GXM-31 XM WX Weather Antenna Placement Sanity Check

E

eNORMous

New member
I'm ready to drill some holes in the top of the cabin and mount a GXM-31 Garmin XM Smart Antenna to integrate w/ my Garmin 540S (and sign up for XM WX Weather). I am going to flush-mount this antenna.

My current GPS 540S antenna is flush mounted center-line on the cabin roof. My VHF radio is mounted on the side of my vessel (>3' away from the current GPS 540S antenna). I've asked a couple folks at a marina regarding placement of the GXM-31 antenna relative to the current placement of the GPS 540S antenna and I've been advised the placement of the GXM-31 should not be an issue with regard to where the current GPS 540S antenna is located.

QUESTION: Can I mount the GXM-31 antenna within let's say about 4"-6" of the current GPS 540S antenna? Anyone using the GXM-31 and have any suggestions?

Thanks!
eNORMous
 
I have the same locations of antennas as you. My dealer mounted the gxm ant. right behind the garmin ant. It works well.

Patrick
 
Now a question for you. Are you also going to receive XM radio? If so, what are you going to plug the two RCA plugs into?

I have been trying to come up with a good solution and not there yet. I know I need amplification and speakers. I also want them to be small. Any suggestions?

Patrick
 
Right. So, that's next on my agenda. I've been perusing the web for some ideas and checking out various combinations. I'm mixed between what to do right now. The GPS 540S has the ability to dial in the XM radio (which I already have and will continue to maintain w/ the additional subscription to XM WX), but I'm undecided at this point. For speakers (since I have Bose multiplex 5-way surround sound w/ that major thumper sub-woofer in the house), and I truly enjoy the Bose sound, I'm probably going to get the Bose speakers - not sure which of the two marine (outdoor) set I will get. My biggest dilemma is what to drive the speakers with - hmmm. I have a Zune 80GB which holds more than enough CD song material and I don't think I want the headaches of CDs and CD player on-board - I'd like to keep things simple regarding my sound system. If I really want to listen to music, I'll stay at home and be entertained. So, my sound system will be (1) to accomodate the XM Radio Satellite with enough ability to drive the speakers (the GPS 540S has 2.5W - enough to hear something on the radio but that's it); and, (2) to accomodate the ability to integrate my Zune 80GB player. I like the idea of running just the Zune since it's so bloody small. I don't need a reciever or tuner (GXM-30 + GPS 540S does that); and, I don't have a need for a CD player. So, I'm thinking of going with a simple yet decent sized amplifier and speakers and that's it. I just need to narrow this down to which amplifier will accomodate RCA plugs for input from the GXM-30 + the Zune 80GB. I think the Zune 80GB will plug into the AUX input receptacle of the amplifier and the GXM-30 RCA plugs will plug in directly. The only accomodation I'll need to make is to accomodate (via adapter) the Zune plug to RCA plugs.

Stay in touch. I'll keep you abreast of what I come up with and I'd like to hear if you've arrived at any decisions, as well.

Cheers,
Norm
 
From what I read, you may have to put in an audio level (volume) control for the line out (can be a sterio pot between the audio out of the antenna connector and the amp, if there is no volume control in the amp.

Blue Water Pirate (a very good reliable poster to The Hull Truth electronics and Continious Wave) has 545 and the XM setup with an amp.

What I have done for Sirius and an I pod, where I didn't have the built in radio/amp, was to get self powered speakers (usually AA or 12 volt--basically has a small amp in the speakers-I have a 110 Bose set at my bedside-) and use that.

This does not give you the big Bose sound. Definately the larger of the two Bose speakers give a better sound. (I have both versions).

The RCA plugs will go directly to many amps--but you can also get a RCA to min 1/8 adaptor if necessary. We do use radio /tuners on our boat, just because there is that occasion where we want to use local radio stations for local news etc.
Plus, the radio, with an aux input is as cheap as an amp. I picked up a nice Sony unit for $69 a couple of weeks ago--"200 watts"--if that really means anything. with the 1/8 mini jack input. That then allows you to have both a fader (if you put in cockpit speakers), plus tone controls and volume.
 
