Installing Satellite radio antenna

Hi All, I'm the OP. I used a highly skilled installer to get my SiriusXM Ready Jansen radio to work. He had to take the whole dashboard apart to get the radio out. The SiriusXM module plugs into the radio and the antenna plugs into the module. Both come in a kit from Amazon (SXV300) for about $37. The installer put the antenna on the cab roof (attached by its magnetic base) beneath the cab over. He ran the antenna wire to the gasket that holds the windshield in. No holes were drilled into the roof. The antenna worked well on a trip to PA and back to Long Island. After seeing what is involved in getting the radio out of the dash, I would recommend a experienced installer to handle the job. The steering wheel column has to drop down to remove part of the dash!

I placed my XM antenna in the vent for the cabover. I just set it above the screen and used a metal washer stuck to the magnet on the underside (or inside). It does not move around. The antenna cable is so thin it can easily be hidden.
Our RV has an aluminum roof.

Funny this topic came up because I am having issues. i had a new Kenwood stereo put in, i removed enough of the trim panels so the installer could put the antenna in the nose

of my Itasca cambria. The nose cone on my unit is for tv and stereo, no bed. So my trip to Sonoma Raceway from Orange this weekend was ****py for satellite radio. Dropped

reception frequently AND it sounded like a turntable skipping on a record. I tried different stations when the signal dropped and sometimes they worked. I called home and had

my signal renewed from home computer trying to eliminate all possibilities. I hope when I remove the tv for access i find the antenna came loose from where it was mounted.

I have heard that the satellite service isn't as good out in the desert as it once was but not sure. Ill let you know what i find.

toymaker10, Thanks for the info. I didn't think the dashboard would work because there is too much metal, etc. blocking the antenna. I read somewhere that after attaching the antenna and module to the radio it is a good idea to duct tape the antenna to the radio body so it can't disconnect due to road shock.

Tim, again thanks for the info. Cool graphic showing satellite paths. The radio is SiriusXM ready so I don't know which satellites will be used.

Here is the global path of the SIRIUS satellites. At any given time, 1 sat is north of the equator, 1 is south of the equator. Depending where you are, you "may" get better reception while driving south than north, but in over 10 years, I have not seen any difference in signal strength.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sirius+satellites&biw=1173&bih=497&tbm=isch&imgil=ygzM8WQmLjhN4M%253A%253BKg_s1P7_2n3jWM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww3.sympatico.ca%25252Fn.rieck%25252Fdocs%25252Fsirius.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=ygzM8WQmLjhN4M%253A%252CKg_s1P7_2n3jWM%252C_&usg=__Ggaq6UDB9P8-ko-DzUNNZ1iNzAA%3D&ved=0CFcQyjdqFQoTCO_jgdT_iscCFUbVgAodhnIPlw&ei=Ql2-Ve86xqqDBIblvbgJ#imgrc=ygzM8WQmLjhN4M%3A&usg=__Ggaq6UDB9P8-ko-DzUNNZ1iNzAA%3D

Be aware that the paths of XM satellites are difference.

Tim

I have the Jensen radio combo with the antenna inside the windshield lower left corner. I've had problems with this setup. Last month going to Richmond from central Fl lost connection on 95 In N Carolina,I assume do to rough road I lost Sirius radio service, every other feature of the radio GPS worked. It said check antenna, dealer said antenna wire disconnected. This month heading south on Fl. tpke lost service halfway down and returned service halfway back up. Booklet says antenna should be placed outside with no obstructions, so I believe the factory in the widshield installation might not be the best location

Thanks, Tim. I didn't know about having the magnet side always facing down. I'll try various locations inside. The cabover probably has some sort of metal structure so I will move the antenna around so it's not directly beneath a metal rib. I'll post back my results.

Don't drill anything. Antenna installation is not that hard.

Because the Sirius/XM satellite broadcasts in the same frequency band as Wi-Fi, the rules for antenna placement and signal reception are pretty much the same. You don't put your Wi-Fi antenna outside on the roof.

When they say that the antenna needs a clear view of the sky, they mean at RADIO frequencies (no metal in the way), not optical light frequencies.

IF you have a fiberglass or rubber roof, you probably do not need to put the antenna outside and/or on the roof.

In our previous Class C, the antenna lived under the air bed in the cabover. In our newer Class C, the antenna lives flat on the dash, near the windshield and between the windshield wipers. ALWAYS have the magnetic side of the antenna down.

Try several easy locations INSIDE before going for the hard locations OUTSIDE.

Good luck with getting up and running. Feel free to PM me if you want more specifics. I am an EE and a Ham operator.

Tim

I put my mag sirius antenna up on the roof next to the escape hatch. Tried it last year on the hood but the overhang would block signal sometimes. Used it this year no issues. Ran wire down outside to enter thru door opening and under the trim to the top of dash and under dash cover. Another way is to run thru the escape hatch, just do from rear and then blend the wire in under some trim pieces or................

I used double stick tape to hold it down. works so far.