Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

Mounting XM Anteena

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-16-2005 | 06:05 PM
  #1  
digdoug's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Default Mounting XM Anteena

I just won an XM satellite reciever (Delphi roady xt) as a door prize at a Christmas party today. I was wondering if any one owns one or a similar XM radio where did you mount your anteena. I have a 2001 Camaro SS with TT tops with a rear spooler. The user guide says it should be placed a metal part of your car about 4" from any window. If any has any ideas please let me know.
Old 12-16-2005 | 08:03 PM
  #2  
navymitch12's Avatar
12 Second Club

iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

under the hood, on a shock tower, as close to the window as you can get it, but make sure its no under the cowl, just the hood

have seen one there in a trans/am never asked him if he has any reception probs but i would doubt it hood is not very thick
Old 12-16-2005 | 08:09 PM
  #3  
LSXRX7's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: reno
Default

must be in line of sight of sat. its small so put it on the strip between the t top and windshield and run the wire under the windshield molding down the side and into the door.. if you dont wont it thair on the roof put it all the way forword on the dash up against the windshield. may go out some times but looks better..
Old 12-17-2005 | 07:06 PM
  #4  
navymitch12's Avatar
12 Second Club

iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default



see it on the shock tower, that little black box thing, thats an xm antenna

not saying that you are wrong about the line of sight thing but its been done where i said

Last edited by navymitch12; 12-17-2005 at 07:11 PM.
Old 12-17-2005 | 11:31 PM
  #5  
LSXRX7's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: reno
Default

strange i have ben an installer for 7 years now since sat radio was interdused and never hade any luck with hiding it like this. i am going to try some new things with the antena now. maby it works cous of the fiberglass hood. is this on your car? cause if not maby they put it there for show.. oh well nice car.
Old 12-18-2005 | 12:46 AM
  #6  
MannyZ28's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Default

Time to upgrade that ugly weak *** AC delco battery with an Optima!!

Anyhow, I have Sirius Radio and the installer put mine on the dashboard as far as possible and close to the front windshield.

Works good so far.

Manny
Old 12-18-2005 | 07:13 AM
  #7  
Black98LS1's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Waco, TX
Default

I mounted mine under the defroster vent in the middle of the dash. It gets better reception there than the one in my truck gets mounted on the roof.
Old 12-18-2005 | 09:37 AM
  #8  
GETGONE's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,789
Likes: 0
From: Middleville, Michigan
Default

If it's the same mini-micro antenna that the Roady 2 has it fits between the radio antenna and hatch opening on my Camaro. I only had it in the car once before I put it away for winter though. I might try to find a better hidden spot to put it once I put it back in in the spring. As for the under the hood, it does work because it's fiberglass. If it were metal it wouldn't work. I put the Roady in my Fiancee's Jeep and I original had it on the front cowl but it kept losing signal. I put it inside on top of the roll bar. She has the fiberglass hard top and it gets better signal there than it did on the cowl.
Old 12-18-2005 | 03:43 PM
  #9  
FLAWLS1T/A's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Default

Originally Posted by Black98LS1
I mounted mine under the defroster vent in the middle of the dash. It gets better reception there than the one in my truck gets mounted on the roof.
BINGO!

thats where i have mine too, the cutouts allow for good recption, ( becasue its a vent , and right above that there is glass, so the signal can go directly through the glass)

No matter what anybody tell you, the most optimal choice is outside the car, sticking out, but imo nobody wants to put it there, so i would reccomend in the center defroster vent, or right near the winshield wipers, under the plastic vent things!

good luck
Old 12-18-2005 | 07:05 PM
  #10  
navymitch12's Avatar
12 Second Club

iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

not my car
Old 12-18-2005 | 07:13 PM
  #11  
thunderdan74's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 1
From: Sumter, SC
Default

Yep! That's where I put mine. Right on the little plate running accross the duct under the dash grill. The thing fits perfect there! Now if we can only get XM to get some more New Rock stations! Squizz don't cut it!
Old 12-19-2005 | 07:48 AM
  #12  
EVOLTUION's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Default

Old 12-19-2005 | 08:24 AM
  #13  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 289
From: Jacksonville, FL
Default

You can also put it inside the rear spoiler. There is plenty of room behind the third brake light and the composite material won't block the signal.
Old 12-19-2005 | 08:38 AM
  #14  
Black98LS1's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Waco, TX
Default

Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
You can also put it inside the rear spoiler. There is plenty of room behind the third brake light and the composite material won't block the signal.
Thats a good idea too!
Old 12-19-2005 | 11:26 PM
  #15  
VIP1's Avatar
Copy & Paste Moderator
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,726
Likes: 191
From: Eastern MA
Default

I posted where I hid my antenna here:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/wiring-stereo-electronics/248790-guys-xm.html
(post #3 & 9 -- in the hatch)

BTW, under the hood is a bad idea unless the hood is fiberglass. The metal of the hood will block some signal.
Old 12-20-2005 | 12:16 AM
  #16  
FLAWLS1T/A's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Default

Originally Posted by navymitch12
not my car
i love ignorant iddiots
Old 12-20-2005 | 06:17 PM
  #17  
2K2WS6TA's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 1
From: Ark City KS
Default

I have mine on the back hatch glass, it's pretty small, so it's not very noticable, I tried it various places inside the car/engine bay, but I have no repeaters locally, so the glass mount gave me the best reception
Old 12-21-2005 | 01:39 PM
  #18  
ss4chad's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 688
Likes: 2
From: Keller, TX
Default

I was given a XM Roady (cute little rascal) for my car and I was gonna make a hard mount and enclose the little cubby hole in front of the gear shifter. I was thinking making it out of aluminum 5606 T3 or Stainless. The roady is about 3/8 of inch smaller than the cubby hole and I could mount it to the metal backing after I have permannetly mounted the backing plate and then run the cable for the antena, consealed of course, to the top of the car behind the T tops and in front of the back hatch. What do you think guys? Would that work for mounting the antena?
Old 12-21-2005 | 09:26 PM
  #19  
2K2WS6TA's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 1
From: Ark City KS
Default

That part of the car isn't metal, so the magnetic mount won't hold it that's why mine is on the glass (double sided tape) didn't want to stick it to the paint, and risk damaging it if I wanted to take it off someday.
You may be able to put it on the center mount of the t tops, I believe that's metal
Old 12-22-2005 | 07:05 AM
  #20  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 289
From: Jacksonville, FL
Default

The bar between the t-tops isn't metal either but you can use two-sided tape to stick it there. You have to remove the bar first (8 screws) and drill a hole through the roof under the bar but nobody will ever see it there. The hole is protected from the weather by being under the bar but I put sealing caulk around the hole after I ran the antenna cable through just in case.

This puts the antenna outside at the highest point of the car for the best possible reception. It also leaves very little of the antenna wire exposed. The newer antennas are small enough that you hardly notice it's there.




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:28 AM.