Installing a Dock & Play Tuner

The most popular way to get satellite radio in the car is with a Dock & Play tuner. This is a removable tuner that can be played through both car and home stereos with the appropriate accessory kits.

Dock & Play tuners must be mounted in the cradle, also called the docking station, found in the car accessory kit. Power and signal connections are usually made at the cradle.

A Dock & Play satellite radio car kit may include all of the following: a cradle, an antenna, a DC power adapter, a mini jack-to-RCA patch cord, and a cassette adapter.

There are two ways to mount the cradle in your car:

1. using the included mounting hardware
2. with an optional vehicle-specific mount

Accessory kit mounting hardware
The cradle's mounting hardware typically features an arm with an industrial-strength, self-adhesive pad on a backing plate. To install the cradle using the included hardware, first find a convenient spot on your dash to mount the cradle — you'll want to make sure that you can reach it easily, and that the tuner isn't blocking any of your dash controls. It helps to have someone hold the tuner in place while you sit in the driver's seat to check the placement.

Once you're sure where you want to mount the cradle, swab the area with a cleansing pad (included in most kits), peel the backing off the self-adhesive pad, and stick the mount in place. Apply moderate pressure for a minute or so to ensure that the pad adheres correctly. Some vehicle kits also include screws for a more permanent installation, though you'll want to think carefully before drilling into your dash.

When deciding where to mount a plug-and-play tuner, be sure that you can easily see and reach the controls, and that the tuner will not interfere with other dash controls.

Once the mount is in place, slide the tuner into the cradle, make the appropriate signal and power connections (which we'll discuss on the next page), and you're ready to go.

Optional vehicle-specific mounts
Vehicle-specific mounting kits let you install select satellite radio tuners (or controller displays) in hard-to-fit vehicles without modifying the dash. These typically bolt to the dash frame and offer a backing plate for mounting the tuner's cradle (you'll still need the tuner's car accessory kit; you just won't use the included mounting hardware).

Vehicle-specific mounts bolt to the dash frame and provide a convenient platform for mounting a plug-and-play tuner.

There are three advantages to vehicle-specific mounts:

1. vehicle-specific mounts fit in convenient spots (selected by the manufacturer) that do not interfere with dash features such as climate controls and air-conditioning vents
2. vehicle-specific mounts are designed to blend in well
3. vehicle-specific mounts are bolted into place, so the installation is more sturdy and permanent-looking than standard adhesive-pad methods

Installation of a vehicle-specific mount varies from vehicle to vehicle. In general, though, you'll likely have to engage in some dash disassembly and reassembly. The instructions included with the mount will guide you through the process for your vehicle.

Once you've installed the mount, you will need to attach the vehicle kit cradle to the bracket. This can be done by matching the bolt pattern on the bracket with the small screw holes back panel of the tuner's cradle and using the screws that come with the mount. You can also choose to use the self-adhesive pad to attach the cradle to the mount arm, though this is less secure than using screws.

Note: Vehicle-specific mounts are not available for all vehicles. Check our online fit database by clicking on Outfit My Car at Crutchfield.com to see if we have one for yours.