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CVO Technical => Electronic Toys and Gadgets => Topic started by: Scrrem on December 13, 2006, 06:56:01 AM

Title: XM Antenna
Post by: Scrrem on December 13, 2006, 06:56:01 AM
Those of you with Garmin 27xx, 28xx or Zumo and are utilizing XM radio.  Where did you mount your GXM-30 antenna?  I am still trying to decide on the 2820 or the Zumo but both require the GXM-30 for XM.  I prefer the clean look of mounting the antenna in the fairing but I wonder if reception would be a problem.  Should I purchased the external mounting bracket from Cycle Gadgets instead.  Let me know your setup.  
Thanks
Screem
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: greglyon on December 13, 2006, 07:52:54 AM
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Those of you with Garmin 27xx, 28xx or Zumo and are utilizing XM radio.  Where did you mount your GXM-30 antenna?  I am still trying to decide on the 2820 or the Zumo but both require the GXM-30 for XM.  I prefer the clean look of mounting the antenna in the fairing but I wonder if reception would be a problem.  Should I purchased the external mounting bracket from Cycle Gadgets instead.  Let me know your setup.  
Thanks
Screem
On my Roadglide, I mounted it in the fairing on top of the radio per the instructions.  Reception was horrible.  I then took it out and placed it where the windscreen meets the fairing (glue or velcro will keep it secure). Perfect reception and hardly noticeable !!  Good luck  
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Midnight Rider on December 13, 2006, 11:09:23 AM
Screm....I have an 06 that came with the XM...the antenna was mounted in the fairing on a metal plate "specially" designed for it.  Reception sucked...tree lines on flat ground would make it lose signal.  I put it on top of the leather dash right where the inside of the windshield meets the inner fairing.  Preliminary tests from a ride Sunday show 100% improvement.  I can actually get a partial signal in my basement now and before I had to be completely outside the garage doors and 10 feet away from the house.  I attached the little puck with a piece of velcro.  Hardly noticeable.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Scrrem on December 13, 2006, 11:25:19 AM
Hummmm, Thats kind of what I thought.  The reception is crappy inside the fairing.  Ok, I guess the antenna stays outsite  :(
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: RJ749 on December 13, 2006, 11:35:04 AM
Many have moved it out of the fairing.

Here's a thread with comments and there are other threads as well covering the reception of XM.


http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1114051804/57#57
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: WFP on December 13, 2006, 11:59:08 AM
The GXM-30 is a lot bigger than the simple XM antennas since all the processing is also done within as opposed to a head unit.

I still do not know where to mount mine.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Scrrem on December 13, 2006, 02:04:12 PM
WFP,
Check out the mount from Cycle Gadgets for the GXM-30

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=HG
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: WFP on December 13, 2006, 02:33:13 PM
not bad!  But will probably get the Zumo so will need that one!

/Bill
Quote
WFP,
Check out the mount from Cycle Gadgets for the GXM-30

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=HG
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Midnight Rider on December 13, 2006, 02:54:13 PM
That looks like the best option I've seen for the application.  Let us know how it works out!! [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: DW6019 on December 13, 2006, 10:18:10 PM
I bought the inside fairing antenna mounting bracket (got part # from twolane) for a 06-07 Ultra.  NO reception problems, XM signal meter stays pegged at top of scale. Lot cleaner install than anywhere else. Bracket was less than $5.00.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Canuck on December 13, 2006, 11:55:34 PM
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I bought the inside fairing antenna mounting bracket (got part # from twolane) for a 06-07 Ultra.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: geezerglide on December 14, 2006, 12:18:32 AM
I have the Cycle Gadget Antennae Mount that Screem posted the link to. It bolts to the back of the Garmin Mount.

The magnet of the antenna holds it to the mounting plate, also their are two screws that insures the antennae will not fall of of the bracket.

The reception is excellent, as the antennae sits out in the open and has a clear line of sight to the heavens.

I'll try and take some pics on Thursday.

geezerglide
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Twolanerider on December 14, 2006, 02:44:57 AM
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OK Twolane,
Time to jump in [smiley=nixweiss.gif].
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Midnight Rider on December 14, 2006, 01:16:00 PM
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I bought the inside fairing antenna mounting bracket (got part # from twolane) for a 06-07 Ultra.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Twolanerider on December 14, 2006, 01:26:51 PM
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That's the part that I just took OFF mine because the reception sucked big ones with the XM antenna mounted there.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Midnight Rider on December 14, 2006, 01:33:00 PM
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This is one of those "scratch your head and wonder" kind of things Terry.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Twolanerider on December 14, 2006, 01:37:41 PM
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Must be because your bike is RED...it has a harder time looking through the Black Candy.... ;)
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: RedDevil on December 22, 2006, 08:15:38 AM
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That's the part that I just took OFF mine because the reception sucked big ones with the XM antenna mounted there.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: hogheritage04 on December 22, 2006, 02:01:43 PM
I've got the '06 FLHTCUSE with the antenna inside the fairing, on the metal mount.  I have always had great reception. The only time I lose reception is in a tunnel, under and overpass, or in a treeline that blocks the signal.  You might try the in-fairing mount just to see if it works for you, as it is really a clean way to go.  Good Luck!  By the way, since getting XM on my bike, I don't even bring CDs anymore.  You can listen to any kind of music you want, at the touch of a finger...it's great.  I rode to Sturgis last summer and used the same stations all the way.
Title: Re: XM Antenna
Post by: Ceej on March 23, 2007, 11:21:02 PM
I have various XM radio setups and will be installing an extra antenna under the fairing on top of the brand new Hawg Wired amp  ;D Since it is an extra I have decided to cannablize it for experiments sake. I had to dismantle one on my truck a while back cause I needed the mount for a newer style plug in antenna and have seen whats behind the black bulge. So, I figure lets try that under the fairing and see if makes it easier to get a signal. Pics will be taken. And thanks to this sites knowledge and pics I look forward confidently to listening to XM on Hawg wired speakers tommorrow afternoon :) - ok maybe I should say Evening ;D