XM/Sirius car guys - where's your antenna installed at?

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Just curious - for those who installed it yourself - where did you install your antenna at? I was reading in the manual you're not supposed to install it inside the interior of the car - both the front and rear windshields, but outside (in the usual spot at the rear of the roof) for best signal. Was wondering if anyone had tried installing inside the car. :)

(I have a XM receiver sitting in my house for about 6 months, will probably install in the next week or two, was curious) Thanks :)
 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,943
475
126
I've got one of the older JVC Sirius units, and my magnetic antenna is on the outside (rear) of my Mountaineer.
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
1
0
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Just curious - for those who installed it yourself - where did you install your antenna at? I was reading in the manual you're not supposed to install it inside the interior of the car - both the front and rear windshields, but outside (in the usual spot at the rear of the roof) for best signal. Was wondering if anyone had tried installing inside the car. :)

(I have a XM receiver sitting in my house for about 6 months, will probably install in the next week or two, was curious) Thanks :)


I did a self install and centered it above the rear winshiled on the outside.
I've seen a guys care where he had it on his dash, but I don't know what kind of signal he picked up.


 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Originally posted by: aircooled
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Just curious - for those who installed it yourself - where did you install your antenna at? I was reading in the manual you're not supposed to install it inside the interior of the car - both the front and rear windshields, but outside (in the usual spot at the rear of the roof) for best signal. Was wondering if anyone had tried installing inside the car. :)

(I have a XM receiver sitting in my house for about 6 months, will probably install in the next week or two, was curious) Thanks :)


I did a self install and centered it above the rear winshiled on the outside.
I've seen a guys care where he had it on his dash, but I don't know what kind of signal he picked up.

Yea that's why I asked - in the parking garage at work I walked by a Maxima and I saw a guy had it on the inside of his rear windshield. It's going to suck either way running the wire but I was just curious. :)
 

xospec1alk

Diamond Member
Mar 4, 2002
4,329
0
0
Its on the dash in my car...the signal gets dropped sometimes...but at specific spots, so i think its more crap coverage than bad antenna placement...
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Originally posted by: xospec1alk
Its on the dash in my car...the signal gets dropped sometimes...but at specific spots, so i think its more crap coverage than bad antenna placement...

How's the coverage otherwise? Out of curiousity.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
14
81
fobot.com
i haven't "installed" it yet

in my saturn with a moon roof, i just tuck it in between the moon roof cover and the roof

other cars i just set it on the dash

my reception is great
 

xospec1alk

Diamond Member
Mar 4, 2002
4,329
0
0
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: xospec1alk
Its on the dash in my car...the signal gets dropped sometimes...but at specific spots, so i think its more crap coverage than bad antenna placement...

How's the coverage otherwise? Out of curiousity.

I know when i drive out to the boondocks, like up to go camping or whatever i get dropped a lot. I've always figured it was crap coverage...but normal everyday driving in the city and on the highways, its perfect.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
49,978
40,853
136
It is sitting on the rear deck near the bottom of the windshield.

Reception has been good.
 

Kev

Lifer
Dec 17, 2001
16,367
4
81
i have the wire to the antenna running next to the cushions of my seats, and then in the middle of the back window (inside). I get perfect reception.
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
So you guys have no problems whatsoever when it's inside the car? Everything I've read in their manual says not to. Seems like a more convenient location, and you don't have the ugly black antenna sticking out.
 
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
3
81
sirus has a problem cause their satellites are not geosync.. meaning they rotate.. and they got ground level repeaters.. xm has them in geosync..

but most of them i've seen has been outside.
 

davestar

Golden Member
Oct 21, 2001
1,787
0
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Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
sirus has a problem cause their satellites are not geosync.. meaning they rotate.. and they got ground level repeaters.. xm has them in geosync..

but most of them i've seen has been outside.

99% sure that sirius has a satellite in geosynchronous orbit over the midwest US. that's what the user manual shows.
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
106
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
So you guys have no problems whatsoever when it's inside the car? Everything I've read in their manual says not to. Seems like a more convenient location, and you don't have the ugly black antenna sticking out.

I've had no problem on my dashboard.
 

ATLien247

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
4,597
0
0
I installed one of those little magnetic antennas on the front-driver side of my Tahoe, just above the corner of the windshield.
 

jemcam

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
3,676
0
0
I installed my Myfi antenna on my trunklid. Never have any problems with reception. The roof mount just didn't appeal to me.
 

BornStar

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2001
4,052
1
0
I had mine on my dash but I couldn't keep it from moving and my reception wasn't great. I just routed it out the passenger door and up to the roof and I haven't had any more problems. I may try the rear parcel shelf in the future though. That's a good idea. My only concern is that the defroster might interfere with the signal (I had trouble when the defroster was on with a FM antenna built into the rear window but they were able to fix it).
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
0
You'll have worse reception inside the car than you will outside the car. These antennas need the metal from the car body to reflect the signal (from what I've read). Optimally, the antenna should be in the middle of a large metal area.

On my Sienna, it's right in front of the back liftgate. The cable runs through the cable rain guard and then in the moulding.
On my SAAB, it's on the trunk lid.
 

Yreka

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2005
4,084
0
76
Originally posted by: robothouse77
on roof of truck. fed wire through the brake light that's on near the top

This is how I have mine now. I had it on the dash for awhile, but I got quite a bit of signal drops.

 

GreenGhost

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,272
1
81
I have them inside, at the base of the windshield, in two different cars. Never had any problem whatsoever. Very easy to install because there's always a gap between the windshield and the top dashboard panel.