XM Radio Antenna Mounting

[duckster1]

Greetings

Would folks kindly let me know where they've mounted their Garmin GMX30 satelite antenna?

On top of the top case or inside it?

Perhaps other?

Sure would appreciate some options and feedback.

Regards,
duckster1

[pgeller]

Bill,

Not sure where would be best on your LT, but I have one on my Ducati ST4S. Its concealed behind the front fairing, on top of the headlight on a steel bracket so its horizontal. Works great right through the plastic.

Ciao!

pg

[Bob204bc]

I dont know how the antenna will work through plastic but I do know that I can block the signal with my hand and the plastic of the top box will block the signal. I tried mounting the devise on a platform I made next to the radio antenna but that only worked in one direction.

I finally just put a piece of sticky-back velcro on the left handlebar cover and left it in the open. It is about as high as I can get it without the problem of interfering with a bag on the top box rack and then routing the wire all the way across the bike. That works well for me. I've got a little wire showing but, what the hell, I just ride the thing. I don't polish it or show it since there's not much to see anyway.

[rjhammetter]

dont the XM antennas have to be mounted to metal (best reception quality)? that's why they are magnetic - to aide in placement.

it's pretty hard to find any metal with a clear line of sight to the sky on the LT... plenty of plastic though.

[wcarter]

My Zumo is mounted on a BMR Copilot shelf. I removed the accessory arm that used to hold my SkyFi2, which opened up enough room on the left side of the shelf to mount the antenna. The shelf is aluminum so obviously the magnetic antenna will not adhere to it. I didn't want to velcro the antenna to the shelf so I temporarily mounted a steel plate on the shelf.

I was going to order a Garmin trivet mount, then I realized that the trivet was supposed to be included with the antenna. I emailed GetFeetWet and they are sending me one free. Once I receive it I will mount it to the shelf (will probably screw it in place), then the antenna will just stick to the trivet.

I am using the short cable; I'll either wire tie the bundle or rig up a way to hide the extra cable under the shelf.

[Gene_Chapman]

I attach the antenna to a 4 inch metal conduit box cover and place it in the map pocket of my tank bag. Signal is great!

The conduit box cover acutally started out life as my sidestand support for soft surfaces. When I was trying to figure out just how to rig up the XM, it became a dual purpose device!

[STARFIGHTER]

On top of the brake clutch reservoir leaving enough slack to remove cover...............

[wilbar00c]

I also have mine on a steel plate bolted to the BMR shelf. I just coil the cable up with a small wire tie as I remove it to use in the house or the car. The one error I made was to use a two inch wide plate from the hardware store (painted flat black) which was cantilevered form the BMR shelf. This resulted in a springboard effect when I rode over a good bump or dip in the road, and with out the full magnetic pull, the antenna leaped off the plate (caught by the cable lead). A rubber band was the temporary fix to hold it on the narrow steel plate for now. Barnett

[lord_helmet]

My GMX30 is in the glove compartment (oddments box) of the LT and works like a charm.

[dmatson]

I mounted my 2730 in a Tourtech mount that is attached to the clutch cover with a ram ball and arm the made a mount for the antenna out of a 4" square electracal box cut to fit the antenna, which is attached to the bottom of the TT mount. Cost me zero. Works great and easy to remove. I now have a 2820 mounted and have run the XM lead down under the plastic handlebar cover under the stingray and into the autocom unit that is mounted in the oddment box on top of the radio.
http://www.dmat.smugmug.com/photos/138522046-L.jpg

[Jackiesh]

I find it hard to put an antenna with mine. I just wish it’s as easy as installing a BMW Antenna (http://www.stanscycle.com/bmw-antenna.html) which I have with my car. Maybe a few searches would help. Anyways, maybe it’s before I’m not that familiar with bikes that much. Mine is new. But, I guess I’ll get over it for sure very soon. :D