Satellite Radio (SDARS)

To use the satellite radio, the radio must be in satellite mode. The satellite antenna must have an unobstructed view of the satellite. The vehicle must be outside to receive proper reception. Poor reception may be experienced in large down town areas where tall buildings are present. The satellite network is still under development, and this could be the cause of poor reception in certain areas. Use a known good system to verify network performance in these areas.

Once in satellite mode, the radio head is used to change stations. The Radio must be in Satellite mode to communicate to the Satellite Receiver Module with the DRBIII(R). The Radio head communicates to the Satellite Receiver Module via the PCI bus and the private Audio bus. The Audio bus functions just like the PCI bus, but its use is restricted to the Radio and the Satellite Receiver Module.

The Satellite Receiver Module processes signals it receives from the satellite antenna. That information is then sent to the Radio where it is processed and sent out to the speakers. The Satellite Receiver Module has the ability to detect and store fault code information, which may be retrieved with the DRBIII(R).