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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | Many of us here are painfully of the Vision's poor to very poor radio reception. Get much more than a few miles out of town and you can pretty much forget about getting any clear reception of any stations. Many of us have installed the Metra powered antenna wing thingie underneath the dash cover. This has worked for a few folks, but overall ended up not working for most folks. Well folks....I have found what I believe to be the best solution to the reception problem ! I installed a Metra Antenna Works 40-VW53 Amplified Antenna Adaptor along with a Metra Antenna Works 40-VW20 Antenna Adaptor Cable. They both easily fit underneath the center console. The 40-VW53 is a powered unit so you will have to plug it into 12v switched, I simply crimped a spade terminal on the wire and plugged it into the gray accessory plug. The 40-VW20 is needed because the 40-VW53 has a flat "european" type plug and our radios have the standard GM style plug. I installed this setup in about mid-June and have put thousands of miles on since then. I now easily get great crystal clear reception of radio stations out to 35+ miles away from any town with a station, and been a few stations I've gotten good reception from 50+ miles away. And when I get into some high-ground areas I can get stations further out but have a little bit of station drift. About the only drawback is there has been a few times where the reception has been somewhat "directional" meaning if I'm heading north and getting a station and then turn west the station drops but when I turn back north the station comes back in. I have no idea why this directional thing has happened these few times, it hasn't been "regular" in that same sation on the same route same problem. This 40-VW53 is designed to be used in new Volkswagons for when the stock head unit is replaced with an aftermarket unit. Apparently the new VWs don't have an conventional antenna, the antenna is internal inside the factory head unit. These two items can be purchased all over the net or any local car stereo store. The 40-VW53 is about $15.00 and the 40-VW20 is about $8.00 I don't have any pictures but you can do a Google image search and see what they look like. I'm really hoping somebody here gets this setup and installs it soon. I'd really like to hear some other results/opinions on this. |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Northeastern Penna. | Thanks for the info, however I've gone the Sirius Satellite route and love it. But this sure could be
beneficial to those who still like the old fm radio. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| I got the 2010 NEW radio installed and no more problems |
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Cruiser
Posts: 293
Arkansas | Teach, did you get the 2010 radio under warranty? If so, under what justification to Victory? Or, did you pony up the bucks for it?
Jim |
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Tourer
Posts: 301
Buffalo Grove,Ill | Yeah, what he said! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 803
Perry Hall, MD | Just did the install. If reception improvement in the garage is any indication of what it will be on the road I should be very happy. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| Teach, Please elaborate on the 2010 radio. What has changed? Does it fit the 2008 models? How much? Better amplifier? Better AM/FM/Weather reception? Any other features? Thanks, Tim
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| My radio was warranty repaired as my original one died (wasn't right from day one). The display is the biggest change and yes it is a direct swap for the 2008 & 09 radio. I believe the early 2010 Visions still have the 09 radio. Easiest way to tell is look at the display. The New radio just says VICTORY, in 3/4" capital letters. Instead of running across the display panel it phases in at the center. I have better reception across all bands and sound quality seems to have improved.
Bear in mind guys my radio would lose receptions while only moving a few feet and I was never able to get clear weather reception. My old radio burned up my IPod, lost display, locked out regularly and would pretty much do what it wanted. They finally replaced it when the display was either not present or would appear as a bar scan code.
I believe if you contact the company that makes the radio for Victory they will do a swap for you. From what I understand you send your radio and $175, they send you a new radio. This is just what I heard so you'd need to contact the radio manuf. to confirm. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| I think the 2010 radio is also supposed to mate up with the new Zumo 600 GPS versus the old StreetPilot 27XX versions. Do you notice it having a stronger amplifier section?
Thanks, Tim
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| TimS, sounds like a radio to me. It may have a better amplifier, I cant say, BUT the radio sound quality seems to be better. All I can tell you with 100% certainty is it is 99.99% better than my last radio which didn't work most of the time, locked out, and had little to no reception. The company is radio solutions or something like that, same folks who make the CB for HD. Should be fairly easy to get a phone number to call them. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| Teach - 2009-11-29 8:41 AM ... same folks who make the CB for HD. ... Hi Teach, The company is Radio Sound. They used to make radios for HD, but no longer. HD switched to Harman Kardon for their radios and their CB's are made by Midland. I ride in a club with mixed bike brands/models. The HD Midland CBs are much better CBs than what comes with the Vision. Thanks for the info. I spoke with them before to get the original CB's volume level matched to the same level as the rest of the bike's inputs. Originally, when you switched from AM, FM, Weather, AUX, IPOD, XM, their input volumes were much higher than that of the CB. When you put on different pipes, you cold no longer hear the CB radio. They have since fixed this problem with their newer CB versions, but the transmission/reception range is still weaker than the HD/Midland CBs. Sincerely, Tim
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| Teach, Did you have accessories hooked up to your radio (CB, XM or Garmin Street Pilot)? Also, what year is your Vision?
