Sirius Satellite Radio SDSV6 Leaflet

PowerConnect

PowerConnect 

You can use either the Dash Mount or the Vent Mount for your Stratus 6, depending upon your vehicle and 
the location where you want to place your radio.

CAUTION! Make sure your radio isn’t in a place where it could interfere with driver visibility or safe deployment 
of the airbags.

Option 2

CAUTION: The adhesive used on the Dash Mount may be difficult to 
remove. Do not install this mount on leather surfaces (contact your vehicle 
dealer if you are unsure about your dash surface), and make sure the air 
temperature is at least 60ûF (15ûC) during installation. If it’s not at least 
60ûF, turn on the heater in your vehicle to bring the temperature up to 60ûF.

1  Locate a flat surface for the Dash Mount. (Options 1, 2, or 3.) 

Make sure there is 
ample room for the 
dock and radio when 
installed.

2  Set the orientation 

of the mount before 
adhering it. Loosen 
the knob and adjust 
the adhesive foot for the location you 
selected:
• Option 1 & Option 3 should be oriented as 

I.

• Option 2 should be oriented as 

II.

3  Clean the surface with the 

alcohol preparation pad, and let 
it dry thoroughly.

4  Attach the Dash Mount to the 

PowerConnect Vehicle Dock 
using the provided screws.

5  Peel off the adhesive liner. 

Position, press, and hold the Dash 
Mount in place for 30 seconds. 

IMPORTANT! Allow the Dash Mount 
adhesive to cure (dry) for a minimum of 
2-4 hours before using the mount. The 
best adhesion occurs after 24 hours.

6  The dock mounting plate can be tilted in different directions. 

Adjust as necessary for your particular vehicle. When the 
orientation is correct, tighten the knob.

Option 3

Option 1

Knob

Adhesive Foot

Dock Mounting

Plate

Option 5

Option 4

1  Locate a suitable vent in your vehicle which is strong enough to 

hold the Stratus 6 and the PowerConnect Vehicle Dock. (Options 
4 or 5.)

2  If the vent louvers are recessed, you’ll have to use the 

extended vent clamps. The Vent Mount is assembled with the 
short vent clamps, so you will have to remove the short clamps 
and install the extended clamps as shown below.

3  Attach the Vent Mount to the PowerConnect Vehicle Dock 

using the provided screws. 

4  Push the Vent Mount onto the vehicle vent as shown (1) until 

hooked on the rear of the vent louver (2).

5  Rest the foot against the bottom of the vent (2). If necessary, 

adjust the tilt of the Vent Mount by repositioning the foot to a 
different tilt adjustment hole (3).

Extended Vent Clamps

Short Vent

Clamps

Slide Short Vent Clamps Out

Remove End Cap

Slide Extended Vent Clamps In

Replace End Cap

Dash

Vent

Louver

Vent

Vent

Dash

Dash

Choose the best location for the antenna considering your vehicle type. Refer to the antenna 
placement tips and cautions in the User Guide beginning on page 23.

•  Sedan or Coupe: We recommend mounting the antenna above either the front windshield or 

the back window.

•  Pickup Truck: We recommend mounting the antenna above the front windshield.
•  Convertible: We recommend mounting the antenna at the leading edge of the trunk.
•  SUV: We recommend mounting the antenna at the rear of the roof.

CAUTION! STOP and read the more specific instructions in the User Guide for all 
types of vehicles — or get someone who knows vehicles to help — if you don’t 
understand what to do. You might accidentally do damage to your vehicle.

Attach the Rubber Tail to the antenna and press 
the antenna cable into the Rubber Tail. Use the 
Rubber Tail to position the antenna the correct 
distance from the edge of the roof or trunk lid.
Clean the surface of the selected mounting 
location using the alcohol preparation pad and 
let it dry thoroughly. Peel the protective material 
from the adhesive strips and press the Rubber 
Tail firmly into place on the vehicle for 30 
seconds. At room temperature (68

° F), maximum 

adhesion usually occurs within 72 hours. During 
this period, avoid car washes and other contact 
with the antenna and the Rubber Tail.

