patrickcfi

Hey all, new GX owner here. I love my truck, and really am missing my XM. I see that Terk is coming with a new unit in November for our trucks that uses the factory system. This will be an excellent unit it seems. I was not wanting to comprimise my Levinson / Nav for some cheap looking box. I had an XM Commander in my Sequoia, and it sounded like crap. Not being able to control volume via remote was a major gripe as well. Ideas?

Press release


AUDIOVOX AND XM SATELLITE RADIO INTRODUCE BREAKTHROUGH XM SOLUTION FOR MORE THAN 25 MAKES OF NEW AND USED CARS

Audiovox's Terk adaptor makes it possible for every car radio with Radio Data Service (RDS) to become an XM radio

Washington D.C., August 09, 2005 -- Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) and XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: XMSR), the nation's leading satellite radio service with more than 4.4 million subscribers, today announced a new smart digital adaptor that delivers XM to any new or used vehicle that has a car stereo equipped with Radio Data Service (RDS).

RDS is available in various vehicle models offered by leading automakers such as Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln-Mercury, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Porsche, Range Rover, Scion, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo, and many others. RDS is a technology that was introduced in the U.S. in 1998 to send digital display information to FM radios.

The smart digital adaptor marketed by Audiovox under its Terk brand connects the in-dash radio to a hideaway XM Direct tuner box. The driver can access all XM functions using a full-feature remote control. The Terk adaptor offers consumers a universal solution for new and used vehicles that do not have factory-installed XM radios. The patent-pending technology provides a "factory-like" XM installation, leaving the dash and existing car stereo head unit intact.

"With the introduction of this new RDS product, Audiovox covers another segment of the satellite radio market. Consumers who want satellite radio, but who don't want the extra hardware on their dashboards that a plug-and-play solution requires, will now be able to purchase this new car stereo solution starting this November," said Tom Malone, Senior Vice President, Sales of Audiovox Corporation.

Consumers can simply use the Terk smart digital adapter (MSRP $69.99) to connect the RDS radio to an XM Direct tuner (MSRP $49.99). The XM Direct tuner is placed behind the dash for a clean, seamless installation. The tuner is available at retailers nationwide. The new Terk adapter for RDS-capable car stereos will be widely available in November.

RDS-capable car stereos connected to the XM Direct tuner will display the XM channel names, artist's name, song title, channel number, and music genre on the existing car stereo's display, similar to factory-installed satellite radio receivers. The user will be able to continue to listen to AM and FM radio stations on the in-dash radio.

"With this new Terk adaptor, you can turn any RDS factory-installed radio into an XM radio," said Dan Murphy, Senior Vice President of Product Marketing and Distribution. "This is great news for anyone who has a new or used vehicle with an RDS radio, and is looking for a simple, seamless way to add XM to their existing system."

About Audiovox

Audiovox Electronics Corporation (AEC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Audiovox Corporation (Nasdaq:VOXX). AEC is a recognized leader in the marketing of automotive entertainment, vehicle security and consumer electronics products. The company is number one in mobile video and places in the top ten of almost every category that it sells. Among the lines marketed by AEC are its mobile electronics products including mobile video systems, auto sound systems including satellite radio, vehicle security, and consumer electronics products such as portable DVD players, flat-panel TV's, extended range two-way radios, multi media products like MP 3 players, and home and portable stereos. The company markets its products through an extensive distribution network that includes power retailers, 12-volt specialists, mass merchandisers and an OE sales group. The company markets products under the Audiovox, Jensen, Acoustic Research, Advent, Code Alarm, Terk, Vogel's and Prestige brands. For additional information, visit our web site at www.audiovox.com.

About XM Satellite Radio

XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio service with more than 4.4 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City and Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame, XM's 2005 lineup includes more than 150 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music channels, premier sports, talk, comedy, children's and entertainment programming and advanced traffic and weather information for more than 20 major metro areas. XM was named Best Radio Service at the 2004 Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and Volkswagen/Audi, is available in more than 120 different vehicle models for 2005. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com.




Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio's service, the Company's dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-4-05. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio's Investor Relations Department.




XM Contact:
David Butler
Phone: 202-380-4317
david.butler@xmradio.com

Tin Star

That will work but it has some problems as I understand it. Audio will be sent to the radio via FM and all changing channels will be only with an IR remote.

lonewolf69

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for the info, but your title was just a little mis-leading, I'm sure it wasn't intentional. Perhaps you could have re-phrased the title as:

"Audio vox announces XM satelite to RDS enabled radios"

That being said, not too keen oh having data transferred via FM reception, I had an earlier DVD player in my other car that transmitted this way too much noice/interference (IMHO).

I must say though, when I read your original post, I really thought Lexus was going to offer an OEM solution from them via direct connect and not via FM...

Thanks again for the info! Looks like we'll have still go through the RX330 harness kit and the existing XM/Sirrius kit that Lexus is offering...

lepoch

Don't forget, you have to be stopped to be able to hit the MSG button... It might display the first few characters of the RDS datastream if you are on the AUDIO menu, but not sure how much you can see if you are moving.