XM Antenna Help

[ejm4]

So I had Best Buy do the [COLOR=#0072BC ! important][COLOR=#0072BC ! important]install[/COLOR][/COLOR]
for the XM radio in our class c. They mounted the antenna inside on the bottom center of the dash. Here is PA it worked great. We left last Monday to head to FL and worked great on the trip down.

Sunday we hopped on I-75 North @ Naples and no signal strength... Every once is a while it would pop up then fade back out. We did not start getting any signal while heading North until the the Northern parts of VA. Back in the Harrisburg area all is good to go!

I am not sure if moving the antenna outside near the factory antenna will help. I hate to drill a hole in the roof of the RV to do the mount.

Suggestions...

["007"]

Why not use a extension of cable lead to a temp ANT on roof to see if it makes a difference.
If it does place some good sealant under the ANT mount when installing.

[Route 66]

You are are going to have to get the antenna up high, over the obstructions.

[ejm4]

I was hoping for an easy fix. One issue is here in PA it works fine. I was searching the web and I found that XM uses stationary satellites compared to Sirrius's constantly moving satellites. I am not sure if this is true or not since they are all the same corporation now.

We are headed back to Florida Christmas day, so I am thinking about moving the antenna out in front of the factory antenna and see how that works when heading home.

[The Shadow]

I can't say for sure but I'd be surprised if the Sirius satellites are moving. Do they move slower or faster than the earth's rotation and either way they are eventually going to be out of sight unless they have a lot of them.

We had the same problem. We had XM in our Tahoe so got a portable unit for the Jayco which we also used in DW's Equinox. Now we have an Itasca and traded the GMs for a Flex and Escape.

With the XM it is great heading south - BECAUSE the two satellites are positioned above the equator (or in that direction). So, when coming north the antenna can't see them. For our trips north (and this will happen again in the spring when we head home) I put the antenna on the roof and it worked fine.

In large centers they have repeaters so you don't get as many problem "no signal" messages.

We have Sirius in the Fords and thankfully XM Canada and Sirius Canada just announced their merger. Will probably have to replace the XM portable though as I suspect XM and Sirius will double broadcast for many years to come.

[iceman8]

Sometimes the antenna works fine on the dash of my other vehicles. It did not work for me in the RV. It's never a good idea to cut a hole in the RV roof for an antenna, IMHO.

Instead, i ran my wire out the SIDE wall, Front right side, near the top. That kind of hole can be made and sealed if properly done, with virtually no danger of water leakage. From there, i ran the wire up and over onto the roof. Some imagination and it can be very unobtrusive. Used HD velcro to fasten the XM antenna itself, onto the roof surface. It's held for 4 years.

Just a thought.

And Don, I do hope the merger sorts out the problems. Though I do not care for a lot of the programming changes, and hear rumors of continued $ problems. Let's cross our fingers.

[The Shadow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman8 Sometimes the antenna works fine on the dash of my other vehicles. It did not work for me in the RV. It's never a good idea to cut a hole in the RV roof for an antenna, IMHO. Instead, i ran my wire out the SIDE wall, Front right side, near the top. That kind of hole can be made and sealed if properly done, with virtually no danger of water leakage. From there, i ran the wire up and over onto the roof. Some imagination and it can be very unobtrusive. Used HD velcro to fasten the XM antenna itself, onto the roof surface. It's held for 4 years. Just a thought. And Don, I do hope the merger sorts out the problems. Though I do not care for a lot of the programming changes, and hear rumors of continued $ problems. Let's cross our fingers.

I just ran the antenna wire that came with the portable out the door and straight up to the roof. Worked fine.

Don

[R1Kirby]

I have XM Radio in my Class "C". The antenna is mounted outside on roof on top at the front. I have never had any trouble with reception. Inside under the dash will give you limited reception.

[ejm4]

Quote:

Originally Posted by R1Kirby I have XM Radio in my Class "C". The antenna is mounted outside on roof on top at the front. I have never had any trouble with reception. Inside under the dash will give you limited reception.

Do you mean the roof of the cab or motorhome?

[R1Kirby]

Roof of the Motorhome. When it was installed the antenna was glued down on the forward part of the roof. The wire was runneath the trim to the cab. I would imagine that there are several ways of running the wire to the cab. Mine is a 1998 so I just lifted the plastic trim and ran the wire under it and put the trim back in place with no problem. No holes...No leaks. Took about 20 minutes to do the job.