Help with Sirius Antenna Install - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Djinn · 04-02-2008, 03:03 PM

I have bought a Sirius radio and need to install the antenna - has anyone mounted one externally successfully? I think it should go on the rear roof line just in front of the center brake light, but I need some help on the best way to run the wires from outside to inside, hiding everything.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Djinn

E-SMART · 04-02-2008, 03:20 PM

two cars . . . with two separate approaches to antenna install. On my car (a Mazda3 GT - 5-door hatch) the antenna is exactly where you mention yours would be. The 'antenna' is quite small (smaller than most folded clamshell phones) and the dealer ran the wires alongside the cloth headliner rails. On my son's car (a Scion xA) the Sirius antenna is actually much larger (black triangle wedge) that was mounted just behind the inside rear view mirror on the INSIDE glass. In this case the wires were run up the side pillar's ** both seem to work well. On your smart (looks like you have a Passion), I'm not sure if you would have enough clearance or access to the headliner to run the wires back with the plexi/folding screen setup. From the driver's seat of the Scion the antenna doesn't block the driver's view but like I said its a different type of antenna. By now I'm sure a few others have run into this who can chime in ... love that Sirius!

msjohnson1974 · 04-02-2008, 09:17 PM

I have XM but it should be similar and it will all be one company soon enough anyway... there is a Terk antenna that is glass mounted that I considered mounting in the top corner on the passenger side windshield. Instead of spending the money I went with a surface mount antenna but put it on the dash on the passenger side, close to the window. Reception has been great/better than the roof mount in my other car.

If I decide to put it on the roof I'll run it under the carpet along the passenger door to the rear and the up through the interior trim panels. and over to the driver side (behind the plastic roof trim panel at the top rear of the car) where there is a rubber boot covering wires and a hole in the car. The boot contains the wiring for the 3rd brake light, wiper, and defroster. You should be able to rout the antenna wire through that boot/hole (you're gonna have to cut into it - carefully - and seal with silicone). Then you can mount it to the top of the hatchback glass (again, you need the adhesive antenna not the magnetic one).

That was my plan, but it works perfectly on the dash in the city so I probably won't go to the effort especially since I'd be removing several of the interior panels to run the wire.

BTW, I mounted my unit using a flexible steel arm from myradiostore.com that puts it at my fingertips below the lock/unlock buttons.

pjn670 · 04-03-2008, 09:06 AM

I mounted mine on the right front dash. No reception problems (in Chicago), and much less antenna wire to worry about.

I also have a dealer-installed front-of-dash antenna on a Prius, also with no reception problems

race911 · 04-03-2008, 01:16 PM

For a cab I put mine above the windshield right behind.........what IS that little bump up there, anyway? Easy to run the wire around the opening and eventually to the receiver. I can see how coupes present a different challenge.

Napoleon12 · 05-04-2008, 01:28 AM

u can put the ant under the hood and get great reception.

Kermit · 05-04-2008, 07:15 AM

I know it's not external but I mounted mine on top of the center console on between the gauge pods. It doesn't really stand out like a sore thumb and gets great reception plus popping off that center console bezel is a cinch - very easy to do. My Sirius install took about 30 minutes tops. (It's pretty much a gimme that your system has been installed for the better part of a month now)

Karl Roth · 05-04-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by race911

For a cab I put mine above the windshield right behind.........what IS that little bump up there, anyway? Easy to run the wire around the opening and eventually to the receiver. I can see how coupes present a different challenge.

air deflector?........................................ .......................
karl