Worthless CD Player

[podsobinski]

My '06 RT has the OEM radio/CD option which is hooked up to an AudoCom with a speaker shot off switch. AM/FM radio works great but the CD is almost worthless. Anyone have any experience taking it out and replacing it with an satellite radio in the slot?

gpodzo

[podsobinski]

Should be on Hexhead forum sorry I get my two R's mixed up.:whistle

gpodzo

[BradfordBenn]

I moved it for you :)

Now regarding the CD player. Have you seen if it can be a warranty item?

[randlyn]

R's... the bain of geologists everywhere. Can't you just whistle a happy tune? How's that headlight guard holding up?

[podsobinski]

What a surprice hearing from you! Worked great on a ride yesterday to Pueblo for a buffet, check out KTM Adventures and back home. Thanks for asking:p
Regarding the CD, seems like I am trying to figure out what would be more practical on the RT. The AM/FM radio works super with the AutoCom and that smart computer keeping volume up and down depending on the speed. The CD skips and changing CD's is a hastle. I just think an XM radio in that slot and hooked up using existing power and speaker leads would be great if possible.
So anyone with experience doing that or thinking it is possible, let me know.

gpodzo

Civilization exists by geologic consent, subject to change without notice.

[mjuskiw]

I have XM hooked up on my GS. The only issue is a slight hum from a dirty ground there is a thread here that cleans that up.

I like XM for the sports; its great to listen to a baseball game without looking for new stations as you ride out of range. My XM isnt very weatherproof and the buttons are small, but it has a tuff remote that I can stick on the tankbag and use with gloves on. Xm has the monthly fee but I use one receiver that I can use at home,on the bike or in the car. The mounting cradles are fairly cheap and I get more use from it that way.

For music to be honest my Ipod or Zumo sounds better thru my intercom. The zumo can hold and play 2gigs of music of an SD card and the controls are very easy to use.

The Ipod is lighter and holds more music. If I have allot of waypoints or routes Ill use the card in the zumo for them and run music off the ipod. The Ipod is in a drypod case and the controls can be tricky with gloves on but its not that bad.

Both use 1/8 inch accesory jacks so plugging them in to an intercom is easy. And its like having a 100 or more disc changer on board.

Both are easy hookups, the zumo is in the phone jack on the starcom so when it "speaks" it will mute the other sources. I do want to add a Mute switch for the times when we stop at a red light and someone wants to talk.

Hope this helps

Mjuskiw
Akron Ohio

[hoss07rt]

I ordered my rt with the radio prep kit (speakers, antanae, wiring) and then had a clarion marine radio installed. Its just like a car stero except a little more weather forgiving. It plays cd's and is xm ready. I also had the XM installed (you cant see the xm, its not the on the handlebar type, its controlled by the radio) it also has an aux jack on the face for an mp3 player. The other nice thing about the clarion marine models is that you can have a wired remote installed. I had mine installed by where the stock radio controls would be. The whole thing was just a fraction of the price of the stock radio. It has worked fantasticly. Its clear and loud enough. Hope this helps

[eric81]

I had the same issues a few months ago:

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18533

All the mounting was tight and the dealerships didn't know of anything else to try. Original CD's work better than computer burnt CD's. I've decided to just use my MP3 player instead.

[podsobinski]

Thanks for the feedback, mjuskiw that is what I thought. I do use a MP3 player also hooked up to the Autocom and works great. eric81/hoss07rt, the marine radio sounds great but the BMW AM/FM radio works great also my problem is the d----m CD player. With the power and controls I would think I could put in an XM into that right slot and man would I be set. Anybody try it yet?

gpodzo

[gened12]

Hi

I did manage to install AM-FM, CD, IPod, XM on my RT.

See this post on how I did it, http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/976866/an/0/page/0#Post976866

cheers

Denis R1200RT

[podsobinski]

I guess I am still looking for a satellite radio that would fit in the CD space and hook it up to the already existing power, controls and speaker . If that is possible or anyone tried it let us know. Thanks

gpodzo

[bikerfish1100]

best sound system I've found for my R11S oilhead is made by Laser. schweet tunes, lemme tell ya.:dance

[ricoshay]

I guess I am still looking for a satellite radio that would fit in the CD space and hook it up to the already existing power, controls and speaker . If that is possible or anyone tried it let us know. Thanks

gpodzo

Just to clarify, the CD player is also the stock radio. I suspect that any alternate radio or receiver will not be able to communicate with the existing controls on your left handgrip or the channel display. A friend of mine installed an aftermarket radio with a remote to make use of the radio prep package that came with his bike. The unit often changes channels or shuts down on bumps so he's back to using a portable radio and an amplifier to his headphones.

I have Sirius on my R12RT and it transmits on FM to my OEM stock radio so I can listen to local stations or choose the station receiving the Sirius satellite signal. I really like being able to use the stock radio controls and the channel display (especially the Mute button). I'm about to install a Garmin 2730 GPS which will also communicate with my OEM radio via FM signal. I should be able to just change channels to listen to the GPS when I want to.

[podsobinski]

Very good advice and the way you use the radio with your satellite sending an FM signal is the way to go. Thanks for the advice.

gpodzo

[mjuskiw]

It sounds like the install you want is like the one in my car. The XM broadcasts on FM 88.7 and comes thru the radio. The radio controls everything except what station the XM is on, that is handled by the remote. The existing speakers are used ect.

Two things to consider

First Since you are worried about space try to find a receiver that is 12 volt. Mine is actually 5 volts so has a cigarette lighter adapter kinda bulky and harder to wire in. There are units where the 12V adapter is bigger than the receiver. They make completely portable ones that are very small and have built in batteries

Second for broadcasting into your existing system In short you can send your XM over just about any FM freq. The problem I had was finding a clean empty frequency. 88.7 may be clean in your area but as you travel if you come across a station using it you get some crosstalk and interference. Its kinda a pain to retune when it happens.

In the truck I got an adapter from Best Buy that plugs into the radio antenna spot and is basically a splitter that lets the XM or radio antena both share the slot. It hard wires the XM into the system thru the antenna. Since the XM is hardwired it will broadcast over any station without interference. Its not needed but a real nice inexpensive quality of life upgrade. I know it was from Best Buy and less than $ 40. I tossed a link in for a few below.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8362808&type=product&id=1177717628634

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8116585&type=product&id=1158319078975

The XM I use fits in a space about 3 X 4 inches ad 1 inch deep. I believe it is the Roady XT. For me the big advatage is that I can pull the receiver off and use it in the car and at home as well. Each location has a "base" unit and antenna hard wired in. Fir the question of space its small but you need some room to get the receiver in the base. They make some very tiny receivers but if its dedicated to the bike you will have a subscription just for that each month.

You should be able to find a unit to fit easy enough. I wouldnt about XM or sirius because rumour they will merge soon. Also Id look at car installs instead of motorcycle ones since you have a head unit. Once you say motorcycle the "Geek Squad" guys get confused. If you are close to Akron hit me offline I can show you my setup

Mjuskiw
Akron ohio


MJJ