sirius Installation Help - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

begavet · 06-01-2009, 11:42 AM

Hey guys,

Yesterday I got the sportster 5 from sirius and im currently trying to install the antenna on my 2008 honda accord sedan. yesterday since I didn't know how to route it, I installed the antenna on the passengers side of the dashboard and I must say it works pretty nice, I only got one drop connection and it was when I stopped under a bridge other than that I didn't lose any other time. But lets get back to the point, do you guys recommend for me to install it on top of the roof like the manual says or in the trunk? The reason why I am asking is because in the manual since it tells you to install on the roof it then tells you to route the cable thru the rubber piece in between the window. The situation is that my car doesn't have a rubber piece on the border of the window, so if I do it that way the antenna cable is going to go under a small space under the window till I get it in the trunk and im afraid that something might get messed up there if rains touches it. Do you guys recomment for me to do it that way or for me to just place it on top of the trunk and continue from there? And also is there a difference in the reception that I would get as far as comparing the antenna being installed on the roof compared to the trunk? Or does anybody have tips if they have done it on this car before?

Psycho Dad · 06-01-2009, 02:18 PM

In my Expedition I routed the wire up the A pillar and then tucked it between the windshield and the dash. It worked as well as the factory installation on my RX-8 and IMHO didn't look as bad as the antenna being external. Plus it was far easier than what the manufacturer suggested.

Don't put it in the trunk as the metal will block the signal.

powerclown · 06-01-2009, 04:35 PM

I agree not to put it in the trunk. Makes taking hostages difficult. Their cries for help can sometimes transmit over the radio during satellite acquisition..

But yeah I installed the Sirius unit itself in the trunk, then mounted the antenna on the back shelf with velcro. There was no way my dumb ass was going to mess with the window seals. I was able to squeeze the antenna wire through a gap behind the rear seat from the trunk, as shown in the 2nd pic. My car was similar to yours, might be worth a look. Works fine, safe from weather/theft/damage/whathaveyou.

Psycho Dad · 06-01-2009, 05:12 PM

Hostages should be rendered unable to make sounds by the time they enter the trunk.

powerclown · 06-01-2009, 05:25 PM

Fair point; I hadn't thought of that. I think its time to treat myself to a new Blackjack. Thanks much.

begavet · 06-01-2009, 06:22 PM

thanks for the info guys, by the way powerclown as soon as i got home before i read this thread i went ahead and did the same as you, and installed the actual antenna in the same place and i must say that its owrking very good, just waiting to see how it goes in the drive to work tommorrow.

begavet · 06-03-2009, 06:53 AM

Hey guys working good so far, but I have an additional question. Since I have the radio hooked up to the suction cup base, everytime I get out of the car I pull the radio out of the base and take it with me to not risk the chances of a broken window lol do you guys think that after doing this repeadtly something will get broken or no?

powerclown · 06-03-2009, 07:34 AM

Why would you get a broken window if you take the unit with you?

The_Jazz · 06-03-2009, 07:37 AM

I think he's saying that he's taking the unit to avoid someone breaking in and is wondering if repeatedly pulling the radio out will damage some non-window part of the car or equipment he's installed.

powerclown · 06-03-2009, 07:45 AM

Ok, well Im not sure his exact setup but I thought the removable units helped deter theft, by defintition.

???

The_Jazz · 06-03-2009, 08:17 AM

Yeah, I think he's worried about normal wear-and-tear on removing the unit, not much else. My thought is that if it's designed to be removed, doing so shouldn't cause much concern, at least for several years.

