Sirius XM
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Stage III
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster County PA
Sirius XM
I had the Sirius XM head end installed on my '16 RG Special. The antenna was already (removed) and hidden in the fairing. Reception is terrible and continues to jump in and out of service. Anyone experience this? Should I re-install the antenna? Reception on FM channels is also very limited. Thanks..
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 646
Likes: 61
From: Raleigh NC
I installed in my 19rgs with the provided button antenna that sits on a small platform right under the top of the fairing on left side from the rider's perspective. Reception is good. It even continues sometimes when I pull in the garage. Tall tree lined roads are sometimes a problem.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 809
From: Ormond Beach, Florida
I believe the Sirius XM module uses a separate antenna, similar to what the GPS uses, and doesn't utiilize the AM/FM Antenna as it is looking at a satalite signal and not a radio AM or FM signal. The antenna is a little square block on the end of a thin cable and usualy gets mounted with double stick tape to a special mounting bracket that gets installed at the same time the module is installed. You need to verify this antenna is present and installed properly. Your Sirius XM module antenna may need to be relocated/remounted as it may be blocked by something under the fairing. I believe the satalite signal can be seen by the antenna under the fiberglas fairing but metal could some how be interfering.
The only time you should lose satalite signal is when going under an overpass, when riding under dense trees, in the car wash (opps that happens in my car) or if under that big black storm cloud.
BTW, the under fairing hidden AM/FM antenna (made from old fashion double wire antennal wire) is a joke and you need to be parked in the radio stations transmitter parking lot to get any kind of decent reception. Using a H-D Shorty AM/FM antenna reception is better but not great.
If you figure it out, please follow up with a report on what was causing the bad Sirius XM reception and what was done to resolved it..
The only time you should lose satalite signal is when going under an overpass, when riding under dense trees, in the car wash (opps that happens in my car) or if under that big black storm cloud.
BTW, the under fairing hidden AM/FM antenna (made from old fashion double wire antennal wire) is a joke and you need to be parked in the radio stations transmitter parking lot to get any kind of decent reception. Using a H-D Shorty AM/FM antenna reception is better but not great.
If you figure it out, please follow up with a report on what was causing the bad Sirius XM reception and what was done to resolved it..
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 272
From: Ohio
I had mine under the fairing a few weeks ago and reception was not much better then the fm radio on the boom. I removed it and put on top of the inner fairing..been pulling 3 bars since and no loss of reception other then going under overpass or bridge..
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,718
Likes: 17,555
From: Driftless Area
I had a temporary set-up on my bagger, so the "antenna" was exposed (with a magnet). I stuck it on something metal that I wouldn't scratch. I would only lose the signal occasionally if I was deep in the mountains.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 355
Likes: 7
From: Georgia
After dealing with the same reception issue I relocated my XM antenna to the top of the inner fairing, situated just beside the fairing vent control ('14 Ultra Classic). It made a noticeable improvement in signal strength and greatly improved performance.
I was determined to keep my XM antenna under the fairing and had installed the bracket on the left side (facing the bike) and it worked fine, until I put my metal windshield trim on. It was either lose the metal trim or move the antenna on the dash. I made a small groove in the fairing and mounted next to the vent on the throttle side, no issues since. You don't have to make a groove but it smashes the antenna wire if you don't. Mine worked but I didn't like the fact that the antenna wire was being crushed so got a round file and made a nice little cutout for the antenna wire.