Serius Install
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
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From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
Serius Radio Install with Pics
Just got my serius satellite radio installed and it looks and sounds great. Removed the ashtray and cigarette lighter and installed the serius cover plate. Door can still be closed to hide radio. Hardwired the sirius stereo to an accessory lead and plugged in the antenna adapter to get better reception and sound. Routed the antenna wire to the taillight where I placed the antenna. Sounds good but in the next few days, I'll be adding a sub and an amp which should make it sound even better.
with door closed
with door open and radio off
with door open and radio on
with door closed
with door open and radio off
with door open and radio on
Last edited by BigButtLover; Jun 7, 2006 at 08:12 PM. Reason: Add to title
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
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From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by Michael in S.C.
Lookin' good. I've got the Starmate and can't figure out where I want to put the unit. Could you post a pic. of the antenna set-up?
Michael
Michael
a small hole in the fiberglass between the taillight and the rear trunk area. I ran the antenna wire through this hole under the carpet, across the rear wheel well, under the passeger seat and up to the rear of the radio. Very simple.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
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From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
I really like this location, since the cigarette lighter and ashtray
are useless to me except for being a change holder and I have
one of those already. Very easy to use and ergonomic. Didn't
want to use any large suction cups on windshield or brackets
off my dash. Thought about putting it in armrest holder, but
ashtray won out.
are useless to me except for being a change holder and I have
one of those already. Very easy to use and ergonomic. Didn't
want to use any large suction cups on windshield or brackets
off my dash. Thought about putting it in armrest holder, but
ashtray won out.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 397
Likes: 3
Really similar to my install. I ended up putting the antenna in the cargo area on top of the driver's side rear tire well. I need to put it under the carpet but it works ok there for now. Everything I have read indicates the antenna essentially uses the metal structure underneath to amplify the signal. The location I have chosen has no metal underneath so the signal is OK but not great. I was considering putting foil underneath the antenna when I get it under the carpet to help amplify the signal.
I would love to see pics of how you wired the FM transmitter that cuts out the car antenna. I understand you tap into the antenna somewhere behind the driver's seat, but I have not seen any pics of the install. At the moment I am using the wireless FM transmitter built into the Starmate which works well.
I would love to see pics of how you wired the FM transmitter that cuts out the car antenna. I understand you tap into the antenna somewhere behind the driver's seat, but I have not seen any pics of the install. At the moment I am using the wireless FM transmitter built into the Starmate which works well.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 250
From: Orlando FL
I have the same setup and mounted it nearly identical to BigButtLover. I also used the antenna interface to eliminate the RF transmission. I also had to buy 2 adapters (they step the coax size up and down) since the factory radio uses the small coax where the interface unit uses the larger diameter coax. I hope this makes sense. The antenna coax plugs into an adapter cable, then into the interface. Another adapter connects the interface to the antenna plug on the back of the radio. I coiled the cable and interface and let it drop down behind the a/c controller. Works great. Signal is great, fades under some overpasses and in parking garages but that is to be expected. I purchased the interface and the adapters at Circuit City for around $50.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
Likes: 612
From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by ytwokc5
Really similar to my install. I ended up putting the antenna in the cargo area on top of the driver's side rear tire well. I need to put it under the carpet but it works ok there for now. Everything I have read indicates the antenna essentially uses the metal structure underneath to amplify the signal. The location I have chosen has no metal underneath so the signal is OK but not great. I was considering putting foil underneath the antenna when I get it under the carpet to help amplify the signal.
I would love to see pics of how you wired the FM transmitter that cuts out the car antenna. I understand you tap into the antenna somewhere behind the driver's seat, but I have not seen any pics of the install. At the moment I am using the wireless FM transmitter built into the Starmate which works well.
I would love to see pics of how you wired the FM transmitter that cuts out the car antenna. I understand you tap into the antenna somewhere behind the driver's seat, but I have not seen any pics of the install. At the moment I am using the wireless FM transmitter built into the Starmate which works well.
