2021 R1250RT XM WORTHLESS - reception issues

17150 Views 138 Replies 24 Participants Last post by dpickens, 7 d ago

eplerd

Discussion Starter · Jan 5, 2022

So I went ahead and spent the extra $500+ to get the Alpine radio module for my RT to have XM as an option for music.
However the RECEPTION IS HORRIBLE - I get 2-3 seconds of music followed by 15 seconds or more of silence as it loses signal CONSTANTLY.

Does anyone know of a BMW fix for this?
I know I can go SPEND MORE money to get an aftermarket antenna and relocate it to the top box, but I'd rather it be integrated like BMW meant it to be.

GS911 scan info of bike and that module is as follows (need 2112.04 GS911 software) :

Bike Information : -
VIN : WB10L0302M6E68754
Model : R 1250 RT (K52)
Factory I-Level : K001-21-03-505
Actual I-Level : K001-21-11-500
Backup I-Level : K001-21-03-505

UNKNOWN : -
Controller Type : Unknown
Controller Name : UNKNOWN
Controller : 0x0F8910
Serial Number : 0000611508
Manufacturer : Alpine GmbH
Manufacture Date (YY/MM/DD) : 21/06/01
Firmware Date (YY/MM/DD) : 21/06/01
Kilometers when programmed : 0.00
Number of FW configurations : 7
HW Electronics (HWEL) :
Firmware ID : 0x64DE
Firmware Version : 004.003.000
Bootloader (BTLD) :
Firmware ID : 0x0006
Firmware Version : 004.000.001
SW Memory Image (SWFL) :
Firmware ID : 0x7862
Firmware Version : 004.000.001
SW Memory Image (SWFL) :
Firmware ID : 0x7863
Firmware Version : 004.000.001
SW Memory Image (SWFL) :
Firmware ID : 0x7864
Firmware Version : 004.000.001
SW Memory Image (SWFL) :
Firmware ID : 0x7860
Firmware Version : 004.000.001
Coding Data (CAFD) :
Firmware ID : 0x64E0
Firmware Version : 003.000.014

See less See more

101 - 120 of 139 Posts

jono

· #101 · 10 mo ago

ealdous34 said:
I bought every thing he had listed from Amazon, Maybe I'll buy the Sirius puck and try that. Thanks for you input.

The Sirius pucks are available on Amazon.

deserttan

· #102 · 10 mo ago

jono said:
The Sirius pucks are available on Amazon.

What is a Sirius puck, I searched Amazon and didn’t find anything

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

SvFiat

· #103 · 10 mo ago

One of these:

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: Audiovox SUVA2 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Magnetic Roof Mount Antenna : Electronics

Amazon.com: Audiovox SUVA2 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Magnetic Roof Mount Antenna : Electronics

www.amazon.com

ealdous34

· #104 · 10 mo ago

SvFiat said:
One of these:

Amazon.com: Audiovox SUVA2 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Magnetic Roof Mount Antenna : Electronics

Amazon.com: Audiovox SUVA2 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Magnetic Roof Mount Antenna : Electronics

www.amazon.com

I'm just going to install the K1600 setup SvFiat has on his RT. I'm hopping the puck will fit under the top case pad, and the cable is not to long. If that set up does not work, I will install it just like SvFiat has his.

1More

· #105 · 10 mo ago

2022R1250RTme said:
Hi. I have a 2022 R1250RT and you will find that as soon as you raise the windscreen more than a few inches the supports block the satellite signal, just like putting your hand over the antenna. I've been bringing it to the attention of BMW North America's customer service, discussing via emails wirh BMW in Germany and working with my dealership. So they should no longer be able to claim they've never heard of this which is what I heard from my dealership and BMW initially. I parked my bike with the engine off at the dealership with the satellite radio working perfectly had them come out and look at it. Then I raised the wind screen about 2" and lost the signal. Lowered it and signal came back. S ince then I've put a couple 100 miles on my bike with the windscreen down and never lost the satellite signal, yet raise it up even 2" and no satellite reception. Very disheartening and BMW needs to fix this by relocating the satellite antenna. However, i believe BMW's plan is to continue denying it and wait us out as the solution is to simply connect the new satellite radio antenna to the pink connector under the passenger seat and attach it to the top trunk or to the side brackets of the backrack, For less than $30 or you can try a more expensive 3.5" tower for about $50. BMW should put out a service bulletin, acquire the new antennas and have the dealers install them for free at say 1 of 3 or 4 locations to suit the customer.

