Forum Discussion

klutchdust's avatar
klutchdust
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2018

XM signal Westbound,not Eastbound too much

Orange County Ca, heading to Phoenix, sketchy XM signal. System 3 years old and pretty trouble free. Heading East it fades in and out, coming home strong signal entire desert trip. Antenna was mounted with hook and loop tape directly to top of nose-cone, I am thinking of moving it pointing forward, like maybe magic will happen. The Installer told me it shouldn't matter ,it does.


This is looking behind the TV, for those of you that wondered what it looks like. Also the nosecone is fastened to the roof of the "truck" part of your coach and on my particular model, Itasca Cambria 09, the brackets come loose and/or break. That squeaking/rattling I heard was from just that. Watch the cone bounce when you travel, interesting.

  • vermilye's avatar
    vermilye
    Explorer
    Mar 27, 2018
    And, if the proper orientation doesn't work, there is always the possibility of adding a boating XM antenna. I have one that provides more gain than the standard puck antenna, works great in Canada, even Alaska, and under trees. Marine Antenna
  • klutchdust's avatar
    klutchdust
    Explorer II
    Mar 27, 2018
    BurbMan wrote:
    Klutchdust, I see the antenna in the pic. What we are trying to tell you is that these magnetic mount vehicle antennae are meant to be mounted magnet-side down so that the top of the antenna is facing up. Since yours is mounted to the inside of the nosecone, it's facing the wrong way...the magnet side is facing the sky. You don't need to move the antenna, but flip it over so the magnet side is facing down and the top of the antenna is facing the sky.

    I hot glued a large fender washer to one of the top of one of the vent covers on the TT and stuck the magnet part of the antenna to that.


    Got it. I have a good spot for it, thanks to all that responded.
  • BurbMan's avatar
    BurbMan
    Explorer II
    Mar 27, 2018
    Klutchdust, I see the antenna in the pic. What we are trying to tell you is that these magnetic mount vehicle antennae are meant to be mounted magnet-side down so that the top of the antenna is facing up. Since yours is mounted to the inside of the nosecone, it's facing the wrong way...the magnet side is facing the sky. You don't need to move the antenna, but flip it over so the magnet side is facing down and the top of the antenna is facing the sky.

    I hot glued a large fender washer to one of the top of one of the vent covers on the TT and stuck the magnet part of the antenna to that.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Mar 27, 2018
    eHoefler wrote:
    Biggest problem is it is upside down, turn it over.

    BINGO! Unlike GPS Sats, the XM Sats are not as many. That is why the antenna MUST be mounted on the roof as the install directions state. Even laying on the dash at the front below the windshield will yield intermittent reception. Doug
  • klutchdust's avatar
    klutchdust
    Explorer II
    Mar 27, 2018
    shastagary wrote:
    xm antenna install info XM Installation


    Interesting, however the XM has been working up to this point where it was mounted inside the fiberglass nosecone. I may investigate tomorrow with running the wire through the marker light assembly.If that works I can use a strong adhesive to mount it to the roof.
  • klutchdust's avatar
    klutchdust
    Explorer II
    Mar 26, 2018
    BurbMan wrote:
    You might try just turning the antenna right side up and duct taping it in place.



    If you look in the photo with the bright Orange Background you can see it in the middle of the nosecone. I can move it anywhere, It was directly overhead but something up there it didn't like.
  • BurbMan's avatar
    BurbMan
    Explorer II
    Mar 26, 2018
    You might try just turning the antenna right side up and duct taping it in place.
  • shastagary's avatar
    shastagary
    Explorer
    Mar 26, 2018
    the antenna should be mounted as high up as possible so it has the most clear line of sight to the sky in all directions possible. is that antenna the small magnetic mount antenna? it also should be mounted so the magnet is facing down as if it were magnet mounted to a metal car roof to get the best signal capture.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,190 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 24, 2025