Overview

The Garmin GXM 54 is a SiriusXM satellite weather and radio receiver antenna that feeds compatible Garmin chartplotters over the Garmin Marine Network. It runs on 9 to 32 Vdc, so it fits typical 12 V and 24 V systems, and the housing carries an IPX7 water rating for incidental exposure.

Weather layers such as radar, lightning, wind and wave data can be overlaid on your charts, and SiriusXM radio can be routed to an onboard stereo through the included power and audio module. The antenna measures 91.6 x 49.5 mm (3.61 x 1.95 in.) and weighs 221 g, which keeps the footprint small on a hardtop or radar arch.

SiriusXM service requires an active subscription for weather and audio. Fish Mapping can also be enabled when it is part of the subscribed plan and the display supports it.

Key features

• 9 to 32 Vdc input (500 mA max at 12 Vdc) with a 2 A fast-acting mini-blade fuse requirement on the power feed
• IPX7 water rating with a fully gasketed case built from plastic and die-cast aluminum
• Surface-mount bracket and pole-mount option for a standard 1 in. OD,PT, 14 TPI pipe-threaded pole, with cable routing through or outside the pole
• 6 m (20 ft) antenna cable to the power and audio module for flexible topside mounting locations
• 2 m (6.5 ft) cables for power, Garmin Marine Network, and audio out to simplify helm-side routing
• Line-level audio out for a stereo AUX or line-in input; extensions can be made with a standard RCA cable in a protected area

Variants

This receiver is offered in two housing colors.

The variants differ by color, which mainly affects how it blends with topside hardware and the mounting area.

• 010-02277-00: Color White. A clean match on white gelcoat hardtops, arches, and masts where the antenna is meant to stay visually quiet.
• 010-02277-10: Color Black. A better fit on dark hardtops and black radar or light bars when you want the install to look consistent.

What's included

• GXM 54 receiver antenna
• Pole mount
• Surface mount
• Mounting hardware
• Cable (6 meters)
• Power and audio module
• Documentation

Compatibility and system integration

The GXM 54 ties into the Garmin Marine Network, so your chartplotter needs an available network (Ethernet) port. It is commonly installed with Garmin GPSMAP 8400/8600 and GPSMAP 7400/7600 series, along with GPSMAP 7x2/9x2/12x2 Touch and GPSMAP 10x2/12x2 models that support Garmin Marine Network connectivity.

If you need to share the receiver across multiple chartplotters and ports are tight at the helm, a Garmin Marine Network switch such as a GMS 10 can be added so each display can access the same weather data.

Installation and placement

Reception comes down to placement. Mount it where it has an unobstructed view of the sky, and avoid spots that get shaded by masts, radomes, or hardtop structure.

Keep the antenna at least 1 m (3 ft) away from the path of a radar beam or a VHF antenna, and avoid placing it directly in the radar sweep. Route cables away from engines and other common sources of electrical noise.

Audio and subscription

For SiriusXM radio playback, connect the audio out lead from the module to a stereo line-in or AUX input. It is a line-level signal and is meant for a stereo input, not a direct speaker connection.

Many installs run power through an ignition circuit or a dedicated switch so the receiver is not left on when the boat is shut down.

Use cases on board

This setup makes sense on boats that already run Garmin Marine Network at the helm and want satellite-delivered weather overlays for longer runs where cellular coverage drops off. Offshore anglers can also take advantage of fishing layers when they are part of the subscribed plan.