Winter Project # 2 - XM Power Cord

[MarkEngland]

The current prevailing rumor is that Santa will be bringing me a Delphi Roady XT XM Satellite Radio Receiver. Based on this secret information, I took the liberty of pre installing the power, speaker and external antenna cables while my bike was tore apart. It is amazing how easy it is to install new stuff when all the plastic is off the LT. :)

In short, I made my own power cord for less than $2 as I did for my video camera. Below is the URL that provides the how-to and parts list. It only took about 30 minutes to make and install. I tested with another Roady and everything works fine.

http://kc6tew.com/mods/xmpower/xmpower.htm

Mark

[bruce2000ltc]

Nice work Mark. Enjoyed your web page -- I'll check back to see how you did on your accent lighting and switches.

Bruce Hodges

[vjmjf]

Great web site thanks!!! I will put this one in my fav's.

[tbarstow]

Mark,

Great one.

Here's how to remove the extra 50' of XM antenna cable:

Supplies: Wire cutters, 2 sizes of heat shrink tubing, razor blade, solder, soldering iron, liquid flux for electronics, small needlenose pliers, electronics vise (not essential, but helpful), multimeter.

Cut the cable to length, leaving an extra 2" for making the connection. Put the larger piece of heat shrink on one side and slide out of the way

Prep one side at a time, as you need to solder both the inner wire and the jacket back together, and not overlapping the joints allows the inner solder joint to not get destroyed while soldering the jacket.

Strip the outer insulation and carefullypush back the jacketing on the coaxial cable.
Carefully strip the insulation from the inner wire (about .5")on the coaxial cable.
Scrape the exposed wire with a razor blade or small emery cloth, and cut the inner wire back to .25".


On the other side, prep the same but don't cut the inner wire back.
Then cut the jacketing back about .25".
Put the small diameter heat shrink over the inner wire here.

Take the needlenose pliers and twist the inner wires together. Keeping the small diameter heat shrink away from the heat, solder the two inner wires together. Check your joint for continuity, if it is good, cover it with the small diameter heat shrink and seal the joint.

Now straighten the jacketing back over 1 side of the soldered connection, then straighten the jacketing on the other side. They should meet about .25-.5" away from the inner solder joint. The jackets should touch and mesh together a bit. If you have a big bulge, trim the jacketing as necessary to make a smooth fit (a big bulge will not allow the heat shrink over it).

Apply the liquid flux and solder the jacketing together. Check for continuity. Plug into radio and make sure you didn't destroy the inner solder joint. If it is good, then cover the outer joint with the heat shrink and seal.

When people reply that this won't work, then I'll ask why I have great tunes while flying down the road.

[ljjohns]

Mark:

I'd like to know how you set up the bike for the Roady XT, but I can't get the links to work.

Thanks

ljohnson@utep.edu