Satellite Radio

Xenon14

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,065
0
0
I want to get Sirius satellite radio. The one thing I'm concerned about is installation.

I have a '99 Accord which luckily has a tape player. I'm thinking that if I can get the sporster 4, which has an analog input, and then I can just use a tape adapter to play Sirius in my car.

But that still leaves the antenna. Is it hard to install? does it have to be outside of the car, or can it be in an EZpass-type of position?

Since I'll probably be getting a new car fairly soon, I don't want to do hardcore/expensive installations. But I do want satellite radio.

Thanks.
 

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61
Originally posted by: Xenon14
But that still leaves the antenna. Is it hard to install? does it have to be outside of the car, or can it be in an EZpass-type of position?

The antennae should optimally be on the outside of the car... you can put it inside, but you'll get alot of LOS issues with the satellite positioning.

Take a look at the inside moulding on the car and the outside rubber... see if there's enough room to squeeze the wire in there. That's how the pro installs run 'em... should be able to use a butter knife to slip the wire inside the moulding without too much trouble.

 

JohnAn2112

Diamond Member
May 8, 2003
4,895
1
81
Hey Xenon,

I also have a '99 Accord with Sirius installed. I mounted the antenna on the roof, near the rear window, then ran the cable down along the trim of the window down into the trunk. Then ran it through the backseat (in the middle where the arm rest/cupholder folds down), then down to the floor and up to where my stereo is. It's pretty easy to conceal the cord since it's so thin. It'll only take you 2-3 minutes to run the wire down and it's easy to take out when you get a new car.
 

blackdogdeek

Lifer
Mar 14, 2003
14,453
10
81
we used to have no problems having the antenna sitting on our dashboard. we also used to play the device through the fm stations on our radio instead of using a tape adapter.
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
1
0
I installed my antenna on the rear center of the roof, ran the wire in the window molding and through the trunk, then under the plastic molding near the carpet up to the front.
The tape deck adapter sounds way better than the FM modulator.
 

indamixx99

Golden Member
Oct 17, 2006
1,955
0
76
When I had my 93 accord, I had the antenna placed inside the car near the rear window, on top of the brake light. It worked great and I hardly had any signal issues. I do live in a densely populated area (Los Angeles), so the terrestrial reception is pretty high as well.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
14
81
fobot.com
i just put my antenna on the front dash, next to the windshield

works fine, no need to do the fancy wire running thing all over
 

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
Save yourself a huge headache and pick up one of these install kits.

I put in a Starmate 4 last week, and had that. It gives you a FM modulator that plug directly into the antenna system and eliminates any static and crap.

It also gives you a solid mounting base that will put your radio on a swivel knob and a direct wire harness that will rid you of the stupid cig lighter plug in.

I was only going to get the FM modulator when I installed mine, but went ahead and picked this up since its only $10 more than the modulator itself, and the mounting thing is 10x the one you get with the radio.