Another satellite radio thread

[seamus]

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

I'm thinking the roof is the way to go, too. I had the Tundra's on the roof and it worked perfectly. Some guys have put the antenna under the housing by the windshield wipers, but I'm thinking I'll still get drop out there, like I do now with it on the dash. I think I'll run it through the third brakelight. Think I'll have issues with it leaking?
I'll probably wire in a cig lighter behind the dash to plug it in. Just gotta find switched power. On the Ford, unlike the Tundra, the cig lighter is always powered, so I can't splice it in there.

Check where your wire bundles run from the engine compartment through the firewall. On my Jeep, I ran the wire through the firewall into the engine compartment. The antenna is on the hood centered between the hinges.

Was worried at first that I would get dropout due to the angle of the windshield on Wranglers possibly blocking signals. Hasn't dropped out once.

Originally Posted by smkeatr

I piggy backed my Sirius receiver to my radar detector using a "Y" from Radio Shack. As stated above, one wire to the power window fuse, the other to a ground near the fuse box. That way it already has a fuse and an inline is not needed. I run my receiver on the top of the windshield above my rear view mirror along side my radar dectector. I ran my antennae down the A post and out to the windshield weather strip at the bottom to the top center of the windshield. I ran it there for a few days and I get the same reception with it on my dash right up under the wipers. I've wired radar dectectors like this for 20 years and haven't burned up a car or a fuse yet.

The issue here is that the3 power windows have a 20-30A fuse and these receivers need 2A. THe fuse is virtually worthless to protect the reciever, radar detector etc. These devices would likely be a molten blob before ever blowing a fuse in the vehicles fusebox.

Originally Posted by seamus

Check where your wire bundles run from the engine compartment through the firewall. On my Jeep, I ran the wire through the firewall into the engine compartment. The antenna is on the hood centered between the hinges.

Was worried at first that I would get dropout due to the angle of the windshield on Wranglers possibly blocking signals. Hasn't dropped out once.

Sirius reception is extremely location and time dependent. The satellites are in elliptical orbit. XM satellties are stationary, pointing north. XM has a stronger signal since the sats are farther away and relies on a larger repeater network since they have fewer satellites.

On a Wrangler there is really nothing to block the signal from the hood. The roof isn't steel and the signal penetrates glass, fiberglass, canvas etc. I have an antenna under my desk in midtown manhattan and it works great thanks to the rooftop repeater nearby.

[smkeatr]

Originally Posted by BillAce

The issue here is that the3 power windows have a 20-30A fuse and these receivers need 2A. THe fuse is virtually worthless to protect the reciever, radar detector etc. These devices would likely be a molten blob before ever blowing a fuse in the vehicles fusebox.

Haven't ruined any electronics yet either. I'm not saying that what I do is correct and best for my electronics, it's just that I've had this set up in one particular car for 12 years without a problem. Thanks for your insight though.

Would you suggest I use an inline fuse for further protection? I'd be willing to modify my current set up in both cars and the bike.

Does anyone know if it's possible to use the XM antenna that came with my Chevy Tahoe to work with my Sirius radio?

Seems it should be possible to wire into it, since I never activated the XM that came with the truck. Be nice not to have to run a new wire to the roof, if I already have a satellite antenna up there. Just not sure if XM & Siruis antennas are different in any way.

Originally Posted by CanyonCarver

Does anyone know if it's possible to use the XM antenna that came with my Chevy Tahoe to work with my Sirius radio?

Seems it should be possible to wire into it, since I never activated the XM that came with the truck. Be nice not to have to run a new wire to the roof, if I already have a satellite antenna up there. Just not sure if XM & Siruis antennas are different in any way.

There maybe a impedance mismatch if one or the other systems has a load of somekind in their particuar antenna. Call Circuit City and ask 'em.

Yes, you can use XM antennas to receive Sirius but not the other way around. XM transmits a stronger signal so Sirius antennas filter out XM signal. There may not be the standard SMB connector on the OEM sable though.

I think the antennas for XM and Siruis are interchangeable, as long as it'll plug into your unit. That may be an issue, as depending on the unit, the plug may be different. If it plugs in, give it a try before running a new antenna.

I gotta get off my butt and properly install my Sirius in the new truck. I got one of those add a line things that plugs into a 10 amp fuse. Should work ok. I have the Starmate, so I think I'm going to dremel my ashtray and put it in there. I can close it up when I leave the truck. Worth looking into. Got the PIE adapter to hook the sound up through the HU.

Thanks for the info, everyone. I'll have to dig in and give it a try.

I wired my cigarette powere plug to my battery with a fuse link and grounded it to the frame. Dremel'd a hole in the plastic upper on the FJR1300 for the plug. Looks good and works better. Now I can run my GPS and XM without batteries.
I got the Pioneer Airware unit. Using a Roady 2 antenna and power cord. I taped the antenna to the luggage rack on the back and have had no reception problems.