Portable XM Radio receiver in the cockpit?

[Peter R.]

I have made the jump to satellite radio for my car, choosing XM Radio as
my provider. Wow, am I in love now that I am free of the canned format
of commercial radio! :)

I was wondering if anyone has taken the portable version of the XM radio
receiver, in my case called the Delphi Roadie or Roadie 2, and used it
in the cockpit?

It seems like it would be pretty straight forward to do, placing the
antenna inside the cockpit forward of the glare shield, then interfacing
the radio to the AUX input of the audio panel. Just wondering about
others' experiences.


--
Peter

[Newps]

Peter R. wrote:

> I have made the jump to satellite radio for my car, choosing XM Radio as
> my provider. Wow, am I in love now that I am free of the canned format
> of commercial radio! :)
>
> I was wondering if anyone has taken the portable version of the XM radio
> receiver, in my case called the Delphi Roadie or Roadie 2, and used it
> in the cockpit?
>
> It seems like it would be pretty straight forward to do, placing the
> antenna inside the cockpit forward of the glare shield, then interfacing
> the radio to the AUX input of the audio panel. Just wondering about
> others' experiences.
>

Very easy, I did it last October. I have a 182 and the Ski Fi. The
bracket gets attached to the windshield on the copilots side, just
forward of the forward door post. The antenna sits on top of the panel
at the base of the windshield magnet mounted to a little metal strip
attached to the top of the panel. Antenna wire tucked along the side of
the windshield. I use the cigarette lighter plug behind the copilots
yoke for power. The audio out is a simple double ended mini stereo
plug. One end into radio, other end into audio in of intercom. Works
great, never ever a dropped signal thru the plexi. Only problem you may
run into is low audio. If so you can get the Boostaroo from Radio Shack
that goes inline to bring the level up. They came out with a new
version of the Roady and it will broadcast to an FM radio channel. I
will be replacing my Ski Fi with this in the plane and car soon, so we
can have sat radio in the tower too, although the audio in in the plane
will remain the same with a cable.

[Peter R.]

Newps wrote:

>
>
> Peter R. wrote:
>
> > I have made the jump to satellite radio for my car, choosing XM Radio as
> > my provider. Wow, am I in love now that I am free of the canned format
> > of commercial radio! :)
> >
> > I was wondering if anyone has taken the portable version of the XM radio
> > receiver, in my case called the Delphi Roadie or Roadie 2, and used it
> > in the cockpit?
> >
> > It seems like it would be pretty straight forward to do, placing the
> > antenna inside the cockpit forward of the glare shield, then interfacing
> > the radio to the AUX input of the audio panel. Just wondering about
> > others' experiences.
> >
>
> Very easy, I did it last October.

Thanks for your experiences.

> Only problem you may run into is low audio.

While awaiting for the delivery of the Roadie 2, I took the opportunity
to read through the owner's manual (made available at their web site).
There is a feature of the radio that allows the user to control the
level of the output, so low audio should be a non-issue.

--
Peter

[Jim Weir]

I did it just before Oshkosh. The 182 has a carpet covering the dash, and the
little antenna fits under that carpet just fine, about as far forward as you can
get it without having it stick out the front end of the carpet. Don't forget to
take the magnets out of the base or your compass will follow the antenna quite
nicely.

Somebody said that they had used the cigarette lighter for power. Just remember
that the little bugger needs SIX volts and that the regulator is in the ciggie
lighter plug. Connect the Roadie directly to 12 volts and you have an expensive
lump of silicon in your hand.

I powered it from a version of the GPS adapter panel, put a 6 volt regulator on
the backside of the panel, the GPS antenna connector on the same panel, and it
looks like a factory install.

Coming soon to a Kitplanes column near you.

Jim



Peter R. >
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

->I have made the jump to satellite radio for my car, choosing XM Radio as
->my provider.
Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

[Newps]

Peter R. wrote:


>> Only problem you may run into is low audio.
>
>
> While awaiting for the delivery of the Roadie 2, I took the opportunity
> to read through the owner's manual (made available at their web site).
> There is a feature of the radio that allows the user to control the
> level of the output, so low audio should be a non-issue.

All the radios allow you to control the output level now. In the plane
I have to set my Ski Fi to the highest level and I still have to turn
the intercom volume up to a setting higher than I would otherwise. This
makes the intercom volume too high for the people speaking in the plane.
When I take the unit and put it in the car I have to lower the output
level because it is overdriving my trucks radio, causing distortion. So
do not dismiss this out of hand because they tell you that you can
adjust the level. You won't know if you have a problem until you
install it. There are extensive threads about this topic on the Cessna
Pilots Assoc website. The two factors involved are your audio panel and
your intercom and how they were set up when they were installed.

[Peter R.]

Newps wrote:

> All the radios allow you to control the output level now. In the plane
> I have to set my Ski Fi to the highest level and I still have to turn
> the intercom volume up to a setting higher than I would otherwise.
<snip>

Oh, OK. Thank you for the follow-up.

--
Peter

[Peter R.]

Jim Weir wrote:

> Somebody said that they had used the cigarette lighter for power. Just remember
> that the little bugger needs SIX volts and that the regulator is in the ciggie
> lighter plug. Connect the Roadie directly to 12 volts and you have an expensive
> lump of silicon in your hand.
>
Whoa. Thank you, Jim, for the warning.

