock one.

The call buttons will work I believe when you use the Metra Axxess.

Thanks allot :tup:

I know my XM antenna won't work, but what about say a BMW antenna for example? They come with Sirius from the factory so could I use that instead of my current one? On the same account, does anybody know if that is also their terrestrial antenna as well or do that keep that hidden in the windshield or something, any suggestions?

I'll look up the metra axxess, that would be great if all my other problems could be solved so easily.

Also, I forgot about microphone though. Does anybody know where it is, in the rear view mirror I assume? Does anyone know how I could wire that into the radio rather then fishing the big ugly one that comes with it through the car someplace?

I doubt you can use a bmw one, on that note you do know you can hide your antenna under the back carpet? I have done it twice in installs and seems to be fine for people.

I took the stock one out of the area where it is located "lights right in front of switches to lights" and used epoxy and put the new one in its place and just ran the new wire. Take a look at the last few pages of my link below VVVVVVVV

http://mail.yimg.com/a/i/mesg/tsmileys2/33.gif I'm not sure if I found what you were talking about or not, but I did get some ideas, thanks. While I don't like the idea of the other antenna not working, it's not a big deal especially if you can't see I had to add extra antennas. I forgot about the GPS antenna also, I'll have to go out and look at my dash and see if there is any clever places to hide them like you did.

I emailed Axxess about their adapter to confirm if it would work the way I would like it to but it sounds promising. I think it might also keep the OEM microphone also?

I'm afraid to say this actually seems like it might work out more easily then I thought.

The Metra Axxess will control your source and volume buttons (as well as up/down). The button on the 9960 just takes you into the voice activation mode. I wouldn't see why you couldn't connect the Bluetooth wiring from the car in place of that button. The wiring diagram is in the service manual. There is a download link somewhere on here. Make sure you get your year, I recently found out that they changed some of the wiring from '09 ti '10.

edit: Found it: http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-o...rvice-manuals/

You are not going to be able to use the factory mic that requires power and from what I was seeing not to mention there is a circuit board built into the mic. I would just remove the stock one and place the after market one in its place.

Thanks, I don't see any manuals for the 2010's in there though. The roadster probably isn't any different in this case but obviously there would be quite a bit more in there for a roadster so ideally that would be what I wanted.

Thanks. That's dumb, I guess I'll have to figure out where to put another mic then. Oh well, any suggestions?

I went out and looked at my car and there doesn't appear to be anyplace clever to hide the antennas, and I don't even have a head liner so I'll have to see where I can stash the mic?

Obviously the antennas need a clear line of sight, but do they need any sort of a ground plane or anything like that to function correctly or do they just say to put them on the roof so they have the best view of the sky?

Sirius and XM have shared antennas for well over a year now. The only difference may be the connection, which is simple enough to change.

The mic you do Not want hidden, it is omnidirectional, not unidirectional.

As I said I put the aftermarekt one in there take a look at the pictures on my thread.

alright well if they are indeed the same antenna, then I would think the 370Z antenna would be the obvious choice. Why does my car have to have a ******* tail :rofl2: Where is the AM/FM antenna on the coupes, it's not all in the little one on the roof is it?

AM/FM is in the rear window.

damn, which is why I have the stubby antenna on my trunk.

OK, no more thinking or I will never get anything :rofl2:

Here is what I am going to buy any last minute suggestions, something I forgot, anything else I might want add, things I don't need?

• Kenwood Excelon DNX9960 Navigation receiver at Crutchfield Signature
  • Nissan 370Z In-dash Receiver Kit Fits 2009-up models — chassis sizes E & DD at Crutchfield.com
  • Nissan/Subaru Receiver Wire Harness For select 2007-up Nissan and 2010-up Subaru models at Crutchfield.com
  • Nissan Antenna Adapter OEM antenna to Motorola male Works in select 2007-up Infiniti and Nissan at Crutchfield.com
• Boyo VTL375 Rear-view camera with black license plate frame at Crutchfield.com
• SIRIUS Package for Kenwood Get SIRIUS satellite radio reception on your 2008-up Kenwood multimedia receiver at Crutchfield.com
• Kenwood KCA-iP301V iPod® connecting cable for USB-equipped Kenwood DVD receivers at Crutchfield.com
• http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120ASWC/Axxess-ASWC.htm

So much money... :facepalm:

Does the grill in the top corner of the dash just pop out, I assume there are tweeters under there? I wasn't sure how they came out so I haven't checked but if there is room that is where i was thinking about putting the extra antennas?

