sirius buzzing

[dgreet77]

Ok so the story is I have my sirius connected to my headunit via stereo to rca cable, but when I use it there is a buzz in the background and it isnt as loud as the usual radio/cd/mp3. Also no buzz using any of the other 3 medias. Also you can lessen the buzz if you turn the treble down... Any thoughts?

System is a patchwork.

Blaupunkt St. Louis H/U
Phoenix Gold 6.5" speakers all around
Kenwood 800W 2-channel
1 10" JL audio W-1 or W-2 (can't remember right now)
Free sirius receiver you get when you sign up.

Wondering if it could just be the output from the junky free sirius receiver???

[techsan23]

Re: sirius buzzing

You can get a ground loop isolator from radio shack for $17 that is inline on a rca cable that should eliminate the buzzing.

[96firebird311]

Re: sirius buzzing

Ensure the audio output level on the sirius receiver is turned all the way up. (Go into menu, audio settings or FM settings or car settings or similar, then audio level) Turn it all the way up. Now you don't have to turn the volume knob up as high, and may solve your ground loop noise.

I'll post more later. Gotta run.

[dgreet77]

Re: sirius buzzing

Yeah the audio level on the sirius is all the way up. I made sure of that. and I guess I did not know a ground loop isolator even existed (shows my knowledge of sound systems) :rock: so maybe I will have to give that try when I get back to school; any other possibilities.

As a side note does anybody have a hard time getting their sirius to communicate well using the fm transmitter, the reason i went to the direct connect was that the fm transmitter wasnt getting it done on any station; and of course hoping for clearer music which didnt happen.

[96firebird311]

Re: sirius buzzing

It does sound like a ground loop issue. Possibly between the cig lighter ground wire (where the Sirius is no doubt plugged) and the radio ground. You can try snipping both those ground wires, connecting them together and ground them directly to the chassis. Or, what I would do, hardwire the Sirius unit's power plug to the radio's ground. Solder a wire to the nipple of the cig lighter adapter it comes with. Solder another wire to the two rectangular shaped pressure clips on the sides of the cig lighter adapter. The nipple is positive and should be spliced into the red wire coming from your Blaupunkt. The sides around ground and should be connected to the black wire coming from your Blaupunkt. DO NOT simply cut off the cig lighter adapter and attempt to just run the wires to power. The Sirius unit runs off 5V, not 12V.

Also, the built in FM transmitters suck ***. Buy the FM modulator upgrade and enjoy what you're paying for. You will need the modulator itself (FMDA25) and two antenna adapters for the f-body (40-GM10 and 40-GM20). Here's a good deal on everything:
http://cgi.ebay.com/FMDA25-Sirius-Ha...QQcmdZViewItem

That modulator sits inline with your antenna wire. The long thin wire then travels to your Sirius receiver. The difference in sound quality is night and day.

[dgreet77]

Re: sirius buzzing

So if I purchased the ground loop isolator from radio shack and used it, would it effectively do what the hardwiring the h/u to the Sirius would do? The main reason I ask is I am lacking a soldering iron and I may want to move my Sirius to a different vehicle at some point in time without having to deal with a hardwire. I'd like to keep the direct connect too instead of using an FM transmitter just because of changing receptions on long trips and such.

[96firebird311]

Re: sirius buzzing

No. A ground loop isolator will NOT give you the same results as the FM modulator. (Not to be confused with transmitter) They are two entirely different pieces of hardware for two entirely different purposes.

You don't have to hardwire the Sirius power plug in order to use the FM modulator. I just figured we'd kill two birds at a time to give you the cleanest and clearest results. The FM modulator helps in every vehicle 100% of the time. Can't go wrong. You will instantly notice the results. However, if you still have engine whine or noise, I would get to the back of the cig lighter, unclip the two wire harness that goes to it, cut the ground wire, then lengthen it so it can run up to your radio's ground. This will eliminate at least one ground loop. Don't bother with the ground loop isolator. They rarely work worth a damn.

[dgreet77]

Re: sirius buzzing

Well I am trying to avoid the FM route if at all possible, I know it would be easiest but I don't like having to change stations around all the time. So that means: Hardwire the grounds and keep the direct connect

From the sound of things the hardwire will be the best correct?

And which hardwire method would be the best?
1) Soldering the connections to the power adapter
2) Connecting the ground from the power supply (cig lighter) to the headunit

Thanks for putting up with my electrical/sound system ignorance.

[96firebird311]

Re: sirius buzzing

I think one of us is a little confused. At no time did I recommend using the FM transmitter. The FM modulator will PREVENT you from changing stations all the time. It's sits inline your factory antenna wire. No wireless transmitting or crappy static.
http://cgi.ebay.com/FMDA25-Sirius-Ha...QQcmdZViewItem

I'd put the whole hardwiring power/re-grounding thing on hold until you get the modulator installed. I don't see how satellite radio users with those outboard tuners live without the modulator.

[dgreet77]

Re: sirius buzzing

OK, sorry for my being slow sometimes :drool:.

So ditch the direct connect and get the modulator. Probably will do this.

But if I wanted I could try the reground method to keep the direct connect, right?

[96firebird311]

Re: sirius buzzing

Of course you could. Don't know how inclined you are about cutting into your factory wiring. Bothers some people. So I figured I'd recommend the "no cutting needed but still get guaranteed results" method.:)

[dgreet77]

Re: sirius buzzing

OK well thanks for all your help, I'll figure out which way method I want to use and post up the results later.

[dgreet77]

Re: sirius buzzing

Ok so I rewired the ground from the cig lighter to the headunit ground to no avail. Still have the buzzing. So I guess that leaves it to the FM modulator eh? Or is there some other wiring trick I could attempt?

[96firebird311]

Re: sirius buzzing

I just saw you have an aftermarket headunit. You don't need the antenna adapters pictured in the eBay links I posted earlier.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...satitle=fmda25

Or find a local Circuit City. They're going out of business and I think it's 20% off sat radio accessories.

[dgreet77]

Re: sirius buzzing

Yeah the local radio shack actually sells the sirius brand modulator for 20 bucks which is pretty respectable vs ebay.

But I guess I am confused as to why I can't get rid of this damn buzzing, I tried the ground loop isolator to no avail, then connecting the grounds, still no good. There is absolutley no buzzing when the blaupunkt headunit is running a cd or usb media. So this makes me wonder if the audio out on el cheapo free Sirius headunit is just junk?? I think I will hunt around and see if i have a friend that has a better headunit i could test....and if it still buzzed then I guess that would tell me that I have an issue between the two headunits....sorry just thinking out loud here......