| Author | Message | ||
     Maximum |
This past summer I posted a thread on how I mounted the Garmin GXM antenna under the outer airbox cover, where the servo actuator is normally installed. I was using an open airbox system at the time.  I really liked this setup by the fact that my handlebar area looked much cleaner and that I no longer had to worry about someone stealing my GXM-30 antenna. The down side was that I would lose a bar or two of signal when riding north-west (330 degrees), but I did not find that objectionable(rarely lost sound). I had been using the Race muffler which meant that I didn't need the servo actuator...so the XM radio antenna worked great there. I had several people ask me if the GXM-30 would fit under the airbox cover with the servo actuator installed, and I didn't know. Recently I decided to go back to the stock muffler setup (at least for a while) and now I needed to know if they both would fit in the servo actuator space...well the answer is NO!  So I decided to work on an alternate placement for the XM radio antenna. Step 1 had me start by using a Dremmel tool to shave off four nubs sticking up on the left side of the airbox baseplate (to make this area flat).  Step 2 was to trace a pattern onto some 1/16" sheet steel and begin cutting away with a 4-1/2" grinder.  Step 3 I sanded all the edges of the metal clean.  Step 4 I bent the tab around to make a support bracket, then I drilled a couple holes in the bracket. The hole on top was large enough to have a shoulder screw pass all the way through...but the bottom hole was only big enough for the shoulder portion of the screw to pass through, creating a fastening point for my antenna mounting plate.  Step 5 I put a couple strips of double stick tape (the foam backed kind) on the flat portion of the mounting plate, which may have not been needed with the screw fastening system...but oh well.  Step 6 I fastened the upper left baseplate mounting screw through my antenna bracket.  Then I magnetically attached the antenna to my mounting plate and routed the cable through a hole in the inner airbox cover to connect to my USB extension cable (came with my Garmin setup) which is more permanently routed through the frame of the Uly up to the handlebars.  The last step was to reinstall my inner airbox cover...and there you have it!  This position of the antenna is a couple inches further forward than my previous setup...and because of that, there is almost no signal degradation no matter what direction I am traveling. And neither the plastic from the inner airbox or the outside cover effect the signal reception in any way! Don't you love it when a plan comes together?  (Message edited by maximum on December 26, 2008) | ||
| Froggy |
I love having the antenna out, something about people seeing XM Radio and saying "Wtf my car doesn't even have XM. Wheres the fridge?" I then point to the back of my seat  | ||
| Court |
Mine is working well mounted atop the side case but I REALLY enjoy reading Steve's detailed accounts of these mods. I am totally impressed by the thought and workmanship that goes in to each of them. I'm wanting to do the Auto-com mod soon and am hoping to integrate my phone into the Garmin Zumo 550 soon. To that end I've bookmarked Steve's threads. Well done and thanks for the great documentation and the motivation. Court | ||
| Strmvt |
Nice thread I just can't get past the cost of the GXM30 at 230.00$ thats a hard pill to swallow at least for me so I carry 2-3 memory cards loaded with mp3's Great work up though for when I do get the it I know where I'll be putting it | ||
| Chrisgrant |
I'm wanting to do the Auto-com mod soon and am hoping to integrate my phone into the Garmin Zumo 550 soon. Court, The phone to Zumo to Autocom, not so good. The phone to Autocom and Zumo to Autocom works well as long as you have custom earbuds. Had a couple of friends do it because they wanted the benifit of making calls through the Zumo and had real issues with it and went back to hardwiring the phone to the Autocom and are much happier. With the in helmet speakers, wind noise is not allowing you to hear properly, music or phone. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
That is the position where I mounted one of my HID ballasts. I mounted the other in the rear of the inner airbox. Nice install. |
