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XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:22 pm
by ckf102
Hey everyone,
Can you please post a few pictures of your xm antenna installs? I have mine currently run to under the rear deck, but the reception is so so. Also any issues with car washes or anything else?????
Thanks
Clay
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:27 pm
by ga93sle
My antenna is also on the rear deck, and I hate it lol. I usually stick mine to the inside of the deck lid before I go through washes.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:23 am
by human
When I had Sirius a few years ago, I always kept the antenna on the rear shelf. I didn't want to scratch the paint on the deck lid, plus My Aurora's deck lid was aluminum, so it wouldn't have stuck, anyway. The rear window was sufficiently raked so that I got decent reception, unless I was driving on a tree-lined street. I got rid of it after a year because I had lost my job and couldn't justify the expense.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:28 pm
by 00Beast
My OEM XM antenna is on the roof, but that doesn't help you much, lol.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:31 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:51 pm
by ckf102
Awesome...thanks. Question.........did your antenna come with that stiff plastic piece? Is that available to buy or do i need a new antenna for that?
Appreciate the help!
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:10 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 12:57 pm
by ckf102
Thanks! How does this fair when you run through a car wash?
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:04 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
I always wash my car by hand so I have never had an issue. The wire cover uses 3m body tape and the antenna uses a magnet with a rubber bottom so none of it goes anywhere.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:33 pm
by cooljoe51
This may be rehashing an old thread, but so far I've been trying to find a place to put the antenna on my car without having to deal with it being on the outside. So far the best reception I got is tied to the radiator support behind the grill. I still have a lot of loss, I was thinking about maybe trying to put it on the front bumper right behind the grill maybe raised up so that way it could get some reception. Any other ideas? I'm open to them.
-Kris
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:45 pm
by 00Beast
It needs to be open to the sky...
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:01 pm
by cooljoe51
Hmm...well the thing with it is right now, I actually don't get horrible reception, but it does cut out often. I keep hoping that someone may have come up with a "solution" for this. The cars lines are too beautiful to mess up with an extra antenna.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:08 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
You could drill 2 holes in your roof and do an oem one like I did. I think it shows off the lines if the car.

Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:10 pm
by cooljoe51
Hmm...that's not a bad idea, I'll have to wait till I take the roof line off for that though...but definitely something to think about. Will it work for aftermarket? Mine's a 2000.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:10 pm
by 00Beast
I don't think any of the 3 factory styles of XM antennae hurt the Bonneville one bit, IMHO they break up the roof a little bit, especially on a light color car. The stock location is good, versus some other GM cars (ALA Grand Am) where it's in a stupid place, like dead center on the leading edge of the roof...
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:15 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
If you are really good at soldering it will work with an aftermarket xm radio like mine.
I agree the antenna helps the look of the roof.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:18 pm
by cooljoe51
Lol, I'm not gonna say I'm a guru with soldering, but have successfully not broken stuff before

I may have to go that route, I'm going to still try to mess around with alternatives too.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:22 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
I wonder if you put it under the plastic hood cowl, the piece under the windshield wipes, if it would get reception there.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:35 pm
by cooljoe51
Hmm, I'll try that tomorrow. I don't see it working though because there is no view of the outside from there at all. The way I have it now, I'm getting to the outside from my grills. Which a lot of the time works. I'd probably say >65%, but that's still not good enough.
Re: XM antenna install
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:40 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
I'm just thinking on the drives side there are vents and I think the signal has a better shot of making it through plastic over an aluminum hood. Just a thought