The XM mini-tuner and home dock work in conjunction with any “XM-ready” audio system or A/V receiver. Simply plug the small cartridge into the docking unit, connect the supplied antenna and plug the dock into the “XM” port on your receiver. I did this with my Onkyo TX-SR805 receiver (reviewed this issue) and had no problems whatsoever. The antenna pulled in a strong signal from the southern sky and I used my Onkyo remote to change channels and adjust the volume. Elsewhere in my home, I have an Onkyo TX-SR604 and I was able to bring the home dock and antenna to that room, plug in and everything worked as advertised there as well. For added convenience, you could purchase multiple home docks and just carry around your tuner card.
The final piece of the puzzle is having XM in your car. Thankfully, Audiovox now makes an optional car kit (dubbed the “CommanderMT”) that integrates the mini tuner with any car audio system. The car doesn’t even have to be XM-ready because the kit includes a dash-mountable 4-line LCD display with its own set of control buttons. Sweet.
The prospect of a monthly service charge plus having to purchase multiple home docks and a car kit might be too much for some folks. For others, the freedom from commercials and variety of channels make it totally worth it. yy
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