Yes the grilles come off use a plastic knife or metal one wrapped with tape to protect the interior. Also when you take the shift knob ring off tape around the area underneath that can get scratched with the ring moving around. The camera will be fine or you can use the cheaper one if you wanted.

I know the camera is expensive but I liked the wide viewing angle (I think it's the widest they have) but better yet it should be very simple to mount, obviously, and will be centrally located as well as adjustable so I figured screw it whats $200 if your spending 2g's anyway :ughdance:
Although thinking about it now, I don't know how, or where the wires will attach to it. I wouldn't think they would expect me to drill through the trunk/ behind the license plate, but I would guess, without looking yet, I could probably do that right?

I'll pop one of those grilles out then and see how it looks, but do you know if there is any room in there or if I'll be able to fish the wires through?

I would suggest PMing one of our sponsors Wicked CAS on the Kenwood. He is an authorized dealer and I'm pretty sure he'll beat the Crutchfield price on the 9960. Tell him I sent you (Brian Murphy). Nazar is the guy you want to deal with. He also has the iPod cable and may also have some of the other stuff.

I highly recommend Nazar, but IF you use Crutchfield and have never bought from them, use this referral code and it'll get you $20 off an order over $200. Code: pkxw8-q51r5-31twz

Nazar should still do a whole lot better. Here is the original thread from the original sale on this unit. If you go to the last page of the thread, he was offering the unit for $1399 in June.
http://www.the370z.com/audio-video/1...rtificate.html

Cool, Thanks allot I'll PM them now

Here's their phone in case you don't hear back soon. (603) 642-4222

:tup:

Hey Brian, how are you liking your rear view camera? I didn't want to spend the money on the "fancy" multi-view camera that I'm not sure I need, or even want. And I did like the idea of the clean, seemingly simple install of the license plate cam. But I realized the license plate mounted camera does seem a bit pricey, and the kenwood one it's that much more.

Do you have sirius? I've been wondering how the song information is displayed on the screen and haven't been able to find a picture.

Honestly, I probably could have gotten off with a cheaper camera because I basically stay in one view. I use a split screen to see each corner. I do occasionally use other views, but not often. I'm going to movement camera down a little when it warms up a bit to improve the view a bit. I had a pipe dream to mount it under the wing, but I think that would involve WAAAY too much work.

No Sirius. I've got an 160GB iPod. You can download the manual from Kenwoodusa.com. Page 45 is where the Sirius info is. There are some generic screenshots, but it might give you an idea of the display. Main screen shows Channel, Song Title, Artist, Band, Up and Down tune buttons, etc. There is also an area on the right that you touch that brings up a Category or Channel List.

Done... so much for not spending any money on this car :facepalm:

I ordered the multi-view camera to, I probably won't use it either but screw it :rofl2:

Thanks for the help so far guys :tup:
All of my stuff is supposed to be here on Tuesday, so I am hoping to install it all on Wednesday morning. Obviously I would like to make the install as easy and smooth as possible, these things seem to have a way of getting out of control and a simple project ends up taking three days... which would be Christmas :rofl2:

Any last minute tips or suggestions, wire routing, etc?

I am still not sure what I am going to do with the antennas, I know they always recommend putting them on the roof by the back windshield. Besides looking stupid I have a convertible so that is not an option. As suggested I am planing on putting them under the grilles on top of the dash, hopefully I will be able to feed the wires through. Obviously they will need a clear line of sight though and the grilles seem like they would be pretty obtrusive or is the plastic transparent to the Satellite/ GPS signal? Do these antennas need any sort of a ground plane, or otherwise need to be stuck to metal or are they only magnetic for ease of instillation?

I'm not to worried about the head unit, that's usually pretty straight forward. But what about the steering wheel control adapter, does that have to be wired separately or does it connect into the wiring harness or something somewhere? I will need to hook up a power and ground right, can I just tap off the wiring wires for the radio? Any chance you know which wires those would be? Any problem with using those fancy vampire taps radioshack has?

http://www.midterminc.com/media/5601.gif

Axxess told me there is a problem with some Kenwood radios and I will need to connect a 12ohm resistor in order for the adapter to program correctly? Should I even bother, in reading through other threads it seems everyone ends up programming it manually anyway?

