My Soundgate KBMWSIR finally arrived today so I decided to install it and my Kenwood Sirius tuner tonight. It was simple plug and play like was advertised. I turned on the radio and pushed the mode button only to find "CD 1-01" "CD" and "RND" displayed. No "Sirius" "SAT" or "INF" like the Blitzsafe XM install listed here. http://nickpresley.com/xm/

That wasn't a big deal at first until I realized the channel could not be changed. I checked the install sheet again and I was using the correct buttons but nothing worked. I also found where it said that the display should read "CD1-XX" where XX is the station number. A far cry from the opposite of the page where it says "designed to flawlessly match the Kenwood components to the Mini system".

I thought I would mention this since I saw atleast two other comments about the Soundgate adapter here. I'll give them a call tommorow and hopefully it will be a simple thing I am overlooking. For those looking at the Soundgate I will be sure to keep you updated.

It is a 2003 model btw.

 

I talked with a Soundgate tech today. Not being able to change channels was my fault. The tech said I would need to subscribe to Sirius before I could change channels. Also not being able to tune into channel 184, the station which is used during subscription, is not accessible with the Soundgate. This was the channel I was searching for when I noticed I could change channels. As for how I was going to know I was getting a signal during subscription, I don't know. But he said it was meant to work that way.

Sirius said I could subscribe the unit without knowing if the equipement was working. They did say I would only be out the subscription fee if the equipement didn't work. I don't think that will be happening.

I also asked about the CD1-01 display and where it was mentioned on their site or somewhere else besides inside the package. He said it wasn't. The CD changers are mentioned but not the Sirius tuners. So I decided to ask why CD1-01 was displayed instead of Sirius or the channel name. He informed me that the 2003 Mini Cooper radio is not text capable. When I mentioned about the OEM Sirius or Blitzsafe XMdirect unit supplying text he reworded it as it was not text capable if using the cd changer connections. The conversation didn't get any better after I mentioned those two "are" connected by the cd changer connections.

The unit is operating as advertised "inside the package". Too bad my 2003 Mini radio isn't text capable.

 

Interesting.........

I went with XM, and got snippets of songs mixed with Registration information on 5 or 6 channels, and the radio ID and a constant "Welcome, now register" on the other two channels.

So are you keeping the Soundgate, or are you going to hold out for the newer Blitzsafe that is supposed to give the info, and MFSW control of the xm tuner?

 

I'm not keeping the soundgate. I've checked and was told by Blitzsafe that the XMdirect will work like OEM. I'm not sure if I will go with that or not as it's very close to the OEM price and there are a few of the channels I like on Sirius that XM doesn't offer.

I like the factory look but if I'm going to spend nearly $300 or more I might go with an aftermarket head unit so I would gain more than just satellite radio.