Couple years ago, I bought a new (discontinued) Roady XT sat radio for $5 at Staples, mounted it next to the left IS radio controls. My mount has a little metal pad for the supplied magnet (car) antennae and it works fine (not under trees, in shed, tunnels, yada). It is not waterproof, and I have the little plastic raincoat on it; been in rain all day and never a problem. Powered to a powerport in my fairing.
I tried it using the wireless hookup to a programed FM radio channel, but switched to a wired hookup to the radio/aux under the right side cover (which is supposed to be the preferred hookup). I had problems getting full volume, until a buddy diddled with both my IS radio and the Roady XT. It still is not as loud as the IS FM, but setting it at 27 (of 30) is plenty loud at all speeds (fairly quiet exhaust). Original mediocre IS speakers.
Of course there are better radios available, but my Roady is fine, except I really cannot do detailed changes on the fly with gloves on (tiny buttons).... I can go up or down one channel at a time. However, I generally leave it on one of the few channels I mostly listen to.
Like cell phones, I suppose the major cost/expense is the subscription, something like $160 or more a year. I have never paid that. I call and plead poverty and ask for a promotional subscription. And I let it expire every winter which shows them I will let it expire. You pay a subscription for
each radio you have, so if you want it on different bikes, car, house, you buy more docks, not radios.
I never got a household dock setup, mainly because I do not listen to much music indoors, and local radio in the DC metro area has every type of music you could want. If I lived out in the sticks, I would have got a house hookup, not very expensive.
Remember way back when FM had very few commercials? This is as good a reason to get a sat radio as any.
Similar to this setup (but all the way over on the left, not obstructing any of the IS dash).
