Hidden GPS and Satellite antennae for Passion?

[Stocker]

I moved my XM antenna to the roof of the car early last week. I didn't get around to taking pictures until today. There were still some signal dropouts with the antenna on the dash on the passenger side.

The antenna wire was run along the bottom of the sun shade's track. I tried placing it above the track, but the sun screen has trouble retracting with the cable there. The antenna cable is run along the top of the roof above the sun visor, then down the side of the front windshield. Then behind the dash, through the glove compartment to the XM Xpress RC.



The silver you see in the picture is a reflective sunshade placed between the sunscreen and the roof.



I used some black electrical tape to attach the antenna cable to the inside of the car. Yeah, you can see the tape, but I don't really care if it shows. Nobody really looks up there.

[sheureka]

Originally Posted by smartgpspro

So I pulled off the rear wing/third brake light panel and ran the antenna inside that housing and it works 100%. So its hidden and only needs to see through the light plastic panel above it. Check evilutions site for instructions to remove that back panel and just fish the wire through the factory grommet used to run the wiper and brake light wires. Also used velcro to mount. If the antenna is Sirius, it may work in the same location, but havent had any customers to try with.

My antenna is just thrown up on the dash, but I'm having some dropouts so I'd like to move it under the front panel. But I've looked all over evilution's site and put in all the search terms I can think of and I can't figure out where you found those instructions. Any more clues? TIA - sheureka

[Evilution]

Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia

[MichaelJ]

Originally Posted by dbarrans

A couple audio installers told me they need to be outside

They're thinking "metal roof". Where you want to put it is probably the best location.

[Evilution]

Stocker - why would you bodge an instalation like that?
It was probably harder to do it that way than to remove the interior side roof trim panels and run the wire properly.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Evilution

Stocker - why would you bodge an instalation like that?
It was probably harder to do it that way than to remove the interior side roof trim panels and run the wire properly.

Hi Evilution,

Thanks for the feedback on my installation. I finally had some time to stop by your website and see all the great information you have there.

I only had my Passion Coupe a week when my XM receiver was moved from my Acura, hated listening to FM. The antenna was tried in two different locations before deciding to mount it inside on the roof.

Removing the interior roof panels to install the antenna wire wasn't a task I felt comfortable doing myself. This afternoon I tried removing the roof side panel and the A-pillar panel. The antenna cable is now hidden. The panels re-seated, only "lost" one of the plastic clips.

[Napoleon12]

i put the gps and sat antennas under the plastic above the radio. works great.

[ck_az]

Originally Posted by Napoleon12

i put the gps and sat antennas under the plastic above the radio. works great.

Here's a picture of mine. I don't have XM/Sirius yet. This mod took a whole 20 minutes to complete. Thanks for the idea folks... I have it held in place with a little bit of velcro.



Now you see it, now you don't.....


Good reception even in my garage with quick satellite acquisition. The extra cable is tucked up in the dash with a fast-tie. I need to come up with a way to hide the cable when the GPS is not in the car.

[dbarrans]

Originally Posted by Napoleon12

i put the gps and sat antennas under the plastic above the radio. works great.

There are (at least) 24 GPS satellites, and based on my experience using a portable receiver in a plane, I'm not worried much about GPS antenna placement.

However, Sirius has only three satellites, with up to two satellites over North America at any given moment, so I'd expect antenna placement to be more critical there.

- dan

[ck_az]

Originally Posted by dbarrans

There are (at least) 24 GPS satellites, and based on my experience using a portable receiver in a plane, I'm not worried much about GPS antenna placement.

However, Sirius has only three satellites, with up to two satellites over North America at any given moment, so I'd expect antenna placement to be more critical there.

- dan

The more you have the more accurate and responsive the GPS is though. While mine worked without the external antenna at times it was very slow in finding itself and at times would miss turns. So if you can afford the $15-20 for an antenna and a bit of your time you will improve things overall. If you do the window mount for your GPS you would be less susceptible to this.