With XM now in the good graces with the FCC over their radio FM transmittion capabilities, many have been wondering about how this affects the Pioneer Inno and Samsung Helix. What is going to happen to the FM transmitter on thse units?

As some are aware (and if not, you are now), the Inno's firmware was updated recently to disable the FM Modulator while you have the Inno in handheld mode or on the Home Dock. This new firmware was also included in all the latest Inno units being shipped out this month. Previously, you were able to plug in the headphones, or dock it in the Home Dock, and instantly you were a walking radio station.

As a refresher, the modifications that XM did to reduce FM transmission was the simply the addition of a ferrite bead. This lowers the FM transmissions just enough to pass the FCC's testing. Great, add a 25-cent part, and everyone's happy.

Now, here's the kicker. Keep in mind that the vehicle itself will actually lower the emissions levels of the FM modulator. But in handheld mode, you don't have the vehicle's insulating effects. So in order to get the emissions low enough to pass in handheld mode, it would compromise the reception you would have in the car. In other words, lowering the FM transmitter in the firmware would make vehicle levels useless.

And that's why it's only available while on the car dock. XM wanted it to work best where it was most needed by the average customer.

Samsung has launched a neato product page about the Helix and Nexus portable receivers. On it they're running a sweepstakes to win an XM Ready Samsung digital home entertainment system that only requires an email address (hell, I entered).

(On a slightly related note: word has it that Samsung is advertising the Helix on Engadget, though I haven't seen the ad anywhere in rotation yet.)

Thanks cb!