FM Direct Adapter (Wired Relay) Question

[erock9174]

I have my Sportster Replay setup for both of my vehicles.
2003 Honda Element and a 2003 Toyota Echo.

Both include the FM Direct Adapters in my setup.

I notice in the Honda Element when I turn on the Sirius unit I hear a little thump in the speakers then whichever radio station I have it on cuts out the local signal and will pick up the Sirius signal.

When I turn on the Sirius unit in the Echo, I do not hear the speaker thump, I can still pick up other FM stations unless I tune to the station my Sirius unit is transmitting.
Almost sounds like the FM Direct adapter is not working in this car.

Can anyone help me understand how they work.

 

[Mopar86]

You should be able to hear a mechanical "click" sound on the FM Direct adapter every time you power the SIRIUS radio on. I would check to see if you can hear that "click" sound.

Otherwise unplug the FM direct adapter all together and check to see if you notice any kind of a difference in reception. Basically the FM Direct adapter might not be working and the SIRIUS radio could just be transmitting on its own.

 

[erock9174]

I tried what you said and if I have the Sirius FM transmitter tuned to say 90.1 and my FM radio is on 90.1 I hear the "click sound" when I turn the Sirius unit off and on. But if my FM radio is tuned to say 101.1 it still picks up the normal FM local broadcast. I think its working, just doesnt seem to block everything out like the FM Direct Adapter in my other car which is a much older FM adapter.
Maybe they changed something over the years to not block out as much.

 

[Mopar86]

I tried what you said and if I have the Sirius FM transmitter tuned to say 90.1 and my FM radio is on 90.1 I hear the "click sound" when I turn the Sirius unit off and on. But if my FM radio is tuned to say 101.1 it still picks up the normal FM local broadcast. I think its working, just doesnt seem to block everything out like the FM Direct Adapter in my other car which is a much older FM adapter.
Maybe they changed something over the years to not block out as much.

I am going to test a few of the FM direct adapters here and see what I get. I know I have some newer ones and I will try and find a few older ones. I was under the impression that they cut FM off completely and I have seen these installed in several vehicles, but I never really tested anything different with them.

When you have the SIRIUS Radio on and using the FM direct adapter, if you tune the car stereo into another FM radio station do you notice any kind of a static or does the other FM station seem to come in fairly clear?

 

[erock9174]

I am going to test a few of the FM direct adapters here and see what I get. I know I have some newer ones and I will try and find a few older ones. I was under the impression that they cut FM off completely and I have seen these installed in several vehicles, but I never really tested anything different with them.

When you have the SIRIUS Radio on and using the FM direct adapter, if you tune the car stereo into another FM radio station do you notice any kind of a static or does the other FM station seem to come in fairly clear?

Seems to come in fairly clear.