2018 Precept 35S SiriusXM Install

dtp322 · 05-23-2018, 11:30 AM

I am picking up our new Precept 35S this Saturday and was wondering if anyone has installed a SiriusXM connect tuner to the new Garmin Fusion unit head? I'm really interested in how to get to the back of the radio to plug the tuner into it.

Rico 1967 · 05-23-2018, 04:25 PM

If you have XM on your phone you don't need to buy the tuner. Just set you fusion to blue tooth and you will get XM in the coach. That is providing you have the right subscription We have all access. Get in on phone car alexa good luck

hawkster · 05-24-2018, 06:28 AM

Norine, that's true unless you are out of cellphone range.

Jday7757 · 05-24-2018, 07:29 AM

I think the other thing to consider regarding using the Siriusxm app on your phone (via BT with the radio) would be the amount of data used if you are using it many hours a day on a trip.

JesseS · 05-24-2018, 10:31 AM

I added the XM connect to my Alante just for those reasons, we boondock out of cell service a lot, and we have a small data plan (4GB), and listening to XM for hour after hour (I hate searching for a good FM station) used a lot of data.

hawkster · 05-27-2018, 06:23 AM

We have three vehicles with Sirius including precept. When you call and talk to them argue the plan is too expensive or you are going to cancel. With a little bargaining they will give you the plan much cheaper. Don't let them upsale your plan to super sports package or news package unless you want that..

dtp322 · 05-30-2018, 10:58 AM

I installed the SiriusXM tuner over the weekend and it could not have been easier. There are 4 screws that hold the radio console in and I just removed the screws and plugged the Sirius tuner to the radio pigtail and ran the antenna cable under the dash panel. I opted to have the Sirius antenna mounted inside the dash on the windshield with a suctioncup cup which so far seems to work just fine.

hawkster · 05-31-2018, 06:20 AM

We tried that antenna mount and in trees and mtns were losing signal often. Ran wire up windshield column left of driver and sat on flat surface up there. It's mostly good now.

JoePazo · 06-03-2018, 09:32 AM

What is this tuner that you all are talking about? When I touch the Sirius button, it says to.plug in tuner. What is the tuner?

JesseS · 06-03-2018, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePazo

What is this tuner that you all are talking about? When I touch the Sirius button, it says to.plug in tuner. What is the tuner?

You can find it here

JoePazo · 06-03-2018, 09:41 AM

Does this require a antenna also

JoePazo · 06-03-2018, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JesseS

You can find it here

Does this require a antenna

JesseS · 06-03-2018, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePazo

Does this require a antenna also

It comes with a 'hockey puck' antenna but I mounted a marine outside antenna on the front cap, was easy access by removing the side pillar cover and soffit at the upper front where the speakers are mounted (depending on model)

dtp322 · 06-03-2018, 09:51 AM

Joe, The tuner is a device that sits behind the radio which JesseS put a link to to buy on Amazon. My 2018 Precept 35S had four screws that held the woodgrain radio bezel on which was easy to remove. Once you get to the back of the radio you will find a pig-tail connector marked SiriusXM. The tuner plugs into that and then you must run the antenna for the SiriusXM tuner. I opted to drill a small hole in front portion of the dash to run the cable back. I have the antenna mounted on the inside of the windshield with a suction cup. The may not be optimal as the best location would be on the roof somewhere. So far it's working good and I have not let signal.

JesseS · 06-03-2018, 09:56 AM

The XM/Sirius satellites are in the SE at about 32º, with an antenna on the dash and moving North you will force the signal to travel thru the length of the coach, the further north you get the lower on the horizon the sat's get in relation to the antenna and you will have more drop outs and signal loss. I experienced this many times and that is why I mounted the antenna on the roof, never an issue after that, even in Maine.

dtp322 · 06-03-2018, 09:59 AM

JesseS, how did you run the antenna cable?

dtp322 · 06-03-2018, 10:31 AM

JesseS, did you order the SiriusXM marine antenna form Amazon as well?

JoePazo · 06-03-2018, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtp322

Joe, The tuner is a device that sits behind the radio which JesseS put a link to to buy on Amazon. My 2018 Precept 35S had four screws that held the woodgrain radio bezel on which was easy to remove. Once you get to the back of the radio you will find a pig-tail connector marked SiriusXM. The tuner plugs into that and then you must run the antenna for the SiriusXM tuner. I opted to drill a small hole in front portion of the dash to run the cable back. I have the antenna mounted on the inside of the windshield with a suction cup. The may not be optimal as the best location would be on the roof somewhere. So far it's working good and I have not let signal.

I took the 4 screws out and found the plug in for the tuner. Dealer never told me about having to have a tuner. I.guess once I buy this, I will.need to subscribe to Sirius. Is this correct. I too am interested in how Jesse ran the antenna.
Thanks for the explanation. It explains why my radio says check tuner.

dtp322 · 06-03-2018, 11:00 AM

JoePazo, The tuner does require a SiriusXM account. The tuner does however come with a 3 month free subscription and this worked right out of the box without me having to call them. I do figure on changing the Antenna mount to an outside mount like Jesse described but since I just picked up the 35S last Saturday I wanted to get it working quickly because I had so many other things to get ready. Just a bit squeamish about drilling a whole in the RV somewhere.

JesseS · 06-03-2018, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtp322

JesseS, did you order the SiriusXM marine antenna form Amazon as well?

THIS is the antenna I installed. I removed the drivers side pillar trim and cover, dropped the electric shade (easy as it clips same as the one in your home) and unscrewed the soffit with speakers. This gives you access to the underside of the fiberglass front cap (no insulation of course

) to install the antenna. I drilled thru from the inside for easy placement, be sure to use a small bit, then place duct tape over the opening on the roof to stop any chipping of the fiberglass when you drill the larger hole.

I used only the small hockey puck portion of the antenna discarding the pedestal as it wasn't needed, also I added insulation under the soffit as well as the side pillars when I re-installed them.

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