SiriusXM

weinie · Jan 15, 2015

Coyote said:
I am thinking of adding Sirius XM Satellite to my current aging Clarion
Marine FM/CD Radio,, on my '85 Oday 28'.
I already own all the Sirius equipment from a prior vehicle.
I was in West Marine, and noticed that Dual makes an adapter with RCA cables, that would fit the audio out plug (3.5mm).

Question is, where to place the Satellite Antenna, it needs to have CLEAR sky access. I have a full Bimini, and was thinking along the top of the transom, and snake the wire through the lazerrete, into the galley, then into the salon.
The Dorade Boxes would be an obvious choice, but how would the wire be hidden as it enters the cabin top through the vent?

Have any of you added this to your vessel's entertainment package?
and if, so, where?

as always, Thanks!
cheers,
Coyote

Ive been using an xm boom box in my cabin. I velcro'd the antenna to the top of the unit to so that I could move the antenna if needed, but I never have had to. Usually it picks up a strong signal right through the roof of the cabin.

woodster · Jan 15, 2015

is there a monthly contract for that service ...i hate those contracts...and i am not sure what benefits i would gain by having that service......

weinie · Jan 15, 2015

woodster said:
is there a monthly contract for that service ...i hate those contracts...and i am not sure what benefits i would gain by having that service......

you can whittle them down to about 7 bucks a months and cancel anytime with a refund.

ETA: no contract but they do automatically renew at the "current" rate... just call when you get the letter in the mail and re-negotiate.

Jackdaw · Jan 15, 2015

We have ours mounted on the transom, in a SS bracket designed to hold VHF antennas. The fitting is the same size. Shown under the RADAR pole below.

Beyond audio, we have the Mariner weather package. The GRIB-based forecasting of wind/waves is great, but the real-time precipitation and lightening overlay on the the plotters is pure gold and worth the entire price of admission.

We had the option to add audio to the Fusion MS-6000 headunit as well, but you loose the ability to get weather. Now we control the sat audio via the plotters, which is just as convenient.

weinie · Jan 15, 2015

that weather package is expensive....'bout $30/month though.

justsomeguy · Jan 15, 2015

Never mind that pretty lady, I believe that's the biggest wristwatch I've ever seen, Jackdaw.

Does that thing have weather capabilities, too?

Jackdaw · Jan 15, 2015

weinie said:
that weather package is expensive....'bout $30/month though.

It is.. but if you forgo the GRIB forecasting the real-time overlay, the next package is like 12 bucks. We switch between them (and turn the service off) as our monthly needed change.

Jackdaw · Jan 15, 2015

justsomeguy said:
Never mind that pretty lady, I believe that's the biggest wristwatch I've ever seen, Jackdaw.

Does that thing have weather capabilities, too?

LOL that's funny!

Its a Optimum Time OS4 series racing watch. No weather but has a programmable race timer. I love this model because the huge screen shows both the timer and current time, a great feature when your RC uses GPS time to start sequences.

There ARE versions that have a compass and a tides calculator built in, but I didn't need all that jazz. The thing eats batteries as it is!

justsomeguy · Jan 15, 2015

Muy bonito!

Apex · Jan 17, 2015

nevermind everything else, was drawn to the boat.....looks like a lively Benny

Apex · Jan 28, 2015

well done Coyote

Panta Rei · Jan 30, 2015

That's a good practice Coyote. I'll add just a bit for future reference.
You can get great reception with the antenna mounted inside the cabin much like what WIENIE stated. You can see it sitting on top of my radio. I found that the antenna must be facing up so you can't simply mount it on the ceiling. (double check this on Panbo or some electronics website)

I let the contract laps as it no longer has value for me now that everyone coming aboard has a phone they want to sync to the blue tooth speakers.

I think I'm done drilling holes in the boat. Everything seems to be replaceable battery powered and wireless. I put off adding any electronics until my refurb project was nearly complete. I'm very glad I did.

Satellite radio is still good for NFL and such but other options may soon be eclipsing that as well. Listening to NYC traffic snarls while I'm on the water always gives me a grin.

weinie · Jan 30, 2015

Panta Rei said:
That's a good practice Coyote. I'll add just a bit for future reference.
You can get great reception with the antenna mounted inside the cabin much like what WIENIE stated. You can see it sitting on top of my radio. I found that the antenna must be facing up so you can't simply mount it on the ceiling. (double check this on Panbo or some electronics website)

I let the contract laps as it no longer has value for me now that everyone coming aboard has a phone they want to sync to the blue tooth speakers.

I think I'm done drilling holes in the boat. Everything seems to be replaceable battery powered and wireless. I put off adding any electronics until my refurb project was nearly complete. I'm very glad I did.

Satellite radio is still good for NFL and such but other options may soon be eclipsing that as well. Listening to NYC traffic snarls while I'm on the water always gives me a grin.

Especially if you're not into the whole downloading songs/itunes thing.

ETA: I cringe at the thought of drilling into my new boat. I even HATED doing it on my old catalina. Even if it makes for a better installation.

Doug4bass · Jan 30, 2015

External xm antenna is far superior. Still scouting out places in my new boat for the antenna. Nice to have xm at places with no cell reception i.e.news , wx etc.

Weiner....you would have had an anurism watching me cut a 10" hole for a sub in a new craft.

Panta Rei · Feb 1, 2015

This thread touches a nerve with me. This winter's project is about how to fill in the holes at my nav station after I remove the old FM/CD stereo and my satellite receiver. I can see why others may continue to enjoy and value the service but I think the bigger picture here (specifically for the new boat owner) is looking to the future as you plan display layouts and network and cabling schemes. (Checking all the alternatives just as Coyote did is a great first step)

The issue is how we harmonize an ever-changing electronic industry with a boat that has a very useful lifespan well past 30 years.

A good place to look is the auto industry. Many 2015 cars are coming out with Apple Carplay (similar to Andriod auto). Electronics are changing faster and cars are lasting longer. The idea is to use your smart phone to store content (music , navigation, contacts) and access it through the cars input devices (buttons, knobs, voice recognition ). The phone continues to get constant updates so the electronics (and navigation data) in your car will stay up to date.

So taking this aboard, you come on board and dock your phone (to keep it charged) and it's connected wirelessly to your transducers and input devices and then outputs to your auto pilot and helm. It's been updated with the latest chart updates and you loaded your sail plan last night after talking to a friend about a great overnight anchorage. This does not seem very far off.

I'm surprised by the drive to get rid of the wires. Furuno has a new wireless radarhttp://www.furuno.com/special/en/wireless/radar/index.php#Spec. I can't see the logic in it (since you MUST run power to that beast) unless boat manufacturers are pushing wireless to reduce assembly times and labor costs. Maybe eliminating the need to design access panels and plan out wiring access simplifies engineering.

Anyway , my point is that we all need to think carefully about how we plan to fill that hole we are about to drill or cut because it is nearly certain that the wire or device will be replaced or not needed in the future.

We may find the next hot topic here is filling an covering the holes POs drilled and cut.

Doug4bass · Feb 2, 2015

P.Os ....or manufacturers or yards for that fact will ALWAYS drill, cut, saw holes in a new boat. For what they think is the best factory looking install. Part of it, you think?? On every mod I have made (so far)...it was easily reversible.

justsomeguy · Feb 3, 2015

Panta Rei said:
... cars are lasting longer.

Maybe Ford's latest all aluminum trucks...maybe.

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