Feed the antenna wire under the rubber molding around the front or rear 
windshield, and into the seal around the trunk or door. For a convertible, the cable 
can be routed directly into the trunk.

TIP! Use a tool like a blunt plastic putty knife, a credit card, a plastic knife, or a 
similar blunt tool to help hide wires along the windshield trim. 

The best place to hide your antenna cable depends on your type of vehicle.
When the antenna is mounted at the rear of the vehicle, it’s usually easiest to run 
the cable from the rear to the front toward the radio by routing the cable along 
the interior trim where it meets the carpet, gently pushing it behind the edges of 
the trim. Bring the cable out from the trim and route it under the carpet toward 
the dashboard. 
When the antenna is mounted at the front of the vehicle, bring the cable into the 
rubber weather stripping around the door to the bottom of the door opening. 
Bring the cable out of the weather stripping and route it 
under the carpet toward the dashboard. 
Coil any excess cable in a hidden location, such as under 
the carpet, keeping it away from any vehicle pedals or 
controls. Secure the excess cable with wire ties.
Plug the antenna into the silver ANT connection on the 
right side of the dock.

TIP! Avoid damaging or compromising the window, 
door, and trunk seals.

TIP! For more help, refer to the detailed antenna cable 
routing instructions for your type of vehicle, in the User Guide beginning on page 26.

You will listen to the Stratus 6 through your vehicle’s stereo system or FM radio. First, the Stratus 6 must be receiving the 
SIRIUS signal. Ensure your vehicle is outside with the antenna having a clear view of the sky. Your audio connection options are: 

•  Best: Use the Aux In Cable if your vehicle’s stereo system has 

an auxiliary input connection. Plug one end of the cable  into the 
green AUDIO connector on the PowerConnect Vehicle Dock and 
the other end into the vehicle stereo system’s auxiliary input jack. 
Set the stereo system to play from the auxiliary input source.

•  Better: Use a Cassette Adapter if your vehicle has a built-in cassette 

player. Cassette Adapters are sold separately. Plug the Cassette Adapter 
into the green AUDIO connector on the PowerConnect Vehicle Dock. Insert 
the Cassette Adapter into the vehicle’s cassette deck. Set the stereo 
system to play from the cassette source.

•  Good: Use the PowerConnect feature in the Stratus 6. PowerConnect 

plays the audio through your vehicle’s FM radio. When you have finished step 4 (below), you’ll first need to 
find an available FM channel in your area, and then you need to ensure that the Stratus 6 and your vehicle’s 
FM radio are tuned to the same available FM channel. (Step 5)

•  Best: Use an FM Direct Adapter (FMDA) if none of the above three audio connection options works in your 

vehicle. The FMDA needs to be installed by a professional installer and directly connects the Stratus 6 to your 
vehicle’s FM radio. 

TIP! Refer to your vehicle’s owners manual to find the location of the auxiliary input jack, or consult the vehicle 
dealer. To learn more about purchasing a Cassette Adapter or FMDA, check with the retailer where you bought your 
Stratus 6 or go to sirius.com/accessories.

Audio Quality

 

GOOD 

BETTER 

BEST

PowerConnect

Cassette Adapter

Aux In Cable

FM Direct Adapter (FMDA)

Connect the PowerConnect Power Adapter

Insert the PowerConnect Power Adapter into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter or power adapter 
socket. Then plug it into the red PWR connector on the left side of the dock.

Insert your Stratus 6 into the dock, 
aligning the radio against the rear of 
the dock so that the rails on the dock 
fit into the mounting slots in the back 
of the radio.

Press the Power button to turn it On. 

