Xm radio

[jdp]

Well here I am again and was just wondering if anyone has added XM radio to there interstate system or if it's possible? I had it on another bike I had but it was set up to where I had to find a station that wasn't being used and then tune in my satellite system, not very practical when your traveling.

[Jess from VA]

Yes, you can hook it up either way; wireless to a chosen FM channel, or better, to the Aux input under the right side cover.  You may have to dig around, but it's in there. 

I have grown tired of the SeriusXM folks and their Automatic renewal billing.  They tell me I owe them money, I told them to KMA and sue me.  I may never have their service again.  I get a promotional rate every summer and let it expire every winter. 

[msb]

Yes, I have had it on my bike for years. I like satellite radio...pay a low annual fee for 2 services - on the bike and in the Jeep. Mounted the receiver base on the bars with velcro so it's esy to take off and store in the trunk if necessary, and the antenna on  top of the trunk in the corner tucked against the seat and rear speaker cover. Works great...just plugged into the bike's aux input

[jdp]

Oh man that's a clean look too, I'm going shopping tomorrow, thanks a bunch

[jdp]

Ok one more question, I see there is so many to choose from, $19.00 up to hundreds of dollars, any recommendations?

[MarkT]

What I like the most is the doppler radar via Garmin's 660 Zumo and Sirius.  You can navigate around weather or stop and suit up before you are in it.  Or not suit up because you can see that threatening cloud isn't actually dumping anything.  Navtraffic is nice too but less useful to me.

[Steel cowboy]

On my I/S I use my I phone and hit Pandora app. If I want I can hit the GPS on it (the screen will remain on if it's plugged in and charging. I can watch real time weather too. If I set it up with front facing camera and move it to the right spot I get a backward facing camera too. My mount is on the left side about 3 inches above my throttle and it pivots 360'.
That's my cheap but effective all in one display if I choose it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

On my I/S I use my I phone and hit Pandora app. If I want I can hit the GPS on it (the screen will remain on if it's plugged in and charging. I can watch real time weather too. If I set it up with front facing camera and move it to the right spot I get a backward facing camera too. My mount is on the left side about 3 inches above my throttle and it pivots 360'.
That's my cheap but effective all in one display if I choose it.

Do you have the Euro Valkyrie with left hand throttle ? 

[gordonv]

I never looked at Sat radio, didn't like the idea of paying a fee for something I get free (can you say cheap?), but a "low annual fee" doesn't sound to bad.

Is that $19 for a month or year?

Mike, if you don't mind, I know you ride a lot out of town, about how much is this annual fee?

I like the idea of the weather sat, how about this Doppler service from Garmin, how much?

As for the Iphone, I don't own one, and most likely never will.

[Jess from VA]

The subscription rates are all over the place, and $20 a month to $200 year if you pay top dollar.

If you call and get a human (ask for the special promotion department) and plead poverty or that you're not sure about it and just want to try it out for a while, you can get a 4-6 month promotional rate for $20-$40.  I only use mine on the bike, and ride little in the winter, so I get a promo each spring, and let it expire in fall.  You'll need to have your radio in hand because they need the code off it to activate service.

Do yourself a favor and never give them a credit card, or they will automatically renew you at the top rate, wait a month or two, then dun and bill you for past due services.  Tell them to bill you, then pay by check.  Never sign any agreement (they all contain automatic renewal clauses).  Don't believe any promises they won't do this.  Their radio service is great, but their business and billing policy is a scam and cheat system, and I do not like them.  Even though I get a 4-6mo promo subscription each each spring, and tell them I want it to expire and NOT renew, they flood me with mail and emails saying I owe them money each fall.

I see no reason to spend large for a sat radio.  I got a closeout Roady XT (made for bikes, long discontinued now) brand new at Staples for $7.  It's hard to use with gloves, but doable.

[msb]

I combined the service with the one in my Jeep and pay annually (actually took advantage of a promo a while back by signing on for a 3 year term), I believe the rate per month averages out around 14.00 15.00 or so - a pretty good deal for having the service full time on two vehicles, and I've never had it increased to a higher level when automatically renewed. Lots of music I like on satellite, and I also have the option of plugging in a mp3 device if I so choose. I assume that eventually I will upgrade to an all-in-one GPS/mp3 unit, but for now I have a good setup for GPS seperately (old bike, old rider, old technology  )  There's a lot worse values out there in terms of what you get for your money with service subscriptions, such as cable or even satellite TV...I"d rather be out riding the Valk or heading out in the Jeep to go fishing and listening to good commercial-free music, than paying for and sitting inside watching most of that crap on TV these days 

[allanbegg]

I've been using XM for many years, including on my bikes.
I have to have music playing at all times.

Here is my current setup on the I/S.



Sorry, picture not showing up. Here is the link.
https://goo.gl/photos/iXFj3PWXaJvk2TaA7

I have the XM Radio wired into the Aux input. That way, you don't have to worry about FM stations bleeding over the XM, if you use the FM Modulator feature. The XM Antenna is sitting above the XM Radio on a steel bracket. The radio is easily removed and stowed in the trunk if riding through rain, or at night, if parked in an unknown location.

As for the benefit of using XM instead of the streaming music available on the smartphones, I think it heavily depends on the amount of cell phone coverage in the areas that you ride. I happen to prefer riding in some areas that are not covered by cell service. These areas are typically not good for FM Radio either, due to the terrain. If I didn't have the XM, I wouldn't have music. Also, the additional cost of the XM service plan easily offsets the cost of the cellular data that you would be using based on listening for many hours on end, each month.