Steve

I agree that it 'should be' their problem, but I'm not waiting for corporate on an easy fix.
Time lost at the dealership is lost time enjoying the rest of the bike.

John

Reactions: 1

deserttan

· #106 · 10 mo ago

SvFiat said:
One of these:

Amazon.com: Audiovox SUVA2 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Magnetic Roof Mount Antenna : Electronics

Amazon.com: Audiovox SUVA2 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Magnetic Roof Mount Antenna : Electronics

www.amazon.com

Thank you

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

SBA

· #107 · 10 mo ago

4

1More said:
I agree that it 'should be' their problem, but I'm not waiting for corporate on an easy fix.
Time lost at the dealership is lost time enjoying the rest of the bike.

John

Here is my fix. Took 10-15 minutes and a $15 antenna from Amazon with a 4' cord attached. I used a little piece of removable Velcro fastener cut to match the base of the 1.5" by 1.5" by 3/8" antenna base and mounted it to the top trunk of my 2022 BMW R1250RT. It works gr

White Material property Font Packaging and labeling Packing materials

Car Land vehicle Vehicle Hood Light

Motor vehicle Hood Automotive design Car seat cover Automotive exterior

Netbook Hood Blue Automotive design Motor vehicle

eat. I have yet to loose the satellite no matter direction I'm driving and I drove all directions. I'm fairly long waisted and I'm 6'2" and a 1/2" inches tall. So, I sit up pretty high and my body didn't block the satellite signal ever no matter which direction I was riding. It never cut in or out or drop to the signal. See attached photos.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

ealdous34

· #108 · 10 mo ago

SBA said:
Here is my fix. Took 10-15 minutes and a $15 antenna from Amazon with a 4' cord attached. I used a little piece of removable Velcro fastener cut to match the base of the 1.5" by 1.5" by 3/8" antenna base and mounted it to the top trunk of my 2022 BMW R1250RT. It works gr View attachment 179862 View attachment 179863 View attachment 179864 View attachment 179865 eat. I have yet to loose the satellite no matter direction I'm driving and I drove all directions. I'm fairly long waisted and I'm 6'2" and a 1/2" inches tall. So, I sit up pretty high and my body didn't block the satellite signal ever no matter which direction I was riding. It never cut in or out or drop to the signal. See attached photos.

That's how I had mine , Except I put in under the pad and it did not work so good. Im going to install something like you have yours

dpickens

· #109 · 10 mo ago

SBA said:
Here is my fix. Took 10-15 minutes and a $15 antenna from Amazon with a 4' cord attached. I used a little piece of removable Velcro fastener cut to match the base of the 1.5" by 1.5" by 3/8" antenna base and mounted it to the top trunk of my 2022 BMW R1250RT.

I'm assuming you still had to buy the Fakra H Pink to SMB Male adapter?

SBA

· #110 · 10 mo ago

dpickens said:
I'm assuming you still had to buy the Fakra H Pink to SMB Male adapter?

I bought the pink Fakra H to SMB pigtail, for $6.99, but didn't need or use it. The right angle SMB plug on the antenna's cord plugs right into the radio's port and it was plenty difficult to unplug when I rerouted the cord. I might use the Fakra pigtail in the future, essentially as a quick disconnect if I wan to remove the antenna in the future without having to remove the passenger seat to unplug it from the radio. Might be able to unplug the antennas plug from the pigtail without removing the passenger seat, if it is long enough, but not sure it is.

SBA

· #111 · 10 mo ago

ealdous34 said:
That's how I had mine , Except I put in under the pad and it did not work so good. Im going to install something like you have yours

Yes, A regular radio antenna, the satellite radio antennas are line of sight. You can't cover them or even put your hand over them or you will block the signal. Someone posted here that their dealership had installed the flat antenna under the passenger seat. I just can't imagine how that would work because that's just like putting your hand over the satellite antenna and within a few seconds the signal will disappear completely until you until you uncover the antenna.