 

An available FM channel is one that’s not being used by an FM radio station in your area. When you 

tune your FM radio to an available channel, you should only hear static or silence – not talk or music. 
We recommend one of the following methods to find an available FM channel:

a. Use the SIRIUS | XM FM Channel Finder at www.sirius.com/fmchannel. Go to the website and 

enter your zip code. The Channel Finder will suggest a list of available FM channels in your area. 
For convenience, write down or print out the list.

                      OR

b. Manually tune through your local FM channels on your vehicle’s FM radio. Locate and create a list of 

channels that aren’t being used by any FM radio station. Write down the list. Once you have created 
your list of available FM channels, you will need to find the one that provides the best match for the 
Stratus 6.

TIP! You’ll need to use the ‘Manual’ tune function on your vehicle’s FM radio to tune through every FM channel 
one-by-one. Turn on your vehicle’s FM radio. Start at 88.1 and use the ‘Manual’ tune function on your vehicle’s FM radio 
to tune through each FM channel one-by-one (88.1 followed by 88.3 etc.) to locate channels that aren’t being used by 
a local FM radio station. Write down each FM channel that has only static or silence on it, until you reach 107.9.

a  Pick the first FM channel on your list.
b  Turn on your vehicle’s FM radio (if you have not already done so) and tune it to this FM channel.

a  Press and hold menu until the menu options are displayed.
b  Press

   to scroll to and highlight FM Settings and press the Select button.

c  If FM Channels is not highlighted, press

   to highlight FM Channels. Press the Select button. 

d  Press

   to scroll to and highlight the storage location FM2. Press the Select button.

e  Tune to the FM channel you found in step 1. Press

   and   to tune in 

steps of .2, i.e., 99.3 to 99.5. Press 

 and   to tune in steps of 1, i.e., 

99.3 to 100.3. Press the Select button to select the FM channel.

f  The FM channel you selected will be confirmed on the display screen. 

The Stratus 6 will tune to the FM channel.

g  You should hear SIRIUS through your vehicle’s radio when Stratus 6 is 

tuned to channel 184. If you are satisfied with the sound quality, you’re 
done.

  

If the chosen FM channel doesn’t work well for you, work down the list of FM channels until you find  
one that allows you to hear SIRIUS clearly. Each time, you will need to tune your vehicle’s FM radio 
and the Stratus 6 to the same FM channel.

TIP! You may find an FM channel with static or silence that does not work with the Stratus 6. It is possible that 
some type of inaudible interference is present that prevents reception of the Stratus 6 broadcast. Your only 
options are to use another FM channel or a different audio connection method.

96.3

MATCH FM CHANNELS

Before you can enjoy Commercial-Free Music, Plus Sports, News, Talk & Entertainment, you need to activate 
your Stratus 6.

1  Make sure your Stratus 6 is properly installed, turned on, and receiving the SIRIUS signal so that 

you can hear the audio on channel 184. 

2  Make a note of your SIRIUS Radio ID. You can find it:

• On channel 0 (zero)
• On a label on the bottom of the gift box
• On the label on the back of your Stratus 6

3  Activate your service: 

• Online:  Go to www.sirius.com and click on “Install and 

Activate”

 

• By phone: Call 1-888-539-SIRIUS (1-888-539-7474) 

4  When your service is activated, your Stratus 6 will display an 

alert message. To continue, press any button. Thereafter, if you 
press 

 or  , you can scroll and tune other channels. Activation 

usually takes less than 5 minutes, but sometimes may take 
longer. We recommend that your radio remain on until activated.

TIP! If the signal reception 
is low, check to see if the 
antenna’s view of the sky is 
blocked by a tree, a 
building, a bridge, or by 
anything on the vehicle 
roof such as a roof rack or 
luggage container, etc. 
Adjust until you are 
receiving a good signal. 
To check the signal, press 
and hold menu, press   to 
scroll to and highlight 
Signal. Press the Select 
button to display the 
Signal screen.

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Rubber

Antenna

Tail

Protective

Material

Strain

Relief

Antenna Cable

Magnetic Mount Antenna

(Upside-Down)