DIY XM install and antenna location

[cubefx]

A lot of us have aftermarket headunits. I have Pioneer but adding XM tuner should be the same on every other headunit.

Here is my Pioneer FHP 8000BT




I bought refurbished Pioneer GEX-P920XM tuner from Ebay for around $50 shipped.


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It is looks like a big tuner and in most of the cars you would need to put it somewhere under the seat, not in the SMART! In the SMART it easily fits behind the headunit!


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After you connected XM tuner and Headunit with IP BUS cable, you will need to connect GROUND and 12V cable.

Here is good locations:


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Here is location for XM Antenna I found and it is working for me very well.
I installed antenna in the stock tweeter location under the dash on the passenger side. No glue, no magnet, no tape, it is just slides in there like that spot was made for XM antenna.


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DO NOT FORGET TO DISCONNECT NEGATIVE CABLE FROM THE BATTERY BEFORE INSTALLATION!

It took me less then 30 minutes to install.



Now there is the best part! As I already mention the unit I bought is refurbished. So to my surprise after I installed it, tuner was already activated. I believe that unit was activated before and XM did not deactivated this unit after it was returned to the Pioneer. I do not know how long it will last, it might be 1 month, 6 month, one year, or lifetime depending on subscription.


If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Shameless plug: 7 days left to vote.
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...d-dated-13547/

Thank you everyone who already voted!

CUBE

[buellwinkle]

How do you access this tweeter area to put the antenna? Also, wouldn't there be a tweeter there? I have the Audio 10 that's standard on the Cabrio, don't know if there's a tweeter or not.

[cubefx]

Originally Posted by buellwinkle

How do you access this tweeter area to put the antenna? Also, wouldn't there be a tweeter there? I have the Audio 10 that's standard on the Cabrio, don't know if there's a tweeter or not.

If you have premium sound you probably have tweeters already installed. Just look under the dash on the passenger side with a flash light and you should be able to see the location.


CUBE

[escapePod]

Thanks for your great DIY tutorials *AND* photos!! They take a LOT of worry out of doing these upgrades when it's our turn.

Did you secure the XM tuner behind the radio, or is it just "floating" there? If the latter, is there any rattle? If secured, to what?

Thanks again! Your tutorials rock!

[Mud Pie]

I was wondering if the heat sink on the back of the head unit was pressing against the XM tuner, and what problems would that cause ?!

Head unit overheating ? XM Tuner getting cooked ?

Or is the radio bay in a smart deeper than I think ?

[ElementalDragon]

Well.... there is quite a bit of room behind the Smart's headunit. Even if you couldn't fit it DIRECTLY behind the HU, there's still a fairly large amount of room off to the sides. When i got my component speakers installed, i didn't even realise (although i didn't really think about it all that much) that there was a second crossover. for some odd reason i thought it was all in one box. Turns out they had the one behind the head unit and a bit towards the passenger side, which was easily visible.... but also managed to hide the second one towards the driver side. Didn't know it was there til i actually shined a flashlight in where the headunit goes. And (conveniently, as well as following Smart's style) they held both in place with self-applied velcro patches. Might have to redo those myself, though... seeing as they appear to have come un-stuck from the panel in the heat.