XM Radio kit problems
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 570
Likes: 6
From: Left Ohio for the middle of no where in Fla.
I guess you didn't get the memo "Techies are a PITA".
Considering what's involved technically, it's an amazing media.
And don't blame the satellites, solar flares can be bad, but they don't interrupt that often.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 570
Likes: 6
From: Left Ohio for the middle of no where in Fla.
Actually if the unit is capable of buffering the data then a firmware patch would fix it. I doubt it is capable so Mine is going in the for sale section after the free 3 months expire on Sept 7th.
It's basically unusable here in NEPA. Even on a 4 lane highway I get a dropout when I pass a single tree and I have a handlebar mounted external antenna.
Smitty
It's basically unusable here in NEPA. Even on a 4 lane highway I get a dropout when I pass a single tree and I have a handlebar mounted external antenna.
Smitty
There were quite a bit of studies done early-on during terrestrial Digital Audio Radio testing.
And there would never be enough buffering for some situations, the current amount was found to be good for 80+% of the situations and electronics.
I don't have the HD XM add-on, so I'm at a loss. But since this audio is digital 0's and 1's until it's almost to the speakers, I don't understand the "static" folks are talking about. The signal is either there or it isn't, and whatever in-between there is, is of no use, so it's discarded and no audio at all.
EDIT: The buffering is actual hardware memory, I don't believe software could "fix" that.
Last edited by 01XLH; Jul 26, 2014 at 01:13 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 84
From: New Jersey
Not exactly. While there is a slant range difference, that distance is minimual when compared to the overall distance. The difference between a station in Cleveland and one in Honolulu using the antenna aboard a spacecraft (in between the cities) while noticable using test equipment, was barely discrenible in the resulting audio & video. And what's wrong with "nothing"? I just spent two weeks in something, too damned hot there. rofl
Sirius (not XM) uses Geo synchronous satellites so that there is always a satellite over the US at any point of the day and provides better resistance to interference from tall buildings etc than a geostationary satellite.
Both are flawed technologies for delivering music to your bike IMHO. As I stated before, I use a streaming service over my phone.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 570
Likes: 6
From: Left Ohio for the middle of no where in Fla.
Sirius (not XM) uses Geo synchronous satellites so that there is always a satellite over the US at any point of the day and provides better resistance to interference from tall buildings etc than a geostationary satellite.
Both are flawed technologies for delivering music to your bike IMHO. As I stated before, I use a streaming service over my phone.
Both are flawed technologies for delivering music to your bike IMHO. As I stated before, I use a streaming service over my phone.
XM is GEO, and sit over the equator.
Sirius is H(ighly) E(lliptical) O(rbit), I don't remember the orbital time.
And building interference can be an issue from either service.
Also both have terrestrial repeaters.
I get XM off a terr. repeater when I ride in-between those tall buildings you mention.
The technology is old, but "flawed" is a subjective conclusion.
As far as using a phone, that's a personal preference. As techie as I am, I don't have my phone sync'ed, attached etc., to the 6.5.
Last edited by 01XLH; Jul 26, 2014 at 05:16 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 157
A lot of the reception problem could have been eliminated if Harley had the module designed with a buffer of at least 7 seconds, instead of the current 1 second. But they went with the low bidder and that's the result.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 84
From: New Jersey
I'm not sure where you got your information, but it's backwards. XM is GEO, and sit over the equator. Sirius is H(ighly) E(lliptical) O(rbit), I don't remember the orbital time. And building interference can be an issue from either service. Also both have terrestrial repeaters. I get XM off a terr. repeater when I ride in-between those tall buildings you mention. The technology is old, but "flawed" is a subjective conclusion. As far as using a phone, that's a personal preference. As techie as I am, I don't have my phone sync'ed, attached etc., to the 6.5.
and I stand by MY OPINION that trying to receive Tv and radio signals from outer space is an inherently flawed technology. In 2014, there are better ways to get better sound.With a super strong signal, Sirus and XM sound like crap. They both use WAY too much compression, causing the sound to be severely compromised. I have satellite in my Audi and Jeep. They are both unlistenable. Spotify sound quality blows them both away. Pandora is almost as good as Spotify. I haven't tried my I heart Radio yet.
Last edited by offthewall; Jul 27, 2014 at 10:50 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 200
From: usa
Sometimes when I look really, really hard I can see the XM satellite.
No fooling!
It looks like some parts are coming off it and I can see smoke coming from some of its paneling.
I know...I know...no smoke in space. Must be coolant or something.
Maybe the satellite has the same coolant system as the Rushmore bikes?
Its possible!
(no...I really cant see the satellite...but I wonder if the little man inside is ok?)
No fooling!
It looks like some parts are coming off it and I can see smoke coming from some of its paneling.
I know...I know...no smoke in space. Must be coolant or something.
Maybe the satellite has the same coolant system as the Rushmore bikes?
Its possible!
(no...I really cant see the satellite...but I wonder if the little man inside is ok?)
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 673
Likes: 29
From: NE Ohio
Do you know that for a fact?
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Joe Kucinski
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 368
Likes: 2
From: Yantis, Texas
I had XM standard on my '11 CVO Ultra. The riders out west and in the open areas may do well with decent signals but frankly back here in the east with mountains and lots of trees I was very disappointed how often I would lose the XM signal on back roads. For that reason I would not pay the extra $400 plus subscription price for it.
I have a 2009 Ultra Classic and when I bought it used it already had the Boom XM system in it, plus about another $8000 of add ons ( I was very lucky to find this bike). I just now (yesterday) got my subscription with SiriusXM as my wife and I are now getting to do more trips. The fee was $120 per year. I don't know why some of you have been quoted $400. Is the system different for the newer bikes?
