improving Sirrius reception

Greetings JTode;
Showing my ignorance, could you please explain what a "head unit with an aux input" is, and would it help me?
My present unit is an Alpine CDA9885, which is satellite capable. I am, however, using one of those Audiovox receivers you buy when your FM/AM isn't satellite capable. (purchased the Alpine after I had the Audiovox setup). In order for me to utilize the satellite capability in the Alpine, I need to purchase another "inside the dash" box, ($125 thru Best buy) which in turn hooks up to the Alpine.
Other than eliminating the Audiovox receiver, is there any advantage to this setup? It would kinda clean up the dash, but I can live with the setup I presently have.

 

If your alpine has a auxillary input on the front of it, just plug the satalite radio in there. It is pretty simple, and you get the best sound quality that way!!

 

By head unit I mean your Alpine - that's what they call the things we used to call car stereos, because now we've got people who are "into car audio" who buy the "head unit" the same way we would buy a CD player or turntable for a home stereo, and then add amplifiers, fancy speakers, etc. :>

Aux Input: Some car stereos/head units have a pair of RCA jacks (the same kind of connectors you see on the back of your CD player and tape deck on your home stereo), which you can plug a 2RCA-1/8" phone jack (walkman headphone plug) cable into and run it out into your cab, so you can plug an ipod, external sattelite radio or whatever into it, and get a clean sound.

I googled your unit, and it doesn't look like you have a jack on the front of it, which would've been the easiest option. However, you can get this for it, a small cable that Alpine calls the KCA-121B, for about $15:

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product_acc.php?model=KCA-121B

As you can see by the photo, this plugs into the back of your Alpine and gives you a set of those RCA jacks. You then plug the 2RCA-1/8" cable, which you should be able to get from the same place you get the KCA-121B, and run that cable out of your dash where your Sirius radio is mounted, and voila, you've got a clean connection to your stereo and will never have to deal with FM interference again.

Or you could just get that Alpine Sirius unit that lets you control the Sirius station from within the Alpine. The advantage of your current unit is that you can move it from truck to car to house, if you want to get more mounting units. I have a Stiletto 2 which I use in the car and at home to record stuff - my current rig is an old Ford with a tape deck that doesn't work, but at least it gets CBC. You can't demand a Pete 379 on your first job... :>

 

Finally got a break, able to do some reading, thanks for the help!

 

No probs. Years ago, I fancied myself a budding music producer, so I never bored of talking about audio gear. :>