Topic: Sirius Antenna Placement?

[jt04GT]

I recently got a Sirius Starmate Replay and tried the antenna on top of the sound bar and then the sport bar under the soft top but had plenty of drop outs.  Next I tried on the hood and its seem better but still cuts out mostly when driving in certain directions where the windshield is then blocking the antenna's low view of the sky where the satillites are.  In jeep sound is fine, I'm using the audio out direct into the mp3/aux input on a Sony Xplod head unit with a Clarion sub under the back seat.  I live in NJ , 20 miles from NYC where the signal should be strong but with lots of hills, trees, valleys, etc.  Sirius tech support says to try on top of the soft top using velcro?  anyone have ideas or experience with this? different antenna? (I'm using the "mini" model that came with the unit, maybe the larger home one works better?)  So far, the content is great, but if they can't get a stronger signal, its not worth it unless you live in the flatlands or space???  or is it just not suited for a soft top vehicle? Thanks in advance....

[upnorthbacon]

I have XM and I have a magnet antenna.  I mounted it on the very front of the hood.  I ran the wire underneath the hood and it works fine.  Every now and then I'll be at just the right angle and direction it might cut out for a few seconds.  I live in Northern MI and it's pretty hilly with lots of trees.  It seems to work fine for me, although I don't have Sirius I'm assuming they're similar.

[chrisfranklin]

This ain't much help, but...

I have Sirius receiver that I've had for a couple of years in my Jeep.  
Right now, I have the antennae zip-tied to the roll bar between the driver and passenger seat; the magnet on the antennae does the rest of the work holding the thing in place.

Now, I usually just have the Jeep soft top on.  Despite the soft top, the antennae has a pretty good hemisphere of coverage.  I thought I'd test to see if a soft-top would cause any interference problems after reading a golf magazine  thing where this guy was wearing a battery powered GPS rig with an antennae under the his hat cloth.  Admittedly the soft-top on a Jeep is composed of a lot more layers and rubber etc.  But, I gave it a go and it worked/works well -- no drop outs unless under a bridge. :D

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Also, Sirius and XM apparently have ground-based repeaters in a lot of cities, so antennae placement may not be as big a deal if you are in NYC or something.  


Was also inclined to mount there vs. hood for anti-theft reasons.  Did have it mounted on hood for the first year and that worked well also.  

If you are still having problems, you may want to dump the antennae and get another.  I'm on my third antennae in 2 years time. :cry:

[Liljeepz]

Hey I have mine on my roll bar above my head, and I have a hard top on too.... works great! I had it on my rear wheel well on the left side. worked well unless a truck was next to me... never cuts out on my roll bar... well if im in a very wooded area it will cut out...but clear skys I have full signal!

[Mozman68]

According to a new antenna bracket they show in the Quadratec catalog, radio waves transmit through fiberglas and soft top material, so it should be bracketed or zip tied to the top of the middle roll bar.

[TJZep]

i know this is a couple weeks old, but just adding my 2 cents.  I have mine coming up from the dash and around the window frame, and just stuck to my hood on the passenger side.  its tucked in well so it is hardly noticeable(especially in a lifted jeep where the hood is eye level for alot of people)  I have never had reception problems in clear areas.  drops out under thick trees, but it does that in my work truck too, also in all my friends cars so i think im good.