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accobra66
09-01-2014, 11:35 AM
Looking for some help here with the ideal mounting location for my satellite radio antennta.

I have a collapsible AM/FM antenna mounted behind my passenger seat that I have my satellite radio antenna attached to. Issue is poor reception most of the time. Ideally mounting the small square antenna to the windshield frame would work well I think but there is no where to hide the wire. I have also mounted it in the past during trial and error to the top of the roll bar but really do not like the way it looks. At the very least this would require hiding the wire within the roll bar but drilling a hole into it and fishing the wire through from underneath.

What have others done in regard to mounting this antenna? I have heard from some it does not have to be within line of site of the sky and can be mounted in the trunk or engine compartment? I find that hard to believe but what do I know?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

I am not looking to start a debate here on whether or not you can hear the radio. I have a small sub behind my rear seat. (2) 5 1/4" speakers on the rear wall, (2) 5 1/4" speakers under the dash and (4) tweeters. It can be heard just fine. Just had to go with more than your average sound system to make it work.

Jester
09-01-2014, 11:48 AM
I have the Sat antenna running up inside the center of the dash (behind the stereo), up to the top of the dash area (underneath the body) then passes through to the top side of the PS foot-box (placed the receiving end of the antenna here). Signal is fine through the fiberglass body but the signal will not pass through any steel obstruction.

jlfernan
09-01-2014, 02:25 PM
That small antenna needs to have a metal ground plane. Meaning it needs to be mounted on metal for it to work properly. If you mount it on fiberglass it won't work. Like Jester said, mount it to the foot boxes and the signal should pass through the fiberglass.

accobra66
09-01-2014, 04:19 PM
Excellent guys, thanks very much. Will give it a try.

Jester
01-19-2015, 11:56 AM
Tim,

I tried to post the image to your message but could not upload the photo (sorry for the delay - I don't log on too often).

I have inserted a photo with the location of my antenna's (FM power boost and XM).37860

Good luck

accobra66
01-19-2015, 12:46 PM
Thanks for posting, really helped me out.