I know some of you guys already have satelite hooked up in your Q's,,,I'm trying to get some opinions on the best places for the install. I have the Sirius system and I'm kinda leaning toward keeping it under the armrest instead of mounted on the window. I have the sportster unit and it will be making the rounds from both cars to the house. Basically trying to find the best places to route the wires to keep them out of site and the best place for the antenna and it's wire. Any thoughts or tips?????ps---I REALLY hate taking apart interior pieces cause i can never seem to get them back how they originally were!!!! it's why my sunvisors are still in my closet!! LOL
Modified by nuQ at 5:02 PM 1/3/2006
Modified by nuQ at 5:03 PM 1/3/2006
Satelite mounting options?
Re: Satellite mounting options? (nuQ)
I found this window mounted antenna....
http://www.grubbsperformance.c...Audio
I like how it is internal and out of the way.
http://www.grubbsperformance.c...Audio
I like how it is internal and out of the way.
Re: Satellite mounting options? (nuQ)
Look for a thread by Jesda (or ask him). He had a nice set up in his Q. He may not be in here very often since he no longer has a Q, but is on NICO often.
I'll link him if I see him on line.
I'll link him if I see him on line.
Re: Satellite mounting options? (nuQ)
Run the antenna under the center console, down the front of the driver's seat, under the rocker panels to the back seat, then place it on the rear deck (if you have local repeaters), over the driver side rear door, or remove the back seat to put it on the trunk lid. Reception seems to be best over the driver or passenger side door, though it does look oddly asymmetrical.
The Sportster is like the Delphi Skyfi with the problem of having a cradle. Its best to set your presets, memorize the buttons, and place it down under the arm rest. This makes it, unfortunately, impossible to scan through categories at 75mph to see whats playing, especially when you get bored on a long road trip. If you want slightly better access, you could mount it right at the bottom of the shift console or if you can fit it in there, right behind it on top of or in front of the ash tray:
I switched from the Skyfi to the XM Roady when I had my Q and was able to use 3M tape to mount it right on top of the ashtray, perfectly covering the top and bottom surrounding areas of it:
Here's installation examples:
The Sportster is like the Delphi Skyfi with the problem of having a cradle. Its best to set your presets, memorize the buttons, and place it down under the arm rest. This makes it, unfortunately, impossible to scan through categories at 75mph to see whats playing, especially when you get bored on a long road trip. If you want slightly better access, you could mount it right at the bottom of the shift console or if you can fit it in there, right behind it on top of or in front of the ash tray:
I switched from the Skyfi to the XM Roady when I had my Q and was able to use 3M tape to mount it right on top of the ashtray, perfectly covering the top and bottom surrounding areas of it:
Here's installation examples:
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franknitty69
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2005 7:11 am
- Car: 1995 Infiniti Q45a
- Contact:
I installed my xm satellite antenna and gps antenna on the roof. gps is installed on the drivers side and xm is installed in the middle.
both ants are run under the dash, along the inside door frame (next to the hinges), underneath the corner of the hood and up the winshield.
both wires are tiny enough to be routed underneath the tiny rubber weather stripping that runs along the chrome part of the windshield.
i will post pics as soon as a get back to the crib.
both ants are run under the dash, along the inside door frame (next to the hinges), underneath the corner of the hood and up the winshield.
both wires are tiny enough to be routed underneath the tiny rubber weather stripping that runs along the chrome part of the windshield.
i will post pics as soon as a get back to the crib.
Re: Satellite mounting options? (nuQ)
I got the Xact Replay bundled with home and car kit as an early Christmas gift. The wife picked it up at Costco for about $110. I wanted to use it in the house and car but not crap up the car.
After driving around for a few days with the antenna sitting on the passenger seat, I went to Best Buy and had them install the antenna for about $35.
It was installed on the roof just above the windshield. It's a small black magnetic antenna that you barely notice. Plus, if I need to remove it there will be no holes or blemishes.
Then I drove around for a few days with the unit attached to the car mount just sitting in the ash tray. using the cig lighter for power.
I was happy enough with that set up except the sound was really terrible. The built in FM modulator worked great in the house, but in the car it was terrible.
Then I took the car to an Al & Ed's where they installed a FM modulator as well as hard wiring the power and using velcro to affix the car mount to the ash tray. They drilled a small hole in the back of the ash tray to feed wires. Nice and clean for about $100 including modulator. A little on the high side in my opinion, but they did a clean job and I am not handy at all.
The ash tray insert is now in the glove box ready when and if I need it again.
When I pull the unit out, I undo three wires and go. Mostly I just toss a baseball cap over it during the day- out of sight. If I want the car to look clean without the radio, I un-fasten the velcro on the base unit, stuff the wires into the ash tray compartment, close up the ash tray, put the base unit in the glove box and viola...nice and clean.
Presently, the quality of the sound is better then it was but now its a fuzzy sort of thing. The shop said to come back for some adjustments to clear up the fuzzy sound at no additional charge. I have a cd changer in the trunk and the bose head unit only has that one connection available to patch thus the need for a FM modulator.
If their tweek of the modulator doesn't work, then I will choose between the cd changer and the sat radio.
After driving around for a few days with the antenna sitting on the passenger seat, I went to Best Buy and had them install the antenna for about $35.
It was installed on the roof just above the windshield. It's a small black magnetic antenna that you barely notice. Plus, if I need to remove it there will be no holes or blemishes.
Then I drove around for a few days with the unit attached to the car mount just sitting in the ash tray. using the cig lighter for power.
I was happy enough with that set up except the sound was really terrible. The built in FM modulator worked great in the house, but in the car it was terrible.
Then I took the car to an Al & Ed's where they installed a FM modulator as well as hard wiring the power and using velcro to affix the car mount to the ash tray. They drilled a small hole in the back of the ash tray to feed wires. Nice and clean for about $100 including modulator. A little on the high side in my opinion, but they did a clean job and I am not handy at all.
The ash tray insert is now in the glove box ready when and if I need it again.
When I pull the unit out, I undo three wires and go. Mostly I just toss a baseball cap over it during the day- out of sight. If I want the car to look clean without the radio, I un-fasten the velcro on the base unit, stuff the wires into the ash tray compartment, close up the ash tray, put the base unit in the glove box and viola...nice and clean.
Presently, the quality of the sound is better then it was but now its a fuzzy sort of thing. The shop said to come back for some adjustments to clear up the fuzzy sound at no additional charge. I have a cd changer in the trunk and the bose head unit only has that one connection available to patch thus the need for a FM modulator.
If their tweek of the modulator doesn't work, then I will choose between the cd changer and the sat radio.