Satellite Radio - Budget Solution $25

[Corvettegbert]

Check this out! Bought this unit for $25 on ebay. Mocked it up for test purposes. So far it works well. I'm gonna ride for a week or so to test it out. If all goes well I will epoxy a bracket on the back side so the antennae can all be part of a integrated package. Also plan to shorten the antennae wire and wrap neatly around stalk. The sweet thing about it is I've tested in my other vehicles and it works in all of them ( I was worried about the antennae being inside the car). I'll actually save money because I will cancel the subscription on my OEM SAT radio in my Jeep.

20130516_173224.jpg

[Monkeyman]

A link would be good.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Corvettegbert

Check this out! Bought this unit for $25 on ebay. Mocked it up for test purposes. So far it works well. I'm gonna ride for a week or so to test it out. If all goes well I will epoxy a bracket on the back side so the antennae can all be part of a integrated package. Also plan to shorten the antennae wire and wrap neatly around stalk. The sweet thing about it is I've tested in my other vehicles and it works in all of them ( I was worried about the antennae being inside the car). I'll actually save money because I will cancel the subscription on my OEM SAT radio in my Jeep.

Attachment 3717

All ears here...

[toy4bob]

Looks like it is a Snap?
http://www.amazon.com/XSN1V1-Snap-In.../dp/B004EUM2LW

[rickyboy]

Interesting !! Is it Blue Tooth by chance ?

[Corvettegbert]

Originally Posted by toy4bob

Looks like it is a Snap?
http://www.amazon.com/XSN1V1-Snap-In.../dp/B004EUM2LW

Sorry for no link or product details. Toy4bob is correct. Its a Snap model manufacturered by Audiofox for XM/Sirious radio. Readily available on Amazon, Ebay or direct from Sirious.

[Old Bear]

What burns my buns is $25 for that, but Kawi wants $OMG$ for theirs - just no way to justify the difference!

[caesar]

Cool, but you do need a subscription of some kind right?

[c_law23]

Originally Posted by rickyboy

Interesting !! Is it Blue Tooth by chance ?

No, it would use an Auxiliary In cable or wireless FM transmitter

Originally Posted by caesar

Cool, but you do need a subscription of some kind right?

You are correct, sir.

[badboy194]

Corvettegbert, You got my attention. I would like XM on my Vaquero, but don't want to load it down with gadgets. Wrapping the antenna wire might be just the trick to a cleaner look. I understand that reception is relative to location. Can't wait to hear how it works.

[Corvettegbert]

Originally Posted by badboy194

Corvettegbert, You got my attention. I would like XM on my Vaquero, but don't want to load it down with gadgets. Wrapping the antenna wire might be just the trick to a cleaner look. I understand that reception is relative to location. Can't wait to hear how it works.

So far its worked well. Im using the FM transmitter option and it has faded out a couple times. I believe the fade out has something to do with the FM transmission since I always had 1-4 bars on the signal strength indicator. I had a similar set up in one of my other cars and had the same issue. My goal is to not have to run another wire, keep it as uncluttered as possible and keep it portable from vehicle to vehicle.

Other then that the one negative I've found is that the screen is hard to see in the sunlight(Shouldn't be looking down there anyways). Its got 5 preset buttons that I mainly use. When I want to hear something other then the presets I tune manually till I find it by listening or usually when stopped.

My monthly subscription is $8 - which used to irritate me because their subscription prices are linked individually to each device. With this unit I'll be able to move it from one vehicle to another. In my case, reducing my subscriptions from 2 to 1

[badboy194]

Corvettegbert, Thanks for the info. You are hitting on every point I have. I don't want a junked up bike or double subscriptions. XM signals are line of sight. A friend has it in a 2013 car from the factory and going under a 2 lane bridge it will fade or stop for a moment. Even sitting in the house listening to it the same thing. But so can FM radio. I never knew this particular product existed.

[a340driver]

I have a XM subscription already, but didn't know about that product either , thanks, I'll check it out

[haygrrr]

Originally Posted by Old Bear

What burns my buns is $25 for that, but Kawi wants $OMG$ for theirs - just no way to justify the difference!

Kawi justifying because of controls on the handlebars. But you're right they want tons of cash. Plus the monthly XM fee.

[Corvettegbert]

Originally Posted by badboy194

Corvettegbert, Thanks for the info. You are hitting on every point I have. I don't want a junked up bike or double subscriptions. XM signals are line of sight. A friend has it in a 2013 car from the factory and going under a 2 lane bridge it will fade or stop for a moment. Even sitting in the house listening to it the same thing. But so can FM radio. I never knew this particular product existed.

Your right about the occasional signal fade - I can live with this though. For me the cost/probability trade-off is well worth it.

By the way - I dont know what the inventory levels are - but this specifc SNAP model is a discontinued but still available. They have other models that I think could easily be modded but I like the power plug stalk.