Re: XM Update

For all of you exploring an XM install I will point you to my original post on the installation last year.

http://www.bmwlt.net/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=wisdom&Number=27289&page=6&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

As I said in that post a ground plane is an integral component in the function of most XM antennas. When I spoke to Terk they said their antenna is designed to operate optimally with 1-2 square feet of metal as a ground plane. While I was unable to provide this much area I did get considerably more gain from the antenna on my mount than with it sitting on the top of my topcase.

I have since switched the Pioneer unit out with the Delphi. At the same time I switched out the Terk antenna with the one which came with my Delphi unit. The performance of the XM on my LT is virtually uninterrupted and identical to the performance on both of our automobiles. The only loss of signal we experience is when there is an obstructed view of the satellite.

Those of you that use the BMR mount on the radio antenna face two problems - lack of an adequate ground plane reducing the gain and an obstruction of the signal by the topbox when you are travelling east.

Randy Prade,

2002 K1200LT (ours)
2004 R1150RT (hers)
both Titan Silver

2004 Rune (mine)
pure black

Just ride it
- to Breckenridge, CO