I have a 2006 Escape with a 6L8T 18c81 5FD (SAT ready) Audiophile system in it. I have installed a SAT receiver under the seat, plugged it into my system and subscribed to a 3 month subscription until I get everything working correctly.

Before I plugged the VISTEON Sat Radio unit into the main deck, the display said something like, NO SATELITE DETECTED. Now that the unit is plugged in, the display says SERVICE SAT.

When I call Sirius to send an activation signal and press the SAT button, the display shows a satelite dish image receiving a signal...a couple channels flash by, such as NEW CNTRY....then it stops again and goes back to SERVICE SAT.

The customer service folks at Sirius say that they cannot help me unless I tune my radio to channel 184.....however, the radio system will not let you tune in ANY channels unless it gets a signal from the Satelite system. I am stuck in a catch 22.....they cant activate the unit without me tuning to a channel that I cannot tune unless they activate the unit.

I am completely lost. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, does anyone have a link that I could download the manual for the radio model listed above. I need something more then what each button is for.....I need details on what I am doing wrong to either tune in SAT channels or somehow get the unit activated.

Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

Ron

PS....I want info for using my existing unit....not a bunch of comments saying to buy aftermarket products.....

 

if you are getting the new country channel, then it disappears i dont think your problem lies on the activation signal cause to get the channels that flashed by then the radio is receiving the signal. for the brief amount of time, can actually hear audio from the channels you receive or it is just on the display??

how many activation signals have you had sent to you from sirius (if only one have them send it again)? just making sure, but do you have a clear path to the sky from your antenna? and you do not have power lines above the area you are trying to receive the signal from?

i had this happen to a dodge factory system that i was putting service to the factory radio. took two activation signals (i did the stuff online so i wouldn't have to deal with the customer service).

i dont think you have a connection problem since you received the signal, you might have a equipment problem though.

 

I do not hear audio....just a flash on the display of a couple of the stations.....the country station is the only one I remember off hand....then it switches back to SERVICE SAT.

I bought the unit off of EBAY.... I may just purchase another..... I have a feeling that the unit itself might be bad...and unfortunately, places I have called to diagnose the unit itself...are more expensive then just buying another one...

Thanks so much for your reply

 

i debated on buying the one off ebay, but ultimately bought one from the ford dealer. everything worked fine from the get go.

 

You can buy an inexpensive radio directly from SIRIUS Satellite Radio - The Best Radio On Radio.

 

This maybe a lit'l late...
but I didn't see where you stated plugging in (and installing) a "mating" satellite antenna. Just only a quick observation... then again I may have read your OP too fast (my apologies in this case).

But with the symptoms you described... that's what it sounds like- Could be happening.