Legacy XM Commander radio install

In keeping my OEM JBL radio, I started missing my SiriusXM. I recently nabbed a Crux BTS-TY2 Bluetooth/Aux module off eBay for half the price it usually goes for, works awesome, absolutely no complaints.

I thought cool, I have bt/aux now. I could use my phone for SXM, but that would require me always opening the app and trying to use my phone to change channels while driving (I've been trying to cut down on doing that anymore since I had my son 4 months ago) I don't want to be distracted from the road.

I had an SXM antenna from my previous stereo. I ran that down through my 3rd brake light, in the door weather stripping and down the left handle pillar to behind the radio. So far so good. I looked at the current SXM radios, one of which I have at work (Onyx EZR). I decided I don't want to clutter up my dash anymore with a receiver/cradle setup in the way of the windshield, so I started looking into other options. There's the SiriusXM Commander Touch that hides everything behind the dash and you just have the controller unit out front. But it had mixed reviews and complaints of being laggy. Plus it's expensive new or used.

I started researching older XM radios which are a lot cheaper option and they pretty much all work still (you just don't get the extra channels, it goes up to 2xx somewhere there). I was ok with that, I just listen to the music and comedy channels mostly anyways. Everyone on Reddit was saying their audio quality is still superior to Sirius standalone receivers. So I found the predecessor to the Commander Touch, the XM Commander. Grabbed one off Mercari after watching it drop price for weeks for a cool $9 + shipping hoping it had all the parts in the box (it did). Boy this thing is vintage it came out the same year as my truck! I like it though, it's got the physical scroller knob and remote control (had to order a new one, only part that was DOA). Plus it has ability for 30 presets! That's something my Onyx definitely can't do. And best of all. I was able to mount the controller out of the way up on my overhead console for a clean install after being inspired by a Crutchfield article on it. It sounds great.

Anyways, here's my cool old shit in my cool old truck. Please excuse the wire mess, I plan to clean it up when I have more time. It's hidden for now. Also those power and ground wires ARE butt connected underneath the electrical tape.



Tapped IGN power at the fog lights and ACC at cigarette lighter.


Decided to stuff everything under the catch-all tray/cup holders. Put a ground loop isolator between the tuner and the Crux (definitely had engine noise without it) and ran a Fakra-to-SMB adapter to the antenna, I didn't want to use the original antenna since the modern ones have better interference blocking. Then was able to tuck everything down under the cup holders to give room to reinstall the tray.




Funniest thing about the old reviews on this receiver is that everyone hated the sound quality while they were all using the included FM transmitter. I went straight to RCA outs for that. I know not many people were able to do this 21 years ago as easy as you can now. Sound quality is as good if possibly not better than my Onyx, I believe this runs strictly on the XM high band. Lastly I mounted the controller up on my overhead console. I love the way it looks. Keeping the early 2000s vibe alive in this bad larry

 

Vintage!!!! That’s awesome