Topic: Zumo 550 xm (Read 3532 times)

CVOjunkie · « **on:** January 10, 2009, 09:17:57 AM »

Has anybody used the xm feature on your 550? I was also wondering if the xm antenna can be mounted inside the fairing? Thanks

mrmagloo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2009, 09:37:44 AM »

I don't even get the XM feature? Why wouldn't you just want to run the XM through the radio? I would think the souds through the little speakers would sound like crap??

Fired00d · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2009, 09:50:51 AM »

Quote from: mrmagloo on January 10, 2009, 09:37:44 AM

I don't even get the XM feature? Why wouldn't you just want to run the XM through the radio? I would think the souds through the little speakers would sound like crap??

There aren't any speakers in the Zumo or on the motorcycle mount. All sounds come through your existing radio by means of a stereo patch cord to the Aux input of the radio.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

Twolanerider · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2009, 10:11:13 AM »

Quote from: Fired00d on January 10, 2009, 09:50:51 AM

There aren't any speakers in the Zumo or on the motorcycle mount.

No wonder it sounds like crap.....

spydglide · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2009, 10:13:48 AM »

Quote from: CVOjunkie on January 10, 2009, 09:17:57 AM

Has anybody used the xm feature on your 550? I was also wondering if the xm antenna can be mounted inside the fairing? Thanks

yep......works better inside the fairing than outside for me.

spyder

Hotrodstitcher · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2009, 10:16:13 AM »

I have the 550 on my Road Glide with the XM antenna (hockey puck) mounted on top of the radio inside the fairing and it works great. The antenna is a little thick and pushes up on the fairing just a little.

Fired00d · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2009, 11:07:03 AM »

Quote from: Twolanerider on January 10, 2009, 10:11:13 AM

No wonder it sounds like crap.....

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

HackNDos · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2009, 06:27:53 PM »

I have a zumo 550 and just got the antenna myself.

But I thought it had to be line of site. Meaning it couldn't be blocked by things.. like the fairing in order to get the satellite signal.
Although I dont have a faring, I was hoping to mount it somewhere more indiscreet and permanent, than setting it on my tank every time I want to use it and disconnecting it when I am done.

I was kind of bummed though that the zumo doesn't transmit the XM signal to my Nolan Helmet but yet it plays MP3's.

spydglide · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2009, 06:50:18 PM »

Quote from: HackNDos on January 16, 2009, 06:27:53 PM

I have a zumo 550 and just got the antenna myself.

But I thought it had to be line of site. Meaning it couldn't be blocked by things.. like the fairing in order to get the satellite signal.
Although I dont have a faring, I was hoping to mount it somewhere more indiscreet and permanent, than setting it on my tank every time I want to use it and disconnecting it when I am done.

I was kind of bummed though that the zumo doesn't transmit the XM signal to my Nolan Helmet but yet it plays MP3's.

You are correct, however it picks up thru the fairing just fine. Most objects will block the signal, though. Just have to hook it up and move it around to see what works and what doesn't to determine your mounting possibilities. Remember to allow for the slight time delay while moving it around. spyder

hard10 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2009, 08:04:15 PM »

Quote from: spydglide on January 16, 2009, 06:50:18 PM

You are correct, however it picks up thru the fairing just fine. Most objects will block the signal, though. Just have to hook it up and move it around to see what works and what doesn't to determine your mounting possibilities. Remember to allow for the slight time delay while moving it around. spyder

Spyder I'm not sure you are correct on this one. The XM antenna that he would use is the GXM30 (is that correct HnD?). If so, it will need to be line of sight or there abouts. A regular XM antenna like you have on a stock SEUC or your car, is not the same as one used for the Garmin unit. The GXM is the "hockey puck" style and theLAST place I would mount it is on my tank! They sell a bracket to attach it to the Zumo which is where I would put it.

spydglide · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2009, 08:37:08 PM »

Quote from: hard10 on January 16, 2009, 08:04:15 PM

Spyder I'm not sure you are correct on this one. The XM antenna that he would use is the GXM30 (is that correct HnD?). If so, it will need to be line of sight or there abouts. A regular XM antenna like you have on a stock SEUC or your car, is not the same as one used for the Garmin unit. The GXM is the "hockey puck" style and theLAST place I would mount it is on my tank! They sell a bracket to attach it to the Zumo which is where I would put it.

No, that's the same antenna that I have (the hockey puck) and I wasn't implying to mount it on the tank.....just that he could move it around to different places out of sight as he indicated he wanted to do since he didn't have a fairing. Mine is under the fairing and actually seems to receive signals better than when I mounted it on the special bent metal bracket made especially for it mount on the handlebar mount. Sorry I didn't convey this accurately. spyder

Hoist! · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2009, 08:37:21 PM »

Not the greatest pic. 550 mounted on Techmount with GXM antenna on top of 550.