My dealer just asked Victory and Victory responded that the 2010 radio does not work on the 2008 or 2009 Visions. Victory also told me that my dealer could flash my old CB right after Radio Sound tech told me the dealers did not have the tools to flash my CB and it had to be sent into the factory. Victory ended up having to physically replace the CB as the Radio Sound tech indicated, so I take what Victory says about their vendor's electronics with a grain of salt now.
Sincerely, Tim
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | TimS - 2009-12-06 8:47 PM
Teach, Did you have accessories hooked up to your radio (CB, XM or Garmin Street Pilot)? Also, what year is your Vision?
My dealer just asked Victory and Victory responded that the 2010 radio does not work on the 2008 or 2009 Visions. Victory also told me that my dealer could flash my old CB right after Radio Sound tech told me the dealers did not have the tools to flash my CB and it had to be sent into the factory. Victory ended up having to physically replace the CB as the Radio Sound tech indicated, so I take what Victory says about their vendor's electronics with a grain of salt now.
Sincerely, Tim
Yep! I've been down that road with Victory. My dealer reflashed my radio and CB three times trying to get it to work right, per Victory's instructions. Finally, my dealer put me in touch with Radio Sound, who informed me that Victory does not have the tools to properly reflash the early radio to work with the later CB. Radio Sound has to do it at the factory. I was also informed by Radio Sound that the reflashes of my radio done by Victory (which ended up causing my radio to mess up) could not be "unflashed" to its original configuration by Victory. I have to say that my dealer's tech was really trying, but was being misled by Victory. After talking at some length to Radio Sound, and them having me verify my hardware and software versions, plus going over all the control settings, checking my CB antenna's SWR's, etc., it was determined by Radio Sound that the only solution was to replace both my radio and CB. The exchange rate is $175 for the radio and $150 for the CB. The only question was who was going to pay for it. My dealer went to bat for me (my bike was already out of warranty, but we started working on this problem before the warranty expired) and Victory sent them a new 2010 radio and CB unit, which they plugged right into my '08. All is well.
Ronnie |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Nothing like have a great dealer. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | i gave up on the radio and went ti Sirius. now i have great reception No matter what state or area i am in, and the best part of it all is. every 60 miles im not looking for a new radio station i may or may Not like.... Thats what i love about Sate radio! ive been to many states on my vision and i listen to the same 3 stations with no problem! I now just use my radio as a ampilifer for the siruis and ipod. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 33
Attleboro, MA | Lotzafun - 2009-11-20 5:25 PM
These two items can be purchased all over the net or any local car stereo store. The 40-VW53 is about $15.00 and the 40-VW20 is about $8.00 I don't have any pictures but you can do a Google image search and see what they look like. I'm really hoping somebody here gets this setup and installs it soon. I'd really like to hear some other results/opinions on this.
I just ordered the parts off Ebay cost about $14 total they should be in soon...
I will let you know how I make out... |
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New user
Posts: 2
| Lotzafun - 2009-11-20 5:25 PM
The 40-VW53 is a powered unit so you will have to plug it into 12v switched, I simply crimped a spade terminal on the wire and plugged it into the gray accessory plug. some other results/opinions on this.
Never having opened my vision fairing (and about too because of your awesome post and info), how hard is it to find this "gray accessory plug" ?
