I always feel the need on this board to preface my posts by saying that I have done a search...so I'll say it now. I have done a search for XM install info, and learned a good deal.

What I would like to do is mount the XM antenna inside the car. In one old post, someone indicated that this was not a problem, and did not affect reception in any way. One individual even went so far as to mount the antenna in that little locked and "hidden" compartment on the DS trunk interior panel. I did read, though, that the further north you are, the more your reception might be degraded by an in-the-car install.

So, my question is how many northeners here have done this with success? Some of the posts I was reading were a few years old, so I am hoping that XM has added more booster stations to their network, thus redicing the need to worry about this issue.

Thanks for any help.

 

It's not a matter of how far North you are... it's about positioning of the antenna to the satellite. If you put the antenna inside the vehicle you are bound to have slightly worse reception, period. Reason being that the satellite signal would have to go through the windshield and could refract off the glass and/or other materials inside the vehicle. If you mount the antenna outside however, the chances are much less likely that you would have any interference because nothing would be around the antenna to deflect the signal, being that the antenna would be mounted on the roof. If I'm not mistaken, satellite signal for XM or Sirius is line-of-sight so... mounting the antenna anywhere that is not visible would be a very bad idea.

 

Well, that is good to know. I swear, though, there is a post in the archives here where a guy claims to have mounted the antenna in a hidden location in the trunk and the radio still worked...

If I can't hide it, then I'd like to know where people have mounted their antennas? What is the best location on a thirdgen Firebird, where it won't stick out like a sore thumb? I was thinking maybe on the back glass, tucked away low, near the spoiler, so it is sort of hidden? And how the heck do you get the wire into the car?

 

Glass will have no affect on the signal. That said, all the metal will. If you put it in the car you'll run into multi-path problems. If you get it right under the glass (the dash/or 'trunk') this would be a minimal problem. Plastic shouldn't be a big problem, other then if you mounting it under plastic you're getting lower in the car and into more multi-path problems. I've see them put under the dash pad of an S10 with no big problems. You may just need to experiment. Note that the XM antenna needs to point strait up for best results.

 

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll just experiment a bit with an inside location, and if it doesn't work so well, I'll move it to the exterior of the car. If you mount the antenna on the dash, what is the best way to secure it without destroying the pad? Will the adhesive from a velcro strip ever come off once stuck to the dash?

 

'Goo-Gone' (sp?) will clean up any adhesive, but if you have it up there for years, fading could be a problem. If you just doing it for testing, that will not be a problem. Keep in mind that some people have problems just under gas station over hangs.

 

Mount it inside the rear spoiler behind the third brake light.

 

Well, I just finished hooking up the XM equipment to my new Alpine head unit. Took a while to get it all looking right, but I am very happy with the results. I ended up using adhesive-backed velcro to attach the antenna right above the third brake light on my '92 Formula. Really doesn't stick out at all, like I was worried about.

Now, for Jim to finish those new kick panels he is developing, and I'll have a decent little setup in the car