Sport Pilot Talk

XM radio

I was looking at my options for installing XM radio on my airplane.
The obvious option would be to use Garmin 796 which I have ,and it already has XM radio support built in. The problem here is that I would need to buy Garmin's XM antenna (GXM 40) which is priced, quite ridiculously , at around $600.

Another, more sensible option would be to simply get Sirius' own portable radio ( like this one : https://shop.siriusxm.com/onyx-ez-vehicle.html.) It comes with its own antenna, mounting kits etc ...
It sells for about $60 and has an additional advantage of being portable ( I can take it with me to my car .)

The second choice seems like a no-brainer but I am wondering if there are some potential pitfalls related to installing, what amounts to a car radio kit, on a plane ?
I wondering if anyone here is using one of these radios on their plane and if, perhaps, they have some insight to share ?

Thanks

Installing something like that on a SLSA requires approval from the manufacture. I would start by asking them first. With everybody switching to ADSB, I would think you should be able to buy a used Garmin XM antenna fairly reasonable.

Hmmm ... you think even something mounted externally , like this -> would require approval from the manufacturer ?

I would think a "portable" installation would not require any authorization. FAA allows portable camera mounts.

Are you looking for XM Weather or some type of inflight satellite entertainment?

Just the XM radio - I got ADBS in for traffic/weather.

You might try a used or refurbished gxm-40. I found several for $120 doing a casual search.

I've never felt like an entertainment radio in an airplane is a great idea. When flying VFR, I'm usually using flight following or just monitoring ATC. Never felt the need for music.

I don't have much use for commercial radio entertainment in an LSA. Who needs to hear some guy blathering on or inane commercials?

That said my $35 iPod Shuffle works great in the aux plug and only needs to be charged up. Works great on my D.C. Stereo headset in my SLSA.

That said again... I tried the iPod a few times and have to say I prefer the sounds of flight over music and find it somewhat of a distraction.

My 2 cents.

Certainly don't do music while in high-traffic areas, but there's nothing like some smooth Jazz while flying 3-400 miles down the Baja coast. No traffic, no ATC, no flight following. Mute feature makes it safe for whatever breaks squelch. XM/Sirius not needed, as my matchbook-sized MP3 player works great. But if you have a subscription, why not??

I have the Garmin XM rcvr/antenna in my SportStar, driving a GPS MAP 496. I don't listen to the radio when flying (especially not when instructing), so only ever used it for wx. Now that I have ADS-B in and out thru the Dynon Skyview system, I've let my XM WX subscription expire - and will probably never use it again. (Feel free to make me an offer.)

It is quite embarrassing to admit but upon closer inspection, it turns out, I actually do have Garmin XM antenna already installed on my new Sting - problem solved