Reactions: 1

ealdous34

· #112 · 9 mo ago

2

Just installed it this way tonight, I will test it Thursday. Hope this set up works.

See less See more

SBA

· #113 · 9 mo ago

SBA said:
Yes, A regular radio antenna, the satellite radio antennas are line of sight. You can't cover them or even put your hand over them or you will block the signal. Someone posted here that their dealership had installed the flat antenna under the passenger seat. I just can't imagine how that would work because that's just like putting your hand over the satellite antenna and within a few seconds the signal will disappear completely until you until you uncover the antenna.

Meant to say unlike a regular radio antenna, that can often pick up a good signal through obstacles/walls, etc. Satellite is line of sight to the satellite or tower repeater.

ealdous34 said:
Just installed it this way tonight, I will test it Thursday. Hope this set up works.

Nice. I think you will find the reception is awesome. Did you drill a small hole in the trunk lid or route the wire under the pad?

ealdous34

· #114 · 9 mo ago

SBA said:
Meant to say unlike a regular radio antenna, that can often pick up a good signal through obstacles/walls, etc. Satellite is line of sight to the satellite or tower repeater.

Nice. I think you will find the reception is awesome. Did you drill a small hole in the trunk lid or route the wire under the pad?

I took the top shell off and routed the wire under the pad and ran it with the harness that is used for the pad heater on K1600, then the harness form the bottom case all the way to trunk connector under the rear seat. So when ever I remove the top trunk, all I have to do is undo the trunk connector and unplug it from the radio. No holes drilled.

SBA

· #115 · 9 mo ago

ealdous34 said:
I took the top shell off and routed the wire under the pad and ran it with the harness that is used for the pad heater on K1600, then the harness form the bottom case all the way to trunk connector under the rear seat. So when ever I remove the top trunk, all I have to do is undo the trunk connector and unplug it from the radio. No holes drilled.

Nice. How does the top trunk pad come off? I need to get my wire under the pad, but wasn't sure how/if the pad was removable and I only had about 15 minutes to start and finish the job the last night. I didn't follow the K1600 pad heater stuff. Is that something you added to your 1250RT?

ealdous34

· #116 · 9 mo ago

SBA said:
Nice. How does the top trunk pad come off? I need to get my wire under the pad, but wasn't sure how/if the pad was removable and I only had about 15 minutes to start and finish the job the last night. I didn't follow the K1600 pad heater stuff. Is that something you added to your 1250RT?

Just open the trunk and you will see the 6 screw that hold it on. The wire connector under the pad for the heater comes with all top cases now. Some where on this forum, there is complete instruction on how to do this, with pictures and all, and that's how I did mine.

Reactions: 1

SBA

· #117 · 9 mo ago

ealdous34 said:
Just open the trunk and you will see the 6 screw that hold it on. The wire connector under the pad for the heater comes with all top cases now. Some where on this forum, there is complete instruction on how to do this, with pictures and all, and that's how I did mine.

Great! Thanks.

SvFiat

· #118 · 9 mo ago

ealdous34 said:
Just installed it this way tonight, I will test it Thursday. Hope this set up works.

Yeah, that'll work perfect till you want to take the tour pack off ...........................

dpickens

· #119 · 9 mo ago

SvFiat said:
Yeah, that'll work perfect till you want to take the tour pack off ...........................

You've gotta unplug the tour pack anyways... what's one more cable?

1More

· #120 · 9 mo ago

SvFiat said:
Yeah, that'll work perfect till you want to take the tour pack off ...........................

My solution mounts to the handle bar (if your so equipped)

Was my reasoning as well as I ride without the bags often.

dpickens said:
You've gotta unplug the tour pack anyways... what's one more cable?

I hear ya...

Coming off a Harley before the RT I have now, there were 4 connections if you used the remote AM/FM antennae. And it weighed more with quick detach hardware mounted.

101 - 120 of 139 Posts