Topic: Reception on SEUC XM??!! (Read 6899 times)

MightyMule · « **on:** April 16, 2006, 07:51:44 PM »

Was wondering if others had any reception problems with xm? Some areas that are still picking up fm real good, I lose the xm signal. Not just a bridge, but parts of town. Is there an antennae inside the fairing? mabey a way to boost? Any help will be very appreciated.

Twolanerider · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2006, 08:05:49 PM »

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Is there an antennae inside the fairing? mabey a way to boost? Any help will be very appreciated.

There is an antenna inside the fairing up high on the left side. Unless "in parts of town" means tucked away between some big-ass tall buildings you shouldn't have a problem. Only time I lose reception is inside the garage with the bike leaned over (reception is ok when the bike is straight and the antenna is again pointed straight up, or when under a tunnel of trees (or a tunnel itself).

arcticdude · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2006, 02:39:51 PM »

Mine is in between both of yours. I loose it when an 18 wheeler passes me, and inside the garage it only works if the nose of the bike is near the door. Can't say I'm impressed with XM.

Twolanerider · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2006, 04:01:38 PM »

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Mine is in between both of yours.

FR8TRN · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2006, 04:07:57 PM »

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Was wondering if others had any reception problems with xm? Some areas that are still picking up fm real good, I lose the xm signal. Not just a bridge, but parts of town. Is there an antennae inside the fairing? mabey a way to boost? Any help will be very appreciated.

Completely different types of signals, XM has to be able to see the satellite to recieve, put something in the way (buildings, bridges, trees, even heavy enough clouds or rain) and it can't see the satellite, and ya can't boost something that isn't there, either it's getting the signal or it's not. Ultimately they'll get a few more satellites up and it'll get signal from more than one, then your problems will go away, but until that happens it'll drop out. I usually switch to CD if I get into the woods/mountains cause I know it's gonna drop in and out alot.

MightyMule · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2006, 07:06:32 PM »

I'm saying that I lose it on my bike way more often than I lose it in my truck. I love xm, have it in my garage, truck, and bike. Just seems the antennae is located poorly or something like that. Same roads and part of town, truck has good xm, bike dont!!?

cigarmike · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2006, 11:17:08 PM »

Im not impressed with mine either, lose the signal too much......I also heard that XM radio lost $680 million last year, they may not be around too much longer, and I wouldnt buy stock till its almost free.

ultramellon · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2006, 06:43:21 PM »

have the same problem with mine I was told it is the location of the antenna under the fairing is the reason that it loses the signal ultra mellon

ultrafxr · « **Reply #8 on:** April 27, 2006, 10:32:29 AM »

Guess I'm the exception 'cause I love my XM. Granted when traveling a two-lane country road lined with lots of trees it can lose signal. But where it really shines is on road trips where stations can be few and far between not to mention trying to find one you like. Think most of the reception problem is due to fact that antenna is inside fairing. On cars/trucks antenna has a direct line of sight to satellite. Even so I still think it is great. [smiley=banana.gif]

Mikeial · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2006, 04:07:50 PM »

XM is good stuff, but the negative is that it is line of site.

greglyon · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2006, 10:40:52 AM »

I had the same problem when I had xm installed on my 2006 fltri. The fix came when they moved the antenna from inside to outside the fairing. I can even listen to xm inside my North facing garage with the garage door closed. The antenna is now wedged between the windscreen and the dash in the center of the bike. You can't even see it while riding.
Hope this helps.

jeffj · « **Reply #11 on:** April 30, 2006, 11:14:44 AM »

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I had the same problem when I had xm installed on my 2006 fltri.

RJ749 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2006, 12:39:36 PM »

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How about a picture showing where you placed it?

[smiley=worthless.gif] need we say it again?

greglyon · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2006, 01:19:32 PM »

Ok will snap off a picture and try to post it later today. It completely resolved my reception problem.

