Satellite Radio - My Experiences

[Old Rv'er]

All, we have the Jensen radio in our coach. To get the sat radio add on, would have cost around 90 dollars or better, if the correct part could have been found. The Jensen has a plug on the back which takes the sat add on connector properly, you still will have an antenna lead.

I wanted to save money so I contacted SiriusXM (we already have it in the other cars), and get an upgraded radio which works ok for 29 and change. Their shipping process is bogus, they use UPS, then UPS hands it off to the local post office for final delivery, so don’t believe the "you will have it in 7 days line", as it took almost 12 days for mine.

The antenna with the new radio would not get a signal if I placed it at the top of the windshield on my coach, so it's just sitting on the front part of the dashboard but not in the valley before the window. I had to get more 12VDC outlets up front, so I purchased a 3 outlet device from NAPA, which then plugs into the heavy duty two plug unit I already had (which is fused). I could have added another power point, but could not find one heavy duty enough for me, I will however keep looking, and then put another one on the other side of the center console.

Now I did not use the aux cable from the sat radio to the Jensen since I would have to run that wire down and into/under the dash, so I use the FM radio option, but it's not the best, so once I have time, I am going to use the Aux Wire if it's long enough to run to the radio, since the aux incoming port is under the dash on the back of the Jensen.

I dislike commercials on the radio so sat radio (although some channels have them) I can push another button and get to channels who don't have them, plus while traveling I can have more choices in my listening environment.

I am heading out soon, so will make an update to this and let everyone know how it's working out and if it performs for me like I want it too. I am hoping to get a deal on the Jeep and the MH when they come up for renewal, if not, then it's back to CD's since I can make my own for 3 cents apiece.

[IMPULSE DRIVEN]

The Jeep wrangler has great reception, my RV can be spotty, but over it is ok service.

[Rich and Cork]

I ran my satellite antenna wiring up the sleeve at the edge of the window and drilled a hole at the top of the front cap. I then used RTV to hold the antenna and RTV in the hole. I did this probably five or six years ago and no issues.

[Old Rv'er]

The reception is fine, it's the FM link between the two which is spotty. But I was almost under the overhang at the storage facility, so it might be better on the road, if it's not, I will hook up the aux line to the radio.

[diepenj]

I drive 35K to 40K a year in my job and appreciate XM. I don't have to worry about channel hunting when I get out of range of my home stations, there is lots of programming variety and as Old RV'er said, no commercials. I've been trying to figure out the most economical way to install XM in my MH.

I hate paying for two subscriptions when I can only drive one vehicle at a time but I guess that's the cost of technology. I suppose I'll have to get serious about an installation between now and spring.

[two sailors]

With the antenna sitting on the dash you may not have good reception heading in a northerly direction. I bought 2 antena setups and one receiver so we can move the receiver from the MH to the toad. I put it on vacation hold when we are not rving.

[kraig]

Monty- I was wondering if your Apex came with Sirius Antenna alreeady installed on the front cap in the center of the roof and painted the color of the roof. The wire runs down the center of the windshield and was coiled up under the center of the dash. The hardest part was finding the end of the connector. I plugged it in to my Sirius and it works great through the FM.

As far as leaving the antenna on the dash, it worked for me ok heading south until just south of Sacramento and then quit working. Satellite must be overhead then.

[w6pea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by diepenj I drive 35K to 40K a year in my job and appreciate XM. I don't have to worry about channel hunting when I get out of range of my home stations, there is lots of programming variety and as Old RV'er said, no commercials. I've been trying to figure out the most economical way to install XM in my MH. I hate paying for two subscriptions when I can only drive one vehicle at a time but I guess that's the cost of technology. I suppose I'll have to get serious about an installation between now and spring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by two sailors With the antenna sitting on the dash you may not have good reception heading in a northerly direction. I bought 2 antena setups and one receiver so we can move the receiver from the MH to the toad. I put it on vacation hold when we are not rving.

I move my XM Radio from my P/U Truck to my RV. I bought an extra antenna set up for the RV. I have a Class-C RV it has a bunk over the cab section there is a vent I mounted the XM antenna inside that vent, (duct-tape works wonders ) I have very good reception.


If We Can't Haul It....You Don't Need It ! Motor-T

[takepride]

Monty:

Do you have the FM Antenna kit installed, too? Mine worked just okay on the original setup, but when I used the kit to intercept the radio antenna jack, the service was perfect.

I use the same receiver in both my toads and the motorhome. I can also use it at home, but decided to go for a second subscription so that two people can both listen in different places. I also took advantage of XM's Lifetime Subscription for $300 when they were in financial difficulty. It's good in perpetuity and transferable to up to three receivers (gotta make 'em last..).

[Rusty Bear]

This is an interesting thread, as I am in the process of changing out my Jensen to a Kenwood receiver and the optional satellite receiver. I never liked the Jensen radio. My radio would never seek stations and I would have to manually look for a radio station, one click at a time. The reception was always spotty, even in and around big cities.

I installed the Kenwood over the weekend and what a difference. I live in Big Bear CA (100 Miles from LA) and I can now get several LA stations very clear. I received the satellite receiver yesterday and will be installing it today. I too like the option of satellite radio but felt that I did not want to invest more money in that Jensen.
Jim

[swansnest]

Jim - Glad the installation went smoothly for the Kenwood. As you know - we despised the Jenseen, as it was so difficult to program.

Tris hooked up the FM antenna to the existing antenna on the Apex which runs down the center post under the cover and we get excellent reception. He ran the wire for the satellite up through the center of the dash and mounted the antenna in the middle of the dash in the valley.

Let us know how your satellite receiver install works out and how your reception is!

[Old Rv'er]

Update - Sat radio worked ok, kept cutting out in different places. Will look for the antenna, when I get the "aux" input leads from radio Shack for the Jensen radio. They are RCA jacks and so I need a male RCA jack with a 1/8" on the other end, or a way to use the provided aux input cable with the RCA jacks of the Jensen, then I won't be hunting for different frequencies on the FM band while trying to drive the RV. Not safe to do that. It's on my list of things to do, housekeeping stuff today onthe coach, and tomorrow as well.

[Shadowcatche]

I have a single receiver that feeds through antenna into the Macintosh radio in the Subaru Outback (tow vehicle). It is hard wired in with the relay that disconnects the FM/AM antenna which eliminates radio bleed through. In Compass Rose (teardrop trailer) I have a Sirius marine antenna installed in the roof (Filon) and the same hard wired setup to hold that Sirius receiver.

[Dave and Jaime]

My 05 came with the XM ready Pioneer radio. It had the XM antenna already prewired so all I had to do was buy the XM tuner that was compatible for my Pioneer, plug in to the the radio and antenna (under the console) and I have had excellent reception since. I bought the lifetime XM subscription (around $375 IIRC) and have had it for 3 years so far. I knew I wanted XM (have lifetime subscriptions in all my vehicles) so the big upfront cost was not a concern. When you plan on keeping a verhicle for 5+ years (like me), that spreads the cost nicely and avoids any future price increases.