The only other thing I'll need to figure out is where to put the camera I guess and how to get the wires through and up to the radio :ughdance:

I would highly advise against t taps as they are a cheap way of doing things. Splice into the wire and solder or heat shrink or both with the wire. Plus the wires are very tinny so I do not think you can sue them. The antenna is magnetic and usually comes with a sticky plate you can stick anywhere.

So the steering control adapter would draw to much current then? Are there any easily accessible wires under there that would be good to use then?

That's good to know if they come with a plate to stick to then obviously they would be ok to use that way, you don't think the plastic grilles would block the signal at all if I could get them in there?

I'll throw a quickie in on the programming. Don't bother with the resistor. It only took me 5 minutes or so to program manually.

Did Nazar hook you up?

I'm not sure who I talked to there when I called but he did offer it to me for a little less then crutchfeild, but I'm not sure what he would have charged me for shipping it may have ended up being the same. I ended up going with crutchfeild since they could get it here so fast and I thought they would be easier to get a hold of if I needed anything.

Minutes after I ordered it he answered my PM and told me if I wanted to wait they had some really nice new stuff coming out. I couldn't find any information on it anywhere though and he didn't elaborate. After I said I didn't want to wait he did offer to sell me a used one that I could trade in when the new stuff came out, but I had already ordered.
I'll be watching for his thread though, if they really have something that bad *** coming out I can always still trade up.

I had an 8120, which was great and the 9960 is head-and-shoulders above that. I'd be willing to bet that the next stuff will be amazing.

:eekdance: I hope not :rofl2:

The 2011 models will be nothing short of stellar and a fair step up from previous 9140/9960/8120s. They are certainly out to impress and doing a great job achieving that goal. Anything more, you'll have to wait til Jan. 6th.

Don't get discouraged though, you bought an excellent unit that I am quite sure will keep you happy for some time.

i put my gps antenna in the headliner. the front of the headliner covers probably 3 inches of the top most part of the windshield, therefore it has a direct line of sight with the sky with only the glass in between. i experimented with many locations during my 3 day install (car sat in a million pieces in the garage since i could only work on it for a few hours at a time after work). this seemed to work the best for me and is completely hidden and out of sight. wire was then routed down the A pillar.

edit: you have a roadster. haha..guess this doesnt apply, but i guess its still good info for others?

Thanks, yeah I don't have a headliner so that's out. The glass will actually block the signal, probably more then the roof would. I was talking to one of my friends that works at a stereo shop, apparentlymhe just put one of these in a few days ago. But he was telling me it doesn't really matter where I put the gps antenna, his is in the dash. Be he was telling me a Sirius antenna is actually more important to have a clear line of sight then XM. considering how poorly my xm works now I propably shouldn't risk keeping it under the dash, we'll see what I come up with.

Is there any information on these anywhere?

Only most of us direct accounts have any info. So unless someone leaked, then no sir, nothing yet. Jan. 6th Starts CES. I get in on the 3rd, so any info that I *can* share prior to the show start I will surely do so.

I figured I should update this, I had started to a few times but decided against it... I am much less irritated now :rofl2:

After far to much time spent installing all these damn parts, I'm probably like 63% done now. I finally just got the steering wheel controls working, the phone buttons still don't but at this point I don't want to be bothered anymore. I did get the rest of them working now and they seem to work well, I'll see once I drive it tomorrow.
The radio interface isn't bothering me anymore, I guess I got used to the delay every time you hit a button. But I'm also not pressing them as often now that I have everything set and all the main controls can finally be accessed from the wheel now so that should help as well.

The only thing left is the backup camera, it still doesn't work but I think the camera is bad, seems the "Check your camera" message was a statement not a question. They are sending me a new one so hopefully I can just plug it in and go. Based on the suggestions in another thread I did get the Reverse interrupt turned on, I had to put the car in reverse and then hit the button. It seems to be saved now but it still doesn't do anything when I put it in reverse, I'll try it again once I get the camera to work and worry about it then