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Sirius XM Antenna

March 01, 2018, 01:10:58 pm

Search provided older discussions about antenna options and install so I thought I'd see if any more up to date ideas are out there. I'm currently trying to use the small auto rooftop magnetic antenna routed into driver overhead wedged behind factory insulation. It works but does not receive as strong a signal as it did on car.

I see truck style antennas online designed to clamp to the bars of a truck style mirror but not our FT mirror arms.  I guess a through roof antenna is the answer but I'm sure others here have found the ideal solution.

Thanks

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #1 – March 01, 2018, 01:24:22 pm

I just mounted mine on the outside of the roof front center.  Best place for it.

Keith

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #2 – March 01, 2018, 02:29:25 pm

Keith, what type of antenna and how'd you route the cable?

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #3 – March 01, 2018, 02:51:57 pm

We just have a little round black dash antenna that came with our receiver.  It lays (lies?) in the corner of the dash.  It has always worked fine for us everywhere we have traveled.  Can't see the need for anything more complicated.

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #4 – March 01, 2018, 03:20:09 pm

Fiberglass does not seem to degrade the sat. signal for xm. I just velcoed my antenna [rectangle one] to the inside on the horizontal of front cap between steel supports. One less branch magnet on the roof.

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #5 – March 01, 2018, 03:53:22 pm

I placed the small auto rooftop magnetic XM antenna that came with the unit on the roof of the coach. I  loosened the CB antenna, pulled it way from roof, cut a small notch in the cork washer, ran the XM antenna wire thru the notch and down same hole and into drivers compartment  as CB antenna wire. I then ran wire into compartment housing left side drivers window drape, and brought the wire down the inside of wood drapery valance/ surround. From there, drill small hole and went into dash compartment. I caulked the base of the CB antenna carefully before and after re-attachment. Radio gets great signal

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #6 – March 02, 2018, 03:44:10 pm

Andy,

Just used the one that came with the unit.  Routed it through the area behind the front cabinets,

Keith

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #7 – March 02, 2018, 08:20:53 pm

We installed a XM 10" tall white marine no-ground plane antenna on the roof.

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #8 – March 03, 2018, 07:43:42 am

I tried using the antenna that came with the radio and put it up in the front behind the cabinets but found that reception was spotty depending on what direction I was pointed.

I bought one of the small trucker antennas (made to attach to a side mirror) and attached it to the air horn on the roof.  Wire went up through the cabinet and out a small hole I drilled.

Works great,

Rich

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Re: Sirius XM Antenna

Reply #9 – August 17, 2019, 04:03:42 pm

I tried placing the antenna on the dash and in the cabinets above the driver's seat.  The reception was spotty and unacceptable to me. 

I followed cdm's suggestion of unscrewing the CB antenna base and running the Sirius XM antenna cable through that opening.  I had to pull out the old cauk from the hole through the roof before I could run the Sirius XM antenna cable.  Then I re-cauled the hole and the CB antenna base.  I place the Sirius XM antenna in the center of the coach on some 3M double side tape (didn't go so far as VHB) and sealed that with the same silicone caulk I used on the CB antenna.  The antenna cable was taped from the center to the CB antenna opening.

The after market radio in the coach is not Sirius XM ready, so I bought a portable unit that plugs into the aux-in.  The bonus is that I bought a second antenna and car unit for the toad.  Just transfer the receiver from coach to toad and back.  Keeps the DW happy!

All is working great so far.

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