Behind your radio you will find a thick black wire. This is the lead from your car radio antenna. Pull it out of the back of the radio. Plug the lead from your car antenna into the adapter and then into the interface. Plug the lead from the interface into the second adapter then into into the back of your car radio. Plug the other small wire from the interface into your starmate FM signal plug. Very hard to get wrong.
Enjoy.
Last edited by BigButtLover; Jun 7, 2006 at 10:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
Likes: 612
From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by ytwokc5
Really similar to my install. I ended up putting the antenna in the cargo area on top of the driver's side rear tire well. I need to put it under the carpet but it works ok there for now. Everything I have read indicates the antenna essentially uses the metal structure underneath to amplify the signal. The location I have chosen has no metal underneath so the signal is OK but not great. I was considering putting foil underneath the antenna when I get it under the carpet to help amplify the signal.
I would love to see pics of how you wired the FM transmitter that cuts out the car antenna. I understand you tap into the antenna somewhere behind the driver's seat, but I have not seen any pics of the install. At the moment I am using the wireless FM transmitter built into the Starmate which works well.
I would love to see pics of how you wired the FM transmitter that cuts out the car antenna. I understand you tap into the antenna somewhere behind the driver's seat, but I have not seen any pics of the install. At the moment I am using the wireless FM transmitter built into the Starmate which works well.
if you did I think your sound quality would go up.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 397
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by BigButtLover
ytwokc5 it's very easy. You have to buy the interface. Bought it at radio shack along with 2 antenna adapters(if you have factory radio) because the vette factory radio has the mini antenna plug. This steps the antenna plugs up to "normal" size.
Behind your radio you will find a thick black wire. This is the lead from your car radio antenna. Pull it out of the back of the radio. Plug the lead from your car antenna into the adapter and then into the interface. Plug the lead from the interface into the second adapter then into into the back of your car radio. Plug the other small wire from the interface into your starmate FM signal plug. Very hard to get wrong.
Enjoy.
Behind your radio you will find a thick black wire. This is the lead from your car radio antenna. Pull it out of the back of the radio. Plug the lead from your car antenna into the adapter and then into the interface. Plug the lead from the interface into the second adapter then into into the back of your car radio. Plug the other small wire from the interface into your starmate FM signal plug. Very hard to get wrong.
Enjoy.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
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From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by ytwokc5
Thanks, it sounds like your install requires me to pull the stock radio out of the dash to access the back of the radio. I thought I saw another post on here where someone mentioned that is a PITA and there was another spot to tap into the antenna.... somewhere behind the driver's seat? If anyone has that info I would appreciate it... sorry to hijack the thread. :o
Last edited by BigButtLover; Jun 8, 2006 at 01:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by FogelDM
Great info. You detailed the antenna hook up, can you give details on the power hookup as well. Thanks in advance.
with the interface kit that I bought. On the passenger side floorboard,
remove the floormat and you will see an access door. Remove this door
and near the top of the opening you should see two wires hanging loose. If you don't see them look really close, because there are many wires in this area. I think one is black and one is black with a white stripe. I think the black one is the ground and the one with the white stripe is an accessory wire that gives you power when the car key is in the accessory position or when the engine is running(like your radio).
If you're not sure, use a volt meter to check the wires before you hook the tuner to them, when you're sure which is positive, you can tap into these wires for your hookup. Very easy.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
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From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by FogelDM
Do you any photos of the leads? I can't see the wires you mentioned. There are tons......Sorry,I'm a rookie.....:
stuff. Here is a pic that might help. You can see where I
crimped the wires together with the light blue thing-a-ma-jigs.
One wire is black(ground) and the other is black with white stripe(positive).
They are right underneath the hvac and above the stainless box.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,294
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From: I love the Big Butt Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by FogelDM
You ROCK! Thanks. Wish me luck....
prevent them from making contact.
Last edited by BigButtLover; Jun 8, 2006 at 08:09 PM.
bub