Satelitte Radio-Does it work on Vette?
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Buckner Missouri
Satelitte Radio-Does it work on Vette?
I was reading the instructions for installing the antenna on an XM Radio. It said to install antenna on a metal roof or metal trunk lid. Well that leaves an obvious problem.
Is anyone having luck with the satellite radios on the Corvette? Or should I just return it before going to any trouble with the install?
No big deal if I have to do without. I don't often even turn the radio on. BUT it would be nice once in awhile to play "oldies".
EDIT: I may have found the answer to my question. I just found info saying that the antenna is "magnetic mount" so it seems that it is not trying to use the metal roof as part of the antenna system. Just as something to latch onto. If so then all I need to do is find a chunk of metal to mount to. Instructions say to keep a few inches away from the rear windshield. And a whole bunch of other "don't do" things.
Is anyone having luck with the satellite radios on the Corvette? Or should I just return it before going to any trouble with the install?
No big deal if I have to do without. I don't often even turn the radio on. BUT it would be nice once in awhile to play "oldies".
EDIT: I may have found the answer to my question. I just found info saying that the antenna is "magnetic mount" so it seems that it is not trying to use the metal roof as part of the antenna system. Just as something to latch onto. If so then all I need to do is find a chunk of metal to mount to. Instructions say to keep a few inches away from the rear windshield. And a whole bunch of other "don't do" things.
Last edited by Blue 74; Dec 4, 2005 at 09:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Buckner Missouri
page62, good thought, I didn't even think about the roll bar.
Sure I can hear the radio in the car (Huh? What? Speak up). Better if it isn't running. Gets kinda confusing sorting out the squeeks from the tunes though. I'm good for about 5 minutes of it before I gotta turn it off.
I think it will work best sitting at Sonic looking/sounding cool.
Sure I can hear the radio in the car (Huh? What? Speak up). Better if it isn't running. Gets kinda confusing sorting out the squeeks from the tunes though. I'm good for about 5 minutes of it before I gotta turn it off.
I think it will work best sitting at Sonic looking/sounding cool.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
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From: Pearl MS
I have one in my truck - I love it. Plan on putting one in the vette once I address a few other things. I would not put the antenna under the body due to reception. A buddy of mine put his on the inside windshield of his truck (mounted to the dash) and the reception is worse than on the outside of his truck. The magnet is pretty strong - it should work anywhere there is metal underneath the 'glass.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Tampa Bay Florida
Originally Posted by skydaddy
I have one in my truck - I love it. Plan on putting one in the vette once I address a few other things. I would not put the antenna under the body due to reception. A buddy of mine put his on the inside windshield of his truck (mounted to the dash) and the reception is worse than on the outside of his truck. The magnet is pretty strong - it should work anywhere there is metal underneath the 'glass.
I first placed mine on the dash of my truck too, reception was terrible. I didn't think the windshield would cause that much interference.
Moved it to the roof and haven't had a problem since.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
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From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by cannonfl
I first placed mine on the dash of my truck too, reception was terrible. I didn't think the windshield would cause that much interference.
Moved it to the roof and haven't had a problem since.
Ain't the windshield causing the interference there, it's the angle of the windshield to the roofline that cuts of the antenna's "view" of the satellite. On my Saab 9-3 I have it mounted under the rear deck lid and only rarely get drop-outs. In the Vette I pretty much am just laying it in the middle of the back just behind the battery/glove box compartments and it works like a charm. Don't mount it much farther back than that or you wind up getting cut off by something, maybe the gas tank.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Galloway Twp. NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by skydaddy
I would not put the antenna under the body due to reception. A buddy of mine put his on the inside windshield of his truck (mounted to the dash) and the reception is worse than on the outside of his truck. The magnet is pretty strong - it should work anywhere there is metal underneath the 'glass.
you should be fine mounting the antenna under the body, just make sure that there is no metal next to the antenna. the antenna can "see" through plastic (the antenna is inside a plastic case), it doesn't have to be mounted on a metal surface. I have mine mounted under the rear fascia on top of the right outside tailight opening of my '98 pace car, it's mounted with double sided tape, reception is just as good as any roof mounted antenna.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Tampa Bay Florida
Originally Posted by TheKomoman
Ain't the windshield causing the interference there, it's the angle of the windshield to the roofline that cuts of the antenna's "view" of the satellite.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Rochester MN
A nice radio? Isn't that for rice! - just kidding. I just bought a great looking original AC Delco for my 79 so I can pul out an ugly aftermarket Sony that the previous owner had installed. I think I've turned it on twice? The first time was to see if it worked so I could try to negotiate a lower selling price and the other time was probably by accident!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Edgewater (20 miles south of Daytona) Florida
Originally Posted by rihwoods
You guys can hear a radio in your vette ? 
Not me! And I have a big AMP and 10" bass speaker for my CD's! But ya know, I prefere the whine of the blower anyway!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Santee CA
Originally Posted by TheKomoman
Ain't the windshield causing the interference there, it's the angle of the windshield to the roofline that cuts of the antenna's "view" of the satellite. On my Saab 9-3 I have it mounted under the rear deck lid and only rarely get drop-outs. In the Vette I pretty much am just laying it in the middle of the back just behind the battery/glove box compartments and it works like a charm. Don't mount it much farther back than that or you wind up getting cut off by something, maybe the gas tank.
The first antenna I'd had on my car got ripped off by an ex girlfriend one night when it was on top of the car (I carelessly forgot to pull it inside of the car when I parked it).
So, I decided to put the replacement inside the car to prevent further vandalism.
I'd tried it right next to the A pillar, and got strong signal, with some slight signal loss when I went under one particular overpass on my way to work every morning. So, I moved it to the back window, center, of my Saturn (which also has problems with metal for magnets). Now I don't have any signal loss.
Did the same thing for my dad's XM radio in his Jaguar XJ6, and got great signal that way as well.
Oh, and I mounted mine with velcro, since the back of my car is carpeted. I didn't feel like having double sided tape ripping the carpet out completely.
Last edited by Sprzout; Dec 7, 2005 at 03:46 AM.
