HarleyTechTalk

 What antennas are people using? The standard little metal one with the magnet on the bottom? I see one advertised that is several inches tall just for motorcycles.

Also how does everyone keep water out of the radio mount?

I use the portable Sirius radio that need the docking cradle to work in a car or on a bike. Easy enough to hook that up but what about rain? I'm guessing the cradle itself will have to get disconnected if it rains.

Thanks

Tom

Quote from: tomboyjr on May 29, 2010, 12:16:01 PM
What antennas are people using? The standard little metal one with the magnet on the bottom? I see one advertised that is several inches tall just for motorcycles.

Also how does everyone keep water out of the radio mount?

I use the portable Sirius radio that need the docking cradle to work in a car or on a bike. Easy enough to hook that up but what about rain? I'm guessing the cradle itself will have to get disconnected if it rains. 

I use the standard antenna stuck to the top of the radio, no problems in the last 3-4 years.  My receiver rides in the left saddle bag, but I'm not a channel hopper.  Mine stays on Classic Vinyl all the time.

Quote from: tomboyjr on May 29, 2010, 12:16:01 PM
What antennas are people using? The standard little metal one with the magnet on the bottom? I see one advertised that is several inches tall just for motorcycles.

Also how does everyone keep water out of the radio mount?

I use the portable Sirius radio that need the docking cradle to work in a car or on a bike. Easy enough to hook that up but what about rain? I'm guessing the cradle itself will have to get disconnected if it rains.

Thanks

Tom

I use the standard magnetic mount antenna too, but an looking for something better. I have seen the short whip style antennas and am planning on ordering one.

As for rain, I slip a zip lock baggie over my radio when it really rains.

Are you guys talking about that round XM antenna or something else?   I have seen very small Sirrius antenna's will they work if plugged into an XM or not?

The reason I ask is I have a ZUMO GPS that is XM capable but the XM antenna's I've seen are way too large to fit on my FLSTF.  Something small and maganetic would be perfect.

Any Ideas?

Thanks

On my '03 FLHTI, my XM receiver/tranceiver is permanently mounted inside my fairing and inputs to the radio.

I permanently installed a small (10" x 12")sheet of thin steel to the inside of the front fairing, above the headlight.
Stuck the magnetic antenna into the center of it, I get XM everywhere, no visible antenna.

Might not be exactly what you're looking for as you remove your XM receiver every time......

Just my .02, hope it helps

Harleybuc, The regular XM or Sirius antenna for cars is very small, maybe 2" square. You should be able to find a place in the bike for that. They are interchangeable(XM and Sirius)

Tom

A couple of notes.

The XM antenna for the Zumo is large because it is also the XM receiver. You can't just plug another antenna on the zumo.

XM and Sirius antennas are not compatible. One of them uses LEO satellites (high in the sky) and the other geosynchronous satellites (low in the sky, equatorial). The antennas are design differently due to the satellites position in the sky.

I didnt know the antennas are different. I had an XM radio in my car, then went to a Sirius portable receiver.  I bought a car mount for it and am using the old antenna and it seems to be working fine.