Satellite Radio antenna locations?

I also have an XM and have found that the small little magnetic antenna that come with the unit is not very effective. What does work is the larger antenna that is intended for home use. All you have to do is set it in the cubby above your head. That satellite signal goes through he fiberglass with no problem.

I do still have problems with reception when I am running in the northeast with the tall trees along the road.

If you don't mind spending $50-$60 you can get a heavy duty mirror mount antennas at almost any truck stop. I've been told by other drivers that it works very well.

 

The unit that mounts on the mirror works a little bit better, but isn;t perfect. if you want to try this, and it's not going to cause problems at work, you can take a small square of metal and attach it to the center of the condo where the view is clear. You can attach it with some small screws if the truck is yours, or if not, a good grade of silicone adhesive will work. Then you can attach the antenna to the open area on top of the truck.

By the way, my experience is that the small antennas are good for about 2 years hanging on the outside of the truck and then they need replacement. I you start getting the "antenna" note on your screen, it could be an antenna reaching old age. I have to buy a replacement this weekend, since my XM antenna is getting long in the tooth.

 

Well I have sirius but the antennae is probably the same. I am too cheap to spend the 60 bucks for 1 of the truck mirror mount antennaes so what I did is buy some velcro at Walmart. I stuck 1 side of the velcro to the fiberglass roof of my truck then stuck the other sticky part to the antennae itself. Then stuck the 2 together. I ran the cord in through my passenger side doorway and plugged it into my receiver. I have had tremendous reception ever since. It only cost about 3 bucks for the velcro too.

 

I have both Sirius and XM installed in The Babe and the Sirius antenna and cord that I had before I had a built in setup installed was much heavier that the XM's hookup. For my money the heavy duty mirror mount for the XM(that looks like a big 'ol long stemmed mushroom) is the only way to go. My advice would be to buy it from XM directly and not from a truckstop because for a nominal cost you can buy a permanent replacement warranty.
rx

 

I duct-tape a Copenhagen snuff can lid on top of my cab; magnet antenna sticks great to it. In fact, the duct tape falls off long before the magnet.

 

i got the $50 mushroom looking on on my passenger mirror. only time i loose signal is under a bridge/fuel island/toll booth/tunnel/anything blocking the antenna from the sattalite. beyond that i got no problems.

by the way it wont stick to your truck cuz the hull/body/whatever is alluminum. one of the few metals that aint magnetic.

 

yep, or fiberglass. i want one of the good 50$ antennas because i HATE losing reception at all the wrong times LOL (always happens during the show i am listening to instead of the dang commercials!!)

 

I just throw the little mag. antenna into the big cubby right over the front seats (FL columbia), and as long as it's facing up, I really don't have many problems with it.