Satellite Radio - has anybody installed them in the trailer?

We are looking at the Satellite Radio for the rv. I personally would like to have a portable one which I can play anywhere. I would like to be able to use the speakers for the radio.

Is there a way I can get access to the speakers wire in order to hook up not only the radio but also the tv?

[Bill]

A portable satellite radio may not have enough audio power output to drive the TM speakers adequately. Depends on the particular radio, check the specs. If not, you will probably need to install a small amplifier. You can buy an amplifier with multiple inputs (and probably separate volume or "gain" controls) and a switch on the front to select the one you want. Plug the TV into one set of inputs, and the satellite radio into another. Connect the TM speakers to the amplifier's output.

The wires to the speaker are accessible under the kitchen counter above the refrig. Remove the wooden cover (approx 2"x6") above the refrig door by carefully sliding a table knife or plastic putty knife under the edge. Alternatively, you can get at them from the outside access area above the refrig, and then route them wherever you want.

Incidentally, this opening is properly sized to add a radio - a car radio of the standard single-DIN size will slide right in there. Many of us use the radio's AUX INPUT to drive the speakers from a TV, etc. Do a search on "radio" to find the threads that cover this.

Good luck

Bill

I agree with Bill in that most if not all satellite radios would not drive speakers directly (earphones maybe). As the alternative to installing an amplifier, putting in a car radio (which of course contains an amplifier) into the TM is probably the way to go (most satellite radios have an FM modulator so you can receive their output over an unused FM radio channel on the car radio - no wires). With the correct car radio (with CD player) installed you can play regular radio, satellite radio, CD and your TV (via the AUX input) through the speakers. Car radios can be quite inexpensive and for DIY installation there is plenty of info on this site.

Incidentally, someone posted a special "friends and family" offer on this board a short while back, where you could get a satellite radio for free (with a few months service commitment). The offer may have run out a few days ago, but you can do a search and check.

Paul

[Harry Womack]

I have a xm radio in the trailer. I used a pioneer am,fm,cd,xm radio. The antenna is on the roof. I glued a 2" square of galvanized steel to the roof to hold the magnetic mount. I ran the antenna wire up the torsion bar wire harness to the roof. The xm module is mounted under the sink cabinet on the right wall so that I can exchange the antenna wires easy. I also carry a 50 foot extra xm antenna rolled up inside the refrig. access door. This is used for the xm radio when I am parked under trees. In Colorado if I used the antenna on the roof, the radio would cut out when the wind would blow the tall pine trees.

[YWORRYDOG]

We have a Sirius Starmate in the truck. When we are parked near the TM there is no problem in picking it up on the radio in the TM. The power antenna that the TM has is great! No need to remove it from the truck., and it is such a low battery drain I don’t worry about the truck battery getting low. As an added benifit, when we are home, I can pick it up with the Bose wave radio when the truck is in the driveway.

I installed my Sirius radio in my truck using the FM modulator method. Like YWORRYDOG, we also listen to that Sirius radio on the CD/radio inside the TM. The only problem I found is that the remote control to change stations on my Sirius is not powerful enough to reach through the TM and intom the closed truck. I have opened the slider window on back of truck and got it to work, but it's not convienient.

This is not a problem if you listen to just one Sirius station. Of course you can still tune into as many regular "over the air" radio stations as you want from inside the TM and flip back to that one Sirius station anytime you want inside the TM.

I don't recall what model my radio is, but it came with a tiny remote that uses a small coin size battery. A radio with a larger remote with AAA or AA batteries might give you enough power to flip the Sirius station from inside the TM.

Or perhaps a programable replacment remote? I will need to look into that for myself.

Jim