XM radio

[alia176]

Hey,

If anyone here has a XM satellite radio in their 80, where are you placing the two devices (radio interface and Terk antenna unit)? Also, how are you guys running the antenna wire out of your vehicle? I need to get XM before the annual XMAS road trip this year- thinking about hitting AZ and NM.

Also, if anyone is using one of the removable units (from car to car, car to home), I'd like to see some installs pics. I wasn't too crazy about having yet another gadget hanging around the cab but....

Thanks.

Ali

 

[jjbodean1970]

put the antenna on your dashboard right up against the front windshield - reception will be fine

 

[Cruiserdrew]

My XM radio receiver is high on the PS floorboard/firewall. The antenna is routed through the cab under the carpet, then out of the vehicle thorugh the rear hatch weatherstripping. The antenna itself is a very low profile unit about the size of a quarter with a mag mount. XM is great for road trips, I got it to go to Moab last year and it has become one of my favorite additions to the 80 series.

 

[alia176]

Thanks for the input guys. You guys are up early!

Andrew, I don't quite understand your intefrence issue! Is that where you installed the two XM gadgets, therefore causing your am/fm interference?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

No problems at all-I had said "interface" not interference. I edited my post for better clarity. By the way, I installed a new head unit at the same time-a Pioneer Premier unit that I like very much and wasn't too expensive.

 

[landtoy80]

I mounted my own homade bracket on the shifter platform. It has finaly fell off as it was held with black duck tape and velcrow.
I bought the inline FM modulator (the $$$ one that you tap into the radio antenna) and mounted infront of the shifter on the shifter platfrom. It has wires comming out all over the place. NOW XM comes out with a FM mod/powerhead that plugs in the cig lighter hole. TO LITTLE TO LATE
I run the wire for the antenna on the floor to the back hatch. I put vacuum hose on the wire as I already wore thorugh the wire and caused a short.
I am to cheap to buy a second car adapter ($50). It comes with a receiver mount and antenns.
I have the XM in my semi and only use it in the 80 for long trips.

No there is nothing wrong with computer or my pic, its your head

The FM mod is not in the pic but the velcrow is. Note my duck tap job

 

[alia176]

Thanks guys. I'll go out and purchase the two units. Back when I purchaed my Sony head unit (XM/MP3/CDR/CDW/etc) this unit for the Sony wasn't out yet. I'm just too cheap to pay someone $50 to have this installed I guess!

Off to circuit city, it's gonna be hell today!

 

[snowcruiser]

Ali

I have Sirius Radio in my truck. After listening to a friends XM I strongly urge you to at least consider Sirius. More programing options in my opinion and great customer service. Also, XM only has two geosynchronis sattelites while Sirius has four sattelites that orbit in some strange pattern.

The first unit I had was an Audiovox that removes from the truck to play in the house or another car with an additional car kit. Although the portability was nice the unit was too big and cumbersome and cluttered up the truck. I ended up giving this unit to my dad for his daily driver. I then purchased a Clarion Headunit with a free Sirius tuner through Crutchfield. The Sirius radio is now controlled completly through my new head unit and I gained an extra storage pocket in the process of decluttering the console. For the antenna, I too had it mounted on the dash but reception would cut in and out when driving under tunnels of trees on both sides of the road. I ended up mounting the Sirius controller under the driver's seat and the antenna up the pillar behind the drivers seatbelt to the headliner and sunroof gutter and out the front of the sunroof. This is a great location as the sunroof floats anyway and the felt does not crease the antenna wire or allow water in as the gutter handles this.

My reception has been perfect ever since and I must also say that I have only put one CD in the truck and haven't had the radio antenna up at all since I got Sirius over one year ago. Good luck!

Oh yeah, I pay $12.99 a month for the first unit and $6.99 for the second so the price is comparable to XM.

 

[Beowulf]

Kurt,

Fixed it for you. You didn't mention that you converted your truck to RHD in celebration of it's 250k birthday.

-B-

 

[landtank]

I just figured he was on one hell of a hill when he took the pics.

 

[Cruiser Newb]

ummm i got this: Sirius FM Modulator.


It came with some nice L levers, so I glued one end down to where the cup holder would be (above the radio) then attached the modulator with some screws (came with kit) and it looks very clean.


I drilled a nice big hole in the back of the cupholder slot and wired everything through there. For the reciever... its on top of the cruiser and in the back. The only way someone can notice it, if they were to climb on the side of the cruiser and look on top.

This nice little system has reduced the cost of me buying cd's tremendously. In the long run I can see it paying for itself.

 

[doctorJ]

I went with SIRIUS too, and love it, mostly for all the sports available. Unit is mounted on the right of the tansfer shifter. The Sportster model comes with a built in FM modulator with like 40 different FM station choices to broadcast on. I routed the satelite antenea under the back of the passebger carpet, up the A-pilar and above the doors on the passenger side (all tucked behind the little plastic molding) and then abaove the rear window and out the back hatch. The antenea is magnetic and lies on the roof. You would ever know it was there unless tou climbed up on the rear bumper. I went through a bunch of crush and overhanging trees while hunting this weekend and it never moved.


AAAHHH, I uploaded a picture and can't get it to show up???
jay

 

[erics_bruisers]

i swear by sirius -- listen to it 24/7 -- current favorite stations =

boombox, chill, outlaw country, bbc

 

[Koffer]

I have the XM unit in my 80
This is the permanent mount unit .
The rest of the goodies are under the center console . I also mounted the ant on the roof from the back hatch seal .

 

[T Y L E R]

I see that Howard Stern has joined Satellite radio ...

 

[nyk438]

How much a month does this cost? I'm thinking about making this an addition to my 80, or I might go ahead and get an Ipod.

 

[Koffer]

I see that Howard Stern has joined Satellite radio ...

Im not a big howard fan after his 8 months of " GW is out to get me so vote him out" BS every day and now hes moved onto the " i want out of my contract " BS since it a "bad" company and management but the best part of his crying is Sirius is owned by the same people his bitching about he also just happened to announce He would be going to sat. in 18 months the same week as O&A started on XM
Also XM just got MLB for all the 2005 games with the local sportcasters .

 

[Koffer]

How much a month does this cost? I'm thinking about making this an addition to my 80, or I might go ahead and get an Ipod.

Im paying $12 a month for XM and they have just come out with the MYFI which is a portable unit like a walkman and will store 5 hours of XM brodcasts when you are inside out of the birds view.

 

[nyk438]

And are the music stations no commercials at all? What else kind of stations can you get?

 

[Koffer]

Heres the lineup for XM
http://www.xmradio.com/programming/full_channel_listing.jsp?sort=number