XM antenna in secret compartment
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From: Westport, MA
XM antenna in secret compartment
I have heard ramblings about the XM antennas gettign signal from inside the secret compartment. I really don't see how this is possible since I thought it was line of sight. But, I am considering moving my antenna there if it does work. Has anyone tried this? Good or bad? I would just go out and try it myself, but I really don't feel like running the wire all the way in there just to see it doesn't work and then have to re-do it the way I have it now. Thanks
Jeff
Jeff
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Raleigh, NC
the antennas can see through plastic which isnt terribly thick. Installing it inside the secrete compartment should work so long as the antenna is pointing up and that the compartment is made from plastic.
Obviously you would get better 'line of sight' if the antenna was on the outside of the car, but hey this is a convertible after all. Top down FTW.
Obviously you would get better 'line of sight' if the antenna was on the outside of the car, but hey this is a convertible after all. Top down FTW.
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From: Westport, MA
UPDATE:
I decided to go outside and try an idea I had to see if it could see through the trunk lid since it is thin sheetmetal.
I first tried sticking it inside one of the holes in the lid bracing, facing upward toward the lid. That didn't work too well, but it still got signal.
Then, I tried taping it to the inside of the outer metal on the trunk lid facing outward. Very bad.
Finaly, I stuck it directly to the inside of the trunk lid using the magnet, so the antenna is facing down. This seems to work great, and I am getting 100% signal 99% of the time. I haven;t taken it for a ride yet to see if it works reliably, but this might work and be totaly invisible.
I will update tomorrow when I test it out on the road. For reference I have the Terk mini antenna.
I decided to go outside and try an idea I had to see if it could see through the trunk lid since it is thin sheetmetal.
I first tried sticking it inside one of the holes in the lid bracing, facing upward toward the lid. That didn't work too well, but it still got signal.
Then, I tried taping it to the inside of the outer metal on the trunk lid facing outward. Very bad.
Finaly, I stuck it directly to the inside of the trunk lid using the magnet, so the antenna is facing down. This seems to work great, and I am getting 100% signal 99% of the time. I haven;t taken it for a ride yet to see if it works reliably, but this might work and be totaly invisible.
I will update tomorrow when I test it out on the road. For reference I have the Terk mini antenna.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
i don't have XM personally - not yet at least. i keep toying w/ the idea tho. (for like 3 years now. 
) 
but, i DO have the USGlobal BT 359 GPS antenna. i set it up in the SC, and it sees through the top of the secret compartment (and clothtop), and i can easily get 9-10 satellites w/o problems.
i'm not sure if they're the same spectrum, but it would seem close enough to the same idea... *shrug*
also, i know at least a couple guys here have done it w/ no issues. (including PAS2kNut iirc)
) but, i DO have the USGlobal BT 359 GPS antenna. i set it up in the SC, and it sees through the top of the secret compartment (and clothtop), and i can easily get 9-10 satellites w/o problems.
i'm not sure if they're the same spectrum, but it would seem close enough to the same idea... *shrug*
also, i know at least a couple guys here have done it w/ no issues. (including PAS2kNut iirc)
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From: New York
Originally Posted by sireousrex,Apr 1 2007, 06:23 PM
UPDATE:
I decided to go outside and try an idea I had to see if it could see through the trunk lid since it is thin sheetmetal.
I first tried sticking it inside one of the holes in the lid bracing, facing upward toward the lid. That didn't work too well, but it still got signal.
Then, I tried taping it to the inside of the outer metal on the trunk lid facing outward. Very bad.
Finaly, I stuck it directly to the inside of the trunk lid using the magnet, so the antenna is facing down. This seems to work great, and I am getting 100% signal 99% of the time. I haven;t taken it for a ride yet to see if it works reliably, but this might work and be totaly invisible.
I will update tomorrow when I test it out on the road. For reference I have the Terk mini antenna.
I decided to go outside and try an idea I had to see if it could see through the trunk lid since it is thin sheetmetal.
I first tried sticking it inside one of the holes in the lid bracing, facing upward toward the lid. That didn't work too well, but it still got signal.
Then, I tried taping it to the inside of the outer metal on the trunk lid facing outward. Very bad.
Finaly, I stuck it directly to the inside of the trunk lid using the magnet, so the antenna is facing down. This seems to work great, and I am getting 100% signal 99% of the time. I haven;t taken it for a ride yet to see if it works reliably, but this might work and be totaly invisible.
I will update tomorrow when I test it out on the road. For reference I have the Terk mini antenna.
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From: Westport, MA
Originally Posted by NFRs2000NYC,Apr 2 2007, 12:42 AM
Jeff...make sure your antenna is on the bracing, and not on the sheetmetal. If you have it on the sheetmetal, the magnet is powerful enough to suck metal particles in the air into your paint. Ask me how I know.
I will move it this morning.
