Hi all, Looking for advice on how to route an antenna cable from the roof on my motorhome. I'll be using a portable radio but the antenna will stay put. Also would be interested in alternative antenna options. The radio will be on or near the dash panel.Thanks

Note that your antenna does not have to on the roof if it is a fiberglass roof...or inside the front cap...I'd try that first before drilling a hole.

I routed the antenna wire under the dash and up the center post in the windshield in our Itasca. A large part of how you route the wire will depend upon what you have to route it in and behind. You could if necessary use a stick on wire chase.You also need a place for the antenna to mount. I used the blade from a large metal spatula that I managed to slip up into the overhead structure. It got me well up under the fiberglass roof with nothing else in the way. It was a FUN job, but it worked for 7-8 years. Actually thinking of doing it again in our new rig. Why pay the $$$ for two? I can get a modern XM receiver and use it in my car, the Toad and the RV all for a single price. Save a bunch of cash. We don't listen to the radio too much when parked, usually just while driving.

I used a small square of 3M tape and silicone sealant to affix the antenna to the top of my fiberglass front cap. I routed the wire along the fiberglass front cap/aluminum roof seam and sealed over it with Dicor. The wire routes down the rain gutter above the driver's door and enters through the door behind the rubber seal. I used a short piece of wire loom to give a little extra protection to the wire when opening and shutting the door. Then it's just a matter of routing it under the dash to where you locate the XM unit.

If Roof is NOT metal (IE: Fiberglass or rubber) try putting the antenna inside, on top of whatever you can put it on top of. Sat TV receiver, Radio stack, one of the small shelves next to overhead compartments.

On my trailers I liked to drill through the sides of the trailer up near the roof line. Most of the time this will go into a ceiling mounted cabinet on the inside where you can route the cable where it needs to go...These are for radio scanners and Ham radio things... The SAT RADIO antenna you will probably need is not a whip mounted type and probably should be on the flat roof. I hate drilling anything through the roof area...This is on my 5th wheel...Roy's imageThis is on my POPUP trailer...Roy's imageRoy Ken

Satellite radio | Good Sam Community

cruzbill
Explorer
Feb 19, 2017
Shakespear makes a very nice Sirius antenna. Mounted one on my runabout boat and one on my 21'TT.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Sirius-Satellite-Radio-Galaxy-SRA-Antenna/737533.uts?productVariantId=1210987&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02528753&rid=20&gclid=CjwKEAiAoaXFBRCNhautiPvnqzoSJABzHd6hJeukYpYSE1t6Yev_gOOF6SIEJHblMyP9hP9e8-8f0RoCAWrw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
sailor_lou
Explorer
Feb 08, 2017
I also used silicon to attach the antenna to the roof and to seal the cable hole. It's been 6 years with no issues. I also ran the ant cable down the A-pillar through the dash to the radio. Good luck.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 08, 2017
don't know if you already have the radio, but if not, look into the ala carte program. I have that and move my radio between two vehicles and the house.
bumpy
dakdave
Explorer
Feb 08, 2017
I fastened a small piece of metal on top pf my air horns tubes with small sheetmetal screws magnet mount on this.Small hole in end cap sealed with dum-dum.(plumbers putty) dave
AstroRig57
Explorer
Feb 08, 2017
Others have said it and I will add my two cents as well.

If you have a fiberglass roof, or even fiberglass front cap, the satellite radio antenna does not have to be mounted on the outside of the coach.

We are satellite radio junkies and, in addition to having them in all our cars, we have a Sirius Boombox that uses a Sirius Sportster 5 as the receiver.

That same Sirius Sportster 5 is used as the satellite receiver in the motorhome, mounted to the dash with a modified SiriusXM Dock & Play Vehicle Kit and plugged into the AUX input on the in-dash radio. (It's also used on the two home audio systems using SiriusXM Dock & Play Home Kits.)

The antenna is mounted INSIDE the RV on a metal stud/support for the front cap cabinets with the cabling run behind the trim on the driver's side A-pillar.

The system works perfectly and except when passing under long overpasses or other overhead obstructions, the reception never cuts out.

As an aside, this same system was used in our past Coachman Class-C, also with the antenna mounted inside, and it worked perfectly there as well.
John_Wayne
Explorer II
Feb 07, 2017
If you have a slide out behind the drivers seat run it through that opening.
Rog___Nan
Explorer
Feb 07, 2017
Ours has been on the dash for over 11 years. Did order a second antenna,same as the one that came with our boon box receiver. So we could just unplug inside and carry boom box out and have attendant attached. Since Iris's and XM have become one we don't even have to stretch out antenna even works under the awning. Good luck.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 07, 2017
on my highlander I just set it on the dash. use a magnetic one on the roof of my truck.
if you want it on an aluminum roof, just silicone seal a small piece of steel to the roof and set a magnetic one there and run the skinny wire inside.
bumpy
jplante4
Explorer II
Feb 07, 2017
I tried mounting mine inside (fiberglass front cap) but the reception wasn't good. Silicon'd it to the roof and ran the antenna wire in the CB antenna penetration. Hit the grommet with some silicone - done.
rk911
Explorer
Feb 07, 2017
wtmtnhiker wrote:
Hi all,
Looking for advice on how to route an antenna cable from the roof on my motorhome. I'll be using a portable radio but the antenna will stay put. Also would be interested in alternative antenna options. The radio will be on or near the dash panel.
Thanks

in our previous motorhome we had a multi-disc CD player in the overhead cabinet in front of and above the driver's seat. our magnetic base satellite antenna was placed on top of the CD player. no significant issues.