Allan

[jdp]

I know I had it on another bike and it saved our behinds,we had it on the weather station and warned us of a tornado in Oklahoma,we ran for cover and the next morning it was a mess,the town next to where we were was hit hard, just nice to have commercial free radio and any type of music,sports,news and weather, I like it for traveling

[Firefighter]

MSB, I really like the looks of your set up. I have wanted to try Sirius radio but when looking around for equipment and deals get impatient and quit (have to be in the right mood). Anyway, can that model still be found, could it be in a weather proof box, I use MP3 straight in to the Interstate radio and it works well (pretty good). If its very windy sometimes I can't hear it well. My IS radio has no quality sound while at speed but the MP3 does?? Does the Sirius give better sound than the radio?  Also one time I went through a rain storm so I put a baggie over the MP3 with a rubber band, when the storm went away and the sun came out that MP3 overheated and shut down. I thought it was over with but later it started working again, that is why I am asking about a weather proof box. Thanks

[Jess from VA]

This is what I use... even listen in the rain.  Never overheated, never waterlogged. I just leave the cover on all the time.
http://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SIE-SRC



I set mine up like Mr Begg, except I cranked my ram mount over so the radio sits right next to the stock IS radio controls.  It seemed right to have all the radio controls next to each other.


My IS radio/speakers are all original, and I was having trouble getting enough volume on the sat radio.  A buddy that knows about these things, diddled around with my sat radio and got the volume up higher than I could.  

[Steve K (IA)]

I've had my XM Roadie for longer that I can remember, maybe 15 years or more.  I believe I had it before I bought my I/S in 2000.  I run it FM modulated because of low volume like Jess talks about and one less wire.

My subscription costs the same as it did when I signed up long ago...$12.00 a month.

[msb]

MSB, I really like the looks of your set up. I have wanted to try Sirius radio but when looking around for equipment and deals get impatient and quit (have to be in the right mood). Anyway, can that model still be found, could it be in a weather proof box, I use MP3 straight in to the Interstate radio and it works well (pretty good). If its very windy sometimes I can't hear it well. My IS radio has no quality sound while at speed but the MP3 does?? Does the Sirius give better sound than the radio?  Also one time I went through a rain storm so I put a baggie over the MP3 with a rubber band, when the storm went away and the sun came out that MP3 overheated and shut down. I thought it was over with but later it started working again, that is why I am asking about a weather proof box. Thanks

I just replaced my old unit on the bike 2 years ago with that one.... no idea if its still available. Yes, the satellite radio definitely puts out better volume than the stock IS radio, Ive never really used the radio in the 15 years Ive owned the bike. I don't use a headset.... half helmet with ear protectors and I hear it fine even over my aftermarket pipes (unless at higher speeds). Might finally  give in and get headsets soon though, as the co-pilot is ready for them  I do have a rain cover (didn't come with the unit)  but I rarely if ever use it... we ride a fair amount in the rain but the position its in keeps it pretty dry.

[Jess from VA]

I've had my XM Roadie for longer that I can remember, maybe 15 years or more.  I believe I had it before I bought my I/S in 2000.  I run it FM modulated because of low volume like Jess talks about and one less wire.

My subscription costs the same as it did when I signed up long ago...$12.00 a month.

Your post reminds me Steve... at first, my volume on FM modulation was way better than on aux input (which was so bad I could only hear it when parked).  But my reception on FM modulation was sometimes sketchy.  With Aux input, my reception was much improved and consistent (except under heavy tree cover, which is poor no matter how you hook up).  So I went back to aux input. 

My friend diddled my Roady XT and got the volume up as good as with FM modulation; I don't know what he did but there were adjustments on the radio I was not aware of (apparently).  My first XM died.  My 2d (a gift) may have died, I have to do some more checking.  I think I have a loose connection but am unsure where... I think my power hookup is the culprit.  Either that or my 2d Roady is also dead.  It may be that my (failing/intermittant?) power hookup has browned out two radios.  I suck at this stuff, and will revisit it in spring. 

[Steve K (IA)]

That reminds me, I am on my second Roadie.  This one I have had at least 8 years now.  I will have to look into the settings about the volume.
 
I get the offers from XM from time to time for discounted radios but pass as long as my Roadie is working because of the RAM mount I put together.  Not sure another radio will easily transfer.   

[Jess from VA]

Though my ram mount is secure, it's possible my dock connections have taken a beating.... out on the handlebar through thousands of miles, potholes, RR tracks, etc.  

BTW, I seem to recall that he did not increase volume by adjusting volume (I had already maxed that), I think it might have been fade (front rear), or some other setting that doesn't seem volume related, but affects it.

[msb]

I also found that after 6 or 7 years, the connections on my original unit became loose... it would cut out when riding on rougher roads and even when it was on, the volume was noticeably diminished. As long as the connections are good, volume shouldn't be an issue if the receiver's volume itself is on max. My current unit has much better connections, even the aux input plug is larger than the original. At first this was a pain, due to the fact I had to run the new cable through to bike's aux port and couldn't just use the old one, although I now have a better connection to the receiver dock.  The primary limitation with mine is the stock speakers.... they crap out before max volume is reached.