Pretty sure I'm losing it or going to shortly (hide the guns and the whiskey). The Garmin 540S works fine. I installed the GXM-31 Garmin XM WX antenna and during the first hour I could not get an XM Radio ID on the System>System Information. Then, it attempted to configure the XM Antenna (supposedly) - it tried this about 6-7 times. Actually, I thought maybe the cable was bad or the antenna was bad or perhaps I'd just plainly buggered the bloody installation. But, it tried again a couple more times, then quit trying.

I'm not sure what to think at this point.

I'm trying to see if the satellites are down, if Sirius + XM merger is affecting any signals or what. Right now I'm dead in the water on getting the Radio ID to appear in the System configuration parameters.

Any ideas?
 
Don't know if this is relevant to your situation but I had great difficulty getting Sirius weather configured in my Raymarine. Turned out that I had been trying to enter the number in an entirely different (but much more logical) place in the system than where it eventually ended up. So you might start at the beginning again, looking for other places where you might be able to activate your subscription.

Warren
 
Howdy Warren,

I can't register for the XM WX until the 540S can obtain a Radio ID; so, I can't even configure the subscription service since I have none. I'm miffed right now.

The unit came w/ Garmin 540s software version 3.2 loaded on it. So, I navigate over to Garmin, find the latest 540S software version is 4.10 and I d/l and install version 4.10 - no issues. Not too impressed w/ Garmin's site. Their versioning history doesn't even demonstrate a software version 3.2. Their last software version update was from 3.1 to 4.10 - so I'm really baffled as to their logic and support on software versioning.

Norm
 
eNORMous":9pkus54n said:
Their last software version update was from 3.1 to 4.10 - so I'm really baffled as to their logic and support on software versioning.
Click to expand...

My guess would be that they felt that they had made enough changes to the software to warrant a major version number upgrade (3 to 4) as opposed to a minor version number upgrade (.1 to .2, etc.) There was probably a short lived 4.0 in which numerous bugs were found; some were probably fixed in 4.1.

Warren
 
Somehow I suspect this is all "me". I sometimes overshoot the landings - I just thought of something. Now, I could be wrong here but it states clearly to find your RADIO ID, follow the instructions: ON/OFF>CONFIGURE>SYSTEM>SYSTEM INFORMATION - that yields nothing. The instructions state that's how to find the RADIO ID to give to XM. However, I'm not certain that "may" be entirely correct. I mean I do "have" the RADIO ID on the unit and from the carton - it specifically states the RADIO ID. Now, I'm not sure why it states to locate your RADIO ID from the 540S by following those directions. Could it be that's how you find the RADIO ID "after" you've negotiated a contract w/ XM? I don't know but I'm calling XM again and giving them the RADIO ID from the antenna unit itself.
 
Went on-line to XM, enrolled in the XM WX Master Mariner & waited 20 minutes still nothing. Then it happened, I was able to obtain the RADIO ID on the 540S. Not really too clear on why Garmin states to get the RADIO ID from the 540S - confusing. Went into CONFIGURE>SYSTEM>SYSTEM INFORMATION but says no subsctiption. I'll give it some time - slowly making headway. Maybe it's setting up the links - who knows.
 
Several more attempts today demonstrate no further headway towards a resolution.

Have opted instead for securing the fire extinguisher, determining storage area(s) for emergency equipment, and labelling emergency equipment storage areas.
 
I'm sorry I can't help with the sign up. Mine went so smoothly that I don't remember how I did it but then I don't remember what I had for lunch.

I went to Radio Shack and got the y-adapter to bring the output of the XM plugs down to one plug. Now all a I need is to find a "small" speaker amp and speakers to plug it into. I am more interested in size rather than sound quality because of the Honda 150 HP groaning away in the background and old ears.

