Sirius Radio question

[charlieft]

Our 2004 260DA has the "Sirius Ready" clarion radio, but we have never subscribed. Are these radios completely satellite ready? ... Do they have a factory installed antenna so all that would be needed is to activate the service?

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[gredmer]

That year radio would need an antenna and receiver. The receiver sends the signal from the antenna to the radio head. Total package is approx. $150.00

 

[sbw1]

Sirius ready just means there is a place to plug the black box into chassie of the receiver and there is a satellite button to select that mode. You need 12vs to power up the black box. A mushroom antenna needs to be installed where there is a view of the sky. The line from that plugs into the box. A line out of the box plugs into the Sirius ready Clarion. Then you call the number that came with the kit and get a guy from India on the phone who will activate your phone. Try to pay by check so they do not bill your credit card for the 6 months your boat may be in storage. Getting those charges reversed is almost impossible as the "service center" is short on service.

 

[At Ease]

I pay mine by card and was told to call Sirius once the boat is stored for winter. Then call again in the spring and it will be activated again. At least that is what I was told. I have XM in both of my cars and at home, so I hope that they finish the merge soon so that I don't have two accounts and I can have the boat as an added radio versus stand alone. That will save a few bucks every month.

 

[Two Peas]

For anyone wanting sat radio without a sat-ready receiver - here's what I did. I had an existing Sirius radio that came out of my pickup at the end of the lease (new truck had sat built in). This is one of the FM-transmitter satellite units that requires an external antenna and 12v power. I mounted the unit inside our 280DA atop the port side cupboards above the dinette, and planned to make the effort to mount the antenna atop the arch and run the cable back down to the unit. I took power from the existing 12v sound system breaker on the main panel.

Before I drilled any holes or started fishing the wire through, (which looked like quite a job), I turned the sat unit on and lo and behold, the antenna pulled the satellite signal right through the fiberglass. I now have the antenna mounted (sitting) atop the same storage cabinet as the sat receiver, and I didn't have to bother drilling and fishing at all. Total install, including 12v power work was 15 minutes.

We've used it for a month and never have any signal fade whatsoever.

Easy satellite radio for every Sea Ray!

 

[390pi]

I agree:
I think you might find it easier to go with the FM modulated Sirius receiver. It is also portable to another car, your house, or to a boombox they make for it.

I bought one of these and used the stereo I already have in the boat; I then bought the "house kit" or something like that you would get to hook up you home stereo to it. The receiver sits on my dinette, (or anywhere I want to put it) has a big readout compared with the indash type receiver, and has a remote.

Fishing the mushroom antenna wires up to the radar arch was a real job.

Either way, satellite radio is the way to go on a boat.

Look at all the receivers antennas on eBay to get an idea of the hardware available.

 

[DCarl320]

Ditto:

Thats what I did with my XM Inno with the car kit, works great, and its convinent, especially after I figured out running the antenna outside wasnt necessary.

 

[Hampton]

The only problem with this is taking a digital signal and pushing it through FM.

 

[Jim240]

Sea Ray placed a small (approx. 1.5" by 1.5" by 0.5") box under the windshield and in front of the port seats as the low profile antenna. It feeds a box that is in the cabinet just aft of the fridge. I got 6 months free from buying the boat... I called, got though immediately, a nice American (we don't speak English!) speaking woman set me up and waited until it was working properly. They didn't take a credit card or anything.

Very simple, good experience.

 

[Four Suns]

The only problem with this is taking a digital signal and pushing it through FM.

Although I don't agree with coasting to red lights from a mile away with the engine turned off, I do agree with this. I'm not the greatest audiophile out there (I have Bose speakers inside my boat after all) there is a notable difference in sound quality from an FM modulator and plugging an iPod or sat radio unit directly into a system. I've tried several modulators, and do have one on the boat right now, and I would say the sound quality is down right poor.

 

[tobnpr]

Ditto.
Since your receiver is sat ready, just get the little black box to retain the digital audio quality. The modulators are meant more for portability and non-sat ready receivers.

 

[Rock Hall]

The other thing is the newer receivers have very little FM output signal. I have the unit right beside my boat stereo and it is still noisy. The older receivers would transmit up to a block away, but you didnt have all the features of the new one. Direct connection is the way to go. Big difference and less frustration.