Nasty Habit · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2006, 09:32:31 AM »

I have been an XM customer for many years. I have it in all my vehicles, motorcycle, home, office, etc. I always hated the reception from that tiny magnetic antenna. The bike itself can easily block the reception. I ride a lot of country roads, and the trees are always in the way. The trucker's antenna I mounted on my m/c works great. It seems to boost the gain. I can get a clear reception inside a tunnell, under trees etc. Only problem is that the thing is four feet long. Looks like something out of a futuristic movie. Big antenna looks bad, but works great! It can be viewed in the pictures section on this web-site.
Nasty

greglyon · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2006, 09:08:32 PM »

Here is a shot of the XM antenna installed outside the fairing on a 2006 Roadglide. I now have perfect reception. Hope this helps.

If someone could resize my photo I would appreciate it. Thanks

fxdjerry · « **Reply #16 on:** May 08, 2006, 11:55:14 PM »

Anyone know if the harley xm antenna is waterproof? Can it just sit on the dash in the weather?

JR · « **Reply #17 on:** May 09, 2006, 10:40:01 PM »

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I have been an XM customer for many years. I have it in all my vehicles, motorcycle, home, office, etc. I always hated the reception from that tiny magnetic antenna. The bike itself can easily block the reception. I ride a lot of country roads, and the trees are always in the way. The trucker's antenna I mounted on my m/c works great. It seems to boost the gain. I can get a clear reception inside a tunnell, under trees etc. Only problem is that the thing is four feet long. Looks like something out of a futuristic movie. Big antenna looks bad, but works great! It can be viewed in the pictures section on this web-site.
Nasty

Nasty, I see what you mean about that antenna. Man, you could hang Old Glory on that pole!

Awesome lookin scooter, love what you did to it! [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

JR [smiley=banana.gif]

Gordito · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2006, 12:03:56 PM »

I have XM running on my scoot, and frankly am not that impressed. The reception seems to be fine, but you really have to blast the volume to hear it on the freeway. I can play CDs at half and hear it extremely well. 8-)

ccr · « **Reply #19 on:** May 17, 2006, 03:34:04 PM »

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I have XM running on my scoot, and frankly am not that impressed. The reception seems to be fine, but you really have to blast the volume to hear it on the freeway. I can play CDs at half and hear it extremely well.

ccr · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2006, 03:32:38 PM »

MightyMule, playing around with the XM unit itself while out in the sun yesterday, my husband found an ability to tune in different levels of "loudness" on it. I never needed to turn mine up all the way, although after a few miles I do find that I just keep getting it louder, not by need but because it is fun. ;-) Discovered new station - 49 - Big Tracks. Rock and Roll. [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

greglyon · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2006, 04:48:29 PM »

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MightyMule, playing around with the XM unit itself while out in the sun yesterday, my husband found an ability to tune in different levels of "loudness" on it. I never needed to turn mine up all the way, although after a few miles I do find that I just keep getting it louder, not by need but because it is fun. ;-) Discovered new station - 49 - Big Tracks. Rock and Roll. [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

If your radio is the one introduced in 2006, that feature make it louder as you go faster and create more background noise. There are 4 settings. I use the highest setting creating the greatest differential between high and stopped volume.

magicl1 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 22, 2006, 02:27:55 AM »

Maybe this works

Sklywag · « **Reply #23 on:** June 27, 2006, 12:53:24 PM »

I am also disappointed with the XM. We have Sirus in the car and have travelled the same roads in it as on the MC with the XM. Sirus never looses the signal in the same area that XM does. I heard that HD may offer a Sirus module to replace the XM.

I plan to pull off the fairing to do some other wiring & I'm going to see about moving the antenna to the top of my padded dash pad. A friend of mine with an older Ultra and an add on XM did that with his antenna and it worked much better than inside the fairing.

Bill (SklyWag)
There are too many roads for one lifetime...

Rooster · « **Reply #24 on:** September 08, 2006, 11:28:29 AM »

I have had xm radio on my road king for a couple of years mostly comes in great but does cut off in spots. They originally had you mount antenna in the saddle bag but with a passenger on board leg over saddle bag cut out signal so moved it to the back side of license plate magnet sucked it right on and signal much better, also ran the hose over it many times, no problem. Anyway sold the king and waiting for new blue jester so I can transfer the service over.

Author Topic: Reception on SEUC XM??!! (Read 6899 times)

cigarmike