Patrick
 
Patrick,

Hey man, thanks for the well wishes anyway! A note on your Y-adapter. They make several varieties of these Y-adapters. Ensure you purchased a Y-adapter which takes the two individual (LH-side & RH-side channels) RCA cord plugs into a Y-adapter which maintains the separation of channels - some do not. Once you enter the Y-adapter (on many Y-adapters) you lose the separation of channels (e.g. you lose the Stereo); and, instead you've now gone mono. When it comes time to bring this Y-adpater single plug into a amplifier with one plug - whether you go into the auxilliary or a single plug - you're going to be mono on the output. Unless you absolutely need to, you should stick w/ the two RCA plugs and find that small amplifier which takes two RCA plugs directly from the GXM-31 cables. You can find Y-adapters which maintain the separation of channels, but they're more expensive than the simple dual-RCA into a Y-adapter w/ a single output. Just wanted to ensure you understood that since if you've gone the expense of getting the GXM-31 for I assume both XM WX and Radio, you should try to maintain the stereo separation of channels all the way through.

HTH,
Norm
 
With the RCA plug to Mini sterio (1/8" or 3.5mm): the mini plug must have 3 conductors--the tip, a ring of insullation, a conductor and then another ring of insullation and then the third contact surface.
 
Bob knows electronics for sure - that's the type (mini-Stereo) you need to ensure you purchased.

So, the continuing saga of the GXM-31 Smart (or not so Smart) antenna. What apparently isn't so smart (today at least) are the XM resource support staff (Tier 1). I'm alright with it for now, heck - it's a holiday and I'm sure those further down the totem-pole got the Labor Day weekend :disgust

I called twice today. First call resulted in a male who barely spoke English, but did OK. He spent more time ensuring I lived at my current address; then read through his script of questions, then suggested - we can assure you we have sent you the signal - call Garmin - LOL. :smilep

Not one to succumb so easily, I attended to my emergency storage modifications on the boat, and ~4hrs later I called back - this time to speak w/ a female who knew more. She deactivated my account, then reactivated my account, and low and behold I was getting a solid signal and on Channel 1 (Preview) the stations were downloading. I think she wanted me to remain on the Channel 1 for 15 minutes, but then I was noodling around with the device to ensure it was working - all the time she was also listening to what I was doing. I had a solid signal, a complete Radio ID, Channel 1 (Preview) was downloading, and then I went to the Weather Subscription (window pane) and it again said "No Weather Subscription". Right now, not sure if not holding on Channel 1 (Preview) for the extended time of 15 minutes (supposedly to allow all the stations to d/l into the GPS) was the resultant "cause" of not seeing a Weather Subscription configuration yet.

This then led to the signal going out completely again - with no XM Audio, no Channel 1 (Preview) and still "No Weather Subscription". It was like speaking to kids to be honest. I'm fine with that for today - it's Labor Day. And, for the most part these Tier 1 folks probably just setup accounts, deactiviate (refresh) signals. They have no TX/RX equipment to actual monitor signals. So, they escalated my case and someone is going to call me from XM tomorrow. She did say generally these issues are on their (XM Radio's) end from not sending the signal correctly; but, then also suggested I call Garmin.

So, I'll call them both tomorrow. Right now I don't suspect it's the GXM-31 antenna (since it was getting a solid signal and tons of stations were downloading). It may have been a case of me maneuvering away from Channel 1 (Preview) before all the stations downloaded. If so my reasoning goes like this: It states on XM Radio website and the support resources confirmed that you have to go to Channel 1 (Preview) after a signal "reset". It doesn't say how long to remain on Channel 1 (Preview) on the website. The resource said to remain on Channel 1 (Preview) for ~15'. Maybe (I'm no electoronics guru) there exists a signal within the TX which locks in (something like a "homing" signal") my antenna with the up/down link to the satellite. Again, I'm off in cloud here just postulating. However, the ability of a signal to "lock" on to a device could vary just by location alone (and, perhaps with respect to angle, and any interference).

Well, we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Norm
 
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