Sat radio, does it suck for you?

smackmybutter535i · Post by **smackmybutter535i** » Apr 17, 2005 7:40 PM

I have the sirius sattalite radio. I while back I bought a clarion deck for my car that was sirius ready. A couple months ago I decided to get the receiver and antennae(misspelled?). After installation, I only get service half of the time. My antennae is one of those magnet trunk mounts. Anyone have the same problem? I was thinking it gets inerference with the fuel pre-pump, is that possible or do ya think I need the roof mount dorsal fin?

Madhungarian · Post by **Madhungarian** » Apr 17, 2005 8:43 PM

Where on the trunklid did you mount it? I suspect you have it against the rear window which is blocking your line of site. Roof mount is good, but the test the theory, why don't you just move it out toward the back of the car.
I am planning to integrate mine in the rear trunk lid spoiler.

smackmybutter535i · Post by **smackmybutter535i** » Apr 19, 2005 12:01 AM

[QUOTE="Madhungarian"]I am planning to integrate mine in the rear trunk lid spoiler.[/QUOTE]
Would you just gut the antennae and plop it in the spoiler? You got me thinking.... how about shaving down the spoiler to fit the antennae accordingly without looking "ghetto" and run the wire through the hole in the trunk to the reciever. The sucky thing is I don't have a spoiler but I'm looking to get one. I want the hartge spoiler but if I do the antennae in it I'll probly need the is spoiler. Installing the is spoiler, would I need to drill my trunk, or do I just stick it on with some heavy adhesive?

BDK · Post by **BDK** » Apr 19, 2005 6:43 AM

I plan on mounting mine on the roof, but since I am repainting, I will drill a small hole and feed the wire through so that you will just see the antennea not the wire...
I am going XM, wife has it and loves it.....can't wait until I am at that point, it is a long way away though.....LOL

Madhungarian · Post by **Madhungarian** » Apr 19, 2005 9:09 AM

[QUOTE="Madhungarian"]I am planning to integrate mine in the rear trunk lid spoiler.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE="smackmybutter535i"]Would you just gut the antennae and plop it in the spoiler? You got me thinking.... how about shaving down the spoiler to fit the antennae accordingly without looking "ghetto" and run the wire through the hole in the trunk to the reciever. The sucky thing is I don't have a spoiler but I'm looking to get one. I want the hartge spoiler but if I do the antennae in it I'll probly need the is spoiler. Installing the is spoiler, would I need to drill my trunk, or do I just stick it on with some heavy adhesive?[/QUOTE]

Actually, I hollowed out the rear spoiler from the bottom. You can not even see it from the top and since it is plastic and rubber, will not effect the antenna performance any. Should be totaly stalth! BTW you do need to drill holes in your trunk lid!
I have an XM antenna in the beater under the rear shelf and works OK with only occasional dropouts. This is when the roofline is in the line of sight.

smackmybutter535i · Post by **smackmybutter535i** » Apr 19, 2005 11:04 AM

So a layer of plastic and rubber over the antennae won't effect the reception? If you have yours under the rear shelf and I have mine on the rear of the trunklid and I get terrible reception, thats about the same location why does mine have terrible reception.

graphite · Post by **graphite** » Apr 19, 2005 11:06 AM

i dont have any problem with mine.. i have sirius and one of the kenwood flat magnetic type antennae.. the only time it cuts out on me is going under certain underpasses.. i ran the wire up along the arm for the trunk lid and under the lid cover thing that the tool box matches.. then i just flipped the antennae out onto the deck lid.. so all you see is the antennae and the like .5 cm part of the cable that is ribbed..

Madhungarian · Post by **Madhungarian** » Apr 20, 2005 1:14 AM

[QUOTE="smackmybutter535i"]So a layer of plastic and rubber over the antennae won't effect the reception?[/QUOTE]
Nope, as long as there is no metal or metalized compounds involved.

smackmybutter535i · Post by **smackmybutter535i** » Apr 20, 2005 11:32 AM

[QUOTE="graphite"]i dont have any problem with mine.. i have sirius and one of the kenwood flat magnetic type antennae.. the only time it cuts out on me is going under certain underpasses.. i ran the wire up along the arm for the trunk lid and under the lid cover thing that the tool box matches.. then i just flipped the antennae out onto the deck lid.. so all you see is the antennae and the like .5 cm part of the cable that is ribbed.. [/QUOTE]

I did the same and my reception sux. Any stereo guys out there might know why?

graphite · Post by **graphite** » Apr 20, 2005 1:11 PM

where do you have the sirius reciever? I mounted mine on the bracket that the factory amp is mounted to since i was taking it out and it turned out that my reciever had the same mounting width.. so its hanging down inside the trunk. if you installed it inside the car somewhere and ran the antennae wire along with some of the wiring harness there could be something interfering with it along that path.. but i think the wire is shielded.. what brand/model antennae is it? maybe its just cheap?..

smackmybutter535i · Post by **smackmybutter535i** » Apr 20, 2005 7:20 PM

Yes it is cheap. It's a TECH. I got it at Best Buy for 50 bucks. My reciever is mounted in the trunk behind the rear seat. So if I bought a cheap one I got ripped and should have bought a good one in the first place? I didn't know there was any other brands for an antennae besides the one that was offered cause that was the only one there. Should I go get a kenwood?

Brandon in San Angelo · Post by **Brandon in San Angelo** » Apr 21, 2005 8:59 PM

I have a Kenwood EZ-500 Headunit and the Kenwood tuner and antenna. There is NO NEED to go outside the car. My antenna is on the back parcel deck right next to the 3rd brakelight. I used male velcro on the back of the antenna and routed the cable through the brakelight's hole and down to the tuner in the trunk mounted on the underside of the parcel shelf.

The antenna looks very stock with the profusion of black bumps and lumps on the deck with the speakers, seatbelt holder, and brakelight. If I blacked out the Kenwood logo on the antenna, it would be totally stealth.

The reception is great except when under gas station overhangs and tollbooths when the antenna's LOS to the satellite is interuppted by metal objects.

I'll take pictues if you really want.

I'm totally impressed with the Sirius service as it provides a welcome change from Tejano, All Brooks and Dunn All the Time or Full Custom Gospel Sounds that seem to be the only music broadcast out here in West Texas.

Sirius+E28 is good!

Brandon

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

Sat radio, does it suck for you?