Thank you! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 119
| Thanks for this great information. We have an 08 and the radio reception has been just like you stated.....poor to terrbile depending on if we are less than .365 miles of the radio station transmitter Mike Lotzafun - 2009-11-20 5:25 PM Many of us here are painfully of the Vision's poor to very poor radio reception. Get much more than a few miles out of town and you can pretty much forget about getting any clear reception of any stations. Many of us have installed the Metra powered antenna wing thingie underneath the dash cover. This has worked for a few folks, but overall ended up not working for most folks. Well folks....I have found what I believe to be the best solution to the reception problem ! I installed a Metra Antenna Works 40-VW53 Amplified Antenna Adaptor along with a Metra Antenna Works 40-VW20 Antenna Adaptor Cable. They both easily fit underneath the center console. The 40-VW53 is a powered unit so you will have to plug it into 12v switched, I simply crimped a spade terminal on the wire and plugged it into the gray accessory plug. The 40-VW20 is needed because the 40-VW53 has a flat "european" type plug and our radios have the standard GM style plug. I installed this setup in about mid-June and have put thousands of miles on since then. I now easily get great crystal clear reception of radio stations out to 35+ miles away from any town with a station, and been a few stations I've gotten good reception from 50+ miles away. And when I get into some high-ground areas I can get stations further out but have a little bit of station drift. About the only drawback is there has been a few times where the reception has been somewhat "directional" meaning if I'm heading north and getting a station and then turn west the station drops but when I turn back north the station comes back in. I have no idea why this directional thing has happened these few times, it hasn't been "regular" in that same sation on the same route same problem. This 40-VW53 is designed to be used in new Volkswagons for when the stock head unit is replaced with an aftermarket unit. Apparently the new VWs don't have an conventional antenna, the antenna is internal inside the factory head unit. These two items can be purchased all over the net or any local car stereo store. The 40-VW53 is about $15.00 and the 40-VW20 is about $8.00 I don't have any pictures but you can do a Google image search and see what they look like. I'm really hoping somebody here gets this setup and installs it soon. I'd really like to hear some other results/opinions on this. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 803
Perry Hall, MD | Did the install right after the first posting (parts from Best Buy). Can't say that it is THE answer, but I just finished a trip through some pretty rural areas in up-state NY and never had a problem getting a station. Did have to search fairly often as I was traveling, but I was putting a few miles behind me each day. Never tried the weatherband as it was a week from heaven and I really didn't need to worry about it.
Have also had the radio flashed 2xs since the installation which likely helped as well.
Probably just me, but it does seem to find a lot of country stations which has proven to be pretty disappointing. lol |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I have a bike tronics antenna that is more money but they make all kinds of radio stuff for that harley bike, Any how I mounted mine just over the top of the right front turn signal and it works great in that position. I like classical music and they never put out much power but now I am 90 to 100 miles out of a major city and pick up great sounds. I had to find a sores for power and a ground but that was easy to do. You and I should be rocking just great yours is just cheaper. |
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Tourer
Posts: 411
Dallas, Texas | aphatmouse - 2010-10-08 2:18 PM
Lotzafun - 2009-11-20 5:25 PM
The 40-VW53 is a powered unit so you will have to plug it into 12v switched, I simply crimped a spade terminal on the wire and plugged it into the gray accessory plug. some other results/opinions on this.
Never having opened my vision fairing (and about too because of your awesome post and info), how hard is it to find this "gray accessory plug" ?
Thank you!
I have never removed my console either, but I do have a copy of the service manual. But could someone do a step by step dis-assemble/re-assemble, changing out the antenna, and/or removing the console to get where we need to be. I'm not completely mechanicly challenged, just a bit. And I like to have a good idea of what I am doing before I start.
Thanks. |
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | I bought the two pieces as described and when plugging the stock antenna plug into the body of the amplifier the pin for the stock plug pushed in. Poorly designed but it seems the part is designed for a smaller diameter center pin, I tried to 'open it up with an awl and it would not work. Now I am left with a broken stock plug and parts that are worthless. I have to go to work, arghhhhhhh! |
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | Got back from work and installed correctly-don't ask- and does not seem to do anything, at least in my garage. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 277
Apopka, FL | Would this Metra antenna work in the same location as the original antenna? It looks like a typical dipole antenna. Would that adapter be necessary?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Metra-44-UA200-Amplified-Universal-Window-Anten...
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I think that's the same one I used. I thought there was a step by step install posted, but I can't find it. I mounted mine on inside of the dash top. I forget how it comes off now, but it wasn't hard to do. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 277
Apopka, FL | Michael, You didn't say how the reception is after your install of this Metra. Satisfied? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | There was a big improvement after the upgrade. Radio reception still left something to be desired, but I think I got the most out of radio's receiver. That bike has gone to salvage. I have replaced it with an identical Vision purshased about 3 months before my origional Vision. The VIN is 3700 lower. The replacement bike's reception is much better than bike 1 ever was. I have all the receipts from the previous owner, and there is nothing about an antenna mod. I haven't had anything apart to see what's going on. I think the first bike had a "lemon" radio. I went with an ipod and never looked back. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 277
Apopka, FL |
I just finished installing this Metra Antenna Works 44-UA200 Amplified Antenna. It fits nicely right above right front blinker housing under the windshield housing. No, I didn't take any pictures. It has separate signal amplifiers for AM and FM. No road tests yet, but the "garage test" was WONDERFUL! Great signal for all local stations. It needs a 12v switched supply. The easiest to access is the HID light switch. So if I want my antenna ON, I just turn on my HID. Makes a definite sound difference when the antenna is powered on.
This antenna wiring did not need the adapter someone mentioned above; Metra 40-VW20. I have one I will be willing to GIVE to the first PM. Just send me $5 for shipping.
Edited by DrDecay 2011-06-17 5:21 PM
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