SIRIUS Satellite Install

[no_rulz25]

Has anyone installed a SIRIUS antennae on their boat? I recently upgraded to new head unit, 6 6.5" JL's w/ a 10" JL sub and now wanting to install an antennae.

[tgrace98]

I had it on my last boat. Worked great. I just mounted the antenna on the bow right in front of the windshield.

[no_rulz25]

I had it on my last boat. Worked great. I just mounted the antenna on the bow right in front of the windshield.

How did you mount it?

[tgrace98]

Just used some 3m double sided tape. Never had any issues with it falling off. And it gets to over 100 degrees here with 60-80% humidity

[no_rulz25]

Just used some 3m double sided tape. Never had any issues with it falling off. And it gets to over 100 degrees here with 60-80% humidity

Thanks for the info! How did you run the cable to it?

[tgrace98]

So I was really uncertain how it was going to work or if I would even use it. So I drilled a very small hole as close to the windshield as I could to run the wire out. then put the xm antenna right over the hole.

[Big Block Power]

That's where I've seen them also. I would try it from under the dash to see if it gets a connection. If not then move it.

[no_rulz25]

So I was really uncertain how it was going to work or if I would even use it. So I drilled a very small hole as close to the windshield as I could to run the wire out. then put the xm antenna right over the hole.

Awesome, that's what i was planning on doing. Drilling a hole then filling it with some silicone to keep the water out.

[AsLan7]

I had it on my last boat. Worked great. I just mounted the antenna on the bow right in front of the windshield.

How did you mount it?

Not sure if this helps but ours comes up from underneath where the vinyl has a slit in it.

The pic below is when I first was looking at our 263 purchase. I have since tucked the wire along that side ridge between the vinyl and fiberglass and then used double sided tape to hold the antenna down.

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[thunder550]

There are two types of antennas. The normal car antennas are designed to be mounted to a metal surface, they are called Ground-Plane dependent. I don't know the details but these ones count on the large metal surface they are mounted to to help with signal strength. I added XM radio to our Tige several years ago and started with a car antenna, and the reception was terrible. Any time a person would walk in front of it the signal would cut out. They do make other antennas that are not ground-plane dependent as well, I changed to a marine version of one of those and never had a problem again.

A7 my first one looked like that, have you had any issues with signal dropping?

[AsLan7]

There are two types of antennas. The normal car antennas are designed to be mounted to a metal surface, they are called Ground-Plane dependent. I don't know the details but these ones count on the large metal surface they are mounted to to help with signal strength. I added XM radio to our Tige several years ago and started with a car antenna, and the reception was terrible. Any time a person would walk in front of it the signal would cut out. They do make other antennas that are not ground-plane dependent as well, I changed to a marine version of one of those and never had a problem again.

A7 my first one looked like that, have you had any issues with signal dropping?

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Honestly, I haven't tried it. We won't use the satellite since all of our music is streamed.
So the one in my pic is the one that drops correct?

[thunder550]

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Honestly, I haven't tried it. We won't use the satellite since all of our music is streamed.
So the one in my pic is the one that drops correct?

I'm guessing yes...my experience was from 8-10 years ago though and I haven't kept up with satellite radio, it's possible the technology may have changed since then.

[AsLan7]

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Honestly, I haven't tried it. We won't use the satellite since all of our music is streamed.
So the one in my pic is the one that drops correct?

I'm guessing yes...my experience was from 8-10 years ago though and I haven't kept up with satellite radio, it's possible the technology may have changed since then.

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Well the one in the pic is old. It's leftover from the original 2005 head unit. I replaced the head unit but not the Sat antenna. Maybe I should have now knowing it doesn't pull in a good signal. For now it's just connected but not used. Thx for the heads up.

[thunder550]

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Well the one in the pic is old. It's leftover from the original 2005 head unit. I replaced the head unit but not the Sat antenna. Maybe I should have now knowing it doesn't pull in a good signal. For now it's just connected but not used. Thx for the heads up.

Try it out first, just because I had problems doesn't necessarily mean you will. If you do have reception issues with it, look for one that doesn't require mounting to a ground plane.

[AsLan7]

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Roger that. Thx brutha.