> I powered it from a version of the GPS adapter panel, put a 6 volt regulator on
> the backside of the panel, the GPS antenna connector on the same panel, and it
> looks like a factory install.

As someone who only has the basics of electronic knowledge, I am
confused. The cigarette lighter plug shipped with the Roadie is not
designed to reduce the voltage to the correct six volts?

If not, what parts would I need (the GPS is an IFR-certified panel
mounted model) to power the Roadie in the aircraft? Is there an off-
the-shelf solution?

--
Peter

[Newps]

Jim Weir wrote:

Don't forget to
> take the magnets out of the base or your compass will follow the antenna quite
> nicely.

The compass may or may not. My compass is mounted on the windshield and
is unaffected by the magnet in the antenna. I have to move the antenna
to within a few inches to get the compass to flicker.

[Viperdoc]

I use the XM radio in my Baron all the time, and it works great for those
long cross countries. I had all of the cigarette lighters converted to 12
volts, so the existing plug worked fine. Radio Shack sells a 6 volt
converter from 24 volts as well, and it's pretty cheap.

One thing I found initially was a lot of hiss and noise, and this was
completely solved by inserting a ground loop interrupt in the audio circuit.
The resulting sound is now excellent!

[Peter R.]

Viperdoc wrote:

> I use the XM radio in my Baron all the time, and it works great for those
> long cross countries. I had all of the cigarette lighters converted to 12
> volts, so the existing plug worked fine. Radio Shack sells a 6 volt
> converter from 24 volts as well, and it's pretty cheap.

Thank you!

--
Peter

[Mark Manes]

The reason for the loss of audio is that there is a impedance mismatch.
Freemar sells an impdance matcher that will plug into the Roadie and the Aux
audio input in the audio panel (Garmin 340 in my case). I usually set the
Roadie audio output to 2 or 3 and have plenty of XM audio.

http://www.fremarllc.com/accessories/index.html

Aeromedix also sells a 28v to 6v cig plug adapter that will fit the Roadie.

http://www.aeromedix.com/index.php?_siteid=aeromedix&action=sku&sku=skyroady&_sessid=3a18e46598daf095d43893f0567f32d9

The one from Radio Shack is cheaper. The Radio Shace catgalogue shows the
adapter to be 12 to 24v input and 6v output. It works just fine. I tried
both.

Mark Manes
N28409
WC5I


"Peter R." > wrote in message
...
> Jim Weir wrote:
>
> > Somebody said that they had used the cigarette lighter for power. Just
remember
> > that the little bugger needs SIX volts and that the regulator is in the
ciggie
> > lighter plug. Connect the Roadie directly to 12 volts and you have an
expensive
> > lump of silicon in your hand.
> >
> Whoa. Thank you, Jim, for the warning.
>
> > I powered it from a version of the GPS adapter panel, put a 6 volt
regulator on
> > the backside of the panel, the GPS antenna connector on the same panel,
and it
> > looks like a factory install.
>
> As someone who only has the basics of electronic knowledge, I am
> confused. The cigarette lighter plug shipped with the Roadie is not
> designed to reduce the voltage to the correct six volts?
>
> If not, what parts would I need (the GPS is an IFR-certified panel
> mounted model) to power the Roadie in the aircraft? Is there an off-
> the-shelf solution?
>
> --
> Peter
>
>
>
>
>

[john smith]

Mark Manes wrote:
> The reason for the loss of audio is that there is a impedance mismatch.
> Freemar sells an impdance matcher that will plug into the Roadie and the Aux
> audio input in the audio panel (Garmin 340 in my case). I usually set the
> Roadie audio output to 2 or 3 and have plenty of XM audio.
> http://www.fremarllc.com/accessories/index.html
> Aeromedix also sells a 28v to 6v cig plug adapter that will fit the Roadie.
> http://www.aeromedix.com/index.php?_siteid=aeromedix&action=sku&sku=skyroady&_sessid=3a18e46598daf095d43893f0567f32d9
> The one from Radio Shack is cheaper. The Radio Shace catgalogue shows the
> adapter to be 12 to 24v input and 6v output. It works just fine. I tried
> both.

That was my first thought. I was suprised Jim Weir didn't mention it.

[Michelle P]

Peter,
Works great! I have been doing it for several years. It is nice to be
able to get good Music all the way to Key West.
I put my antenna in the back and the receiver under my seat but I have a
fabric airplane. I have an old Sony receiver.
Michelle

Peter R. wrote:

>I have made the jump to satellite radio for my car, choosing XM Radio as
>my provider. Wow, am I in love now that I am free of the canned format
>of commercial radio! :)
>
>I was wondering if anyone has taken the portable version of the XM radio
>receiver, in my case called the Delphi Roadie or Roadie 2, and used it
>in the cockpit?
>
>It seems like it would be pretty straight forward to do, placing the
>antenna inside the cockpit forward of the glare shield, then interfacing
>the radio to the AUX input of the audio panel. Just wondering about
>others' experiences.
>
>
>
>

--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

[Peter R.]

Michelle P wrote:

> Works great! I have been doing it for several years. It is nice to be
> able to get good Music all the way to Key West.
> I put my antenna in the back and the receiver under my seat but I have a
> fabric airplane. I have an old Sony receiver.

Thanks, Michelle!

--
Peter