Hoist!

hard10 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2009, 10:53:16 PM »

Quote from: spydglide on January 16, 2009, 08:37:08 PM

No, that's the same antenna that I have (the hockey puck) and I wasn't implying to mount it on the tank.....just that he could move it around to different places out of sight as he indicated he wanted to do since he didn't have a fairing. Mine is under the fairing and actually seems to receive signals better than when I mounted it on the special bent metal bracket made especially for it mount on the handlebar mount. Sorry I didn't convey this accurately. spyder

I didn't realize you could mount the GXM30 under the fairing.

spydglide · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2009, 11:00:04 PM »

Quote from: hard10 on January 16, 2009, 10:53:16 PM

I didn't realize you could mount the GXM30 under the fairing.

Slapped it right on top of the radio and it works great, AJ. Try it, you'll like it.

har! spyder

hard10 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2009, 11:18:24 PM »

Quote from: spydglide on January 16, 2009, 11:00:04 PM

Slapped it right on top of the radio and it works great, AJ. Try it, you'll like it. har! spyder

I move mine from the bike to the truck to the car too often that have it buried. But good to know that it works in there. I thought I read here that it wouldn't. Glad to stand corrected.

HackNDos · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2009, 04:53:12 PM »

Well my GXM30 came with a mount bracket. But were exactly does it attach to the zume bracket at? Anyone have a close up photo of this they could share?

Yeah, I don't' want the puck on my tank.

Thanks
Paul

Fired00d · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2009, 05:01:33 PM »

You can check this post/thread out for an aftermarket mount - ? on Zumo. I'm not aware of a mount that comes w/the antenna to mount on a motorcycle.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

HackNDos · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2009, 05:15:36 PM »

Thanks for the link. Looks like a mount made for the zumo.

Here's a pic of the bracket that came with my GXM30. Almost like a screw into the dashboard mount.

Fired00d · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2009, 05:21:39 PM »

That's called a "GXM 30 flange mount w/screws" not really sure what it's used for.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

rmsubs · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2009, 06:07:15 PM »

OK, being a communications tech in the Navy, I can tell you that XM is line of sight. In that you have to be in direct line of the satellite to receive the signal. Hence there is no satellite over Africa where I am now so even if I had a receiver I would not get any reception. But since it transmits in the EHF frequency spectrum I can tell you that it does penetrate porous substances like fiberglass or plastic. In fact on submarines our antennas are covered with a fiberglass dome to protect the actual antenna from sea water. So putting the antenna under the fairing should not cause loss of signal unless the signal was very weak to begin with. As with any antenna the fewer things between it and the transmitter is always better, so there is a slight increase in signal strength with the antenna mounted on top of the 550. I hope this clears things up.

HackNDos · « **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2009, 01:56:57 PM »

I made a small bend at one end of the flange mount to give it an almost 90 degree angle and screwed into the back of my mount using one of the screws that hold the zumo mount on. The hockey puck is now parallel with zumo and secured on nicely. Looks clean as well. Wish they made the antenna wire in different lengths though so i didn't end up with the coil of excess wire under it though. But hey, it's better than having it magnetically mounted to the tank.

Thanks for the input.

Paul

sportygordy · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2009, 02:46:16 PM »

Quote from: rmsubs on January 19, 2009, 06:07:15 PM

OK, being a communications tech in the Navy, I can tell you that XM is line of sight. In that you have to be in direct line of the satellite to receive the signal. Hence there is no satellite over Africa where I am now so even if I had a receiver I would not get any reception. But since it transmits in the EHF frequency spectrum I can tell you that it does penetrate porous substances like fiberglass or plastic. In fact on submarines our antennas are covered with a fiberglass dome to protect the actual antenna from sea water. So putting the antenna under the fairing should not cause loss of signal unless the signal was very weak to begin with. As with any antenna the fewer things between it and the transmitter is always better, so there is a slight increase in signal strength with the antenna mounted on top of the 550. I hope this clears things up.

I'm finding some of the new XM and Sirius receivers today require less line of site requirements. For example, my new Sirius Stiletto works with the internal antenna when mounted in my garage and my garage door is open. My old Sirius Sporty would not do this. Same thing is happening with a new Garmin GPS, I can mount it on the center console and it works fine were the older unit didn't do this. Not sure how the manufactures are doing this, perhaps they are now using preamplifier's to help out weak signals.

Author Topic: Zumo 550 xm (Read 3532 times)