AquaFox · 06-03-2009, 08:53 AM

i wired my antenna to my rear deck lid under the rear window. ran the wire down though one of the openings for the child seat hooks and ran it behind all of the paneling in the car so it will reappear right next to the unit.. i used a large metal washer and put velcro on it. the velcro sticks to the fabric of the decklid and the antenna's magnet sticks to the washer... this way it's removable and no worries of velcro glue on the antenna when i move it to other cars. the awesome thing about putting it on the rear decklid is that it's safe from the weather and i can throw a towel or random anything ontop of the antenna to hide it from view without moving it. I often leave stuff ontop of the antenna just to keep it out of view and it still gets fine signal. I've installed mine over two years ago and haven't had a problem.

i find it easier to cover removable units than it is to remove them... if a thief sees a mounting bracket or antenna, that is a indication that the car has something in it worth stealing.. most people leave their head unit panels, GPS units, and misc crap in the glove compartment when they take it off their dash...

begavet · 06-03-2009, 11:25 AM

Sorry if I didn't say what I meant the appropriate way lol it must have been confusing. But yea basically its what thejazz said, I was worried about having the unit taken out of the base everytime I leave the car. So I was worried about normal tear but then again thejazz has a goodpoint and it should be fine. Thanks guys

Psycho Dad · 06-03-2009, 03:15 PM

The power jack on my plug and play pooped out on mine, possibly from the frequent removal and replacements and the antenna jack on my wife's got a bit flaky eventually.

Nevertheless, if you live somewhere you don't feel warm and fuzzy leaving it visible, I'd opt for replacing a receiver eventually than a window probably.

begavet · 06-03-2009, 03:40 PM

true lol

06-01-2009, 11:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
begavet Upright	sirius Installation Help Hey guys, Yesterday I got the sportster 5 from sirius and im currently trying to install the antenna on my 2008 honda accord sedan. yesterday since I didn't know how to route it, I installed the antenna on the passengers side of the dashboard and I must say it works pretty nice, I only got one drop connection and it was when I stopped under a bridge other than that I didn't lose any other time. But lets get back to the point, do you guys recommend for me to install it on top of the roof like the manual says or in the trunk? The reason why I am asking is because in the manual since it tells you to install on the roof it then tells you to route the cable thru the rubber piece in between the window. The situation is that my car doesn't have a rubber piece on the border of the window, so if I do it that way the antenna cable is going to go under a small space under the window till I get it in the trunk and im afraid that something might get messed up there if rains touches it. Do you guys recomment for me to do it that way or for me to just place it on top of the trunk and continue from there? And also is there a difference in the reception that I would get as far as comparing the antenna being installed on the roof compared to the trunk? Or does anybody have tips if they have done it on this car before?

06-01-2009, 02:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	In my Expedition I routed the wire up the A pillar and then tucked it between the windshield and the dash. It worked as well as the factory installation on my RX-8 and IMHO didn't look as bad as the antenna being external. Plus it was far easier than what the manufacturer suggested. Don't put it in the trunk as the metal will block the signal. __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

06-01-2009, 05:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	Hostages should be rendered unable to make sounds by the time they enter the trunk. __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

06-03-2009, 07:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	I think he's saying that he's taking the unit to avoid someone breaking in and is wondering if repeatedly pulling the radio out will damage some non-window part of the car or equipment he's installed. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

06-03-2009, 08:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Yeah, I think he's worried about normal wear-and-tear on removing the unit, not much else. My thought is that if it's designed to be removed, doing so shouldn't cause much concern, at least for several years. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

06-01-2009, 04:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
powerclown Junkie Location: Detroit, MI	I agree not to put it in the trunk. Makes taking hostages difficult. Their cries for help can sometimes transmit over the radio during satellite acquisition.. But yeah I installed the Sirius unit itself in the trunk, then mounted the antenna on the back shelf with velcro. There was no way my dumb ass was going to mess with the window seals. I was able to squeeze the antenna wire through a gap behind the rear seat from the trunk, as shown in the 2nd pic. My car was similar to yours, might be worth a look. Works fine, safe from weather/theft/damage/whathaveyou.

06-01-2009, 05:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
powerclown Junkie Location: Detroit, MI	Fair point; I hadn't thought of that. I think its time to treat myself to a new Blackjack. Thanks much.

06-01-2009, 06:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
begavet Upright	thanks for the info guys, by the way powerclown as soon as i got home before i read this thread i went ahead and did the same as you, and installed the actual antenna in the same place and i must say that its owrking very good, just waiting to see how it goes in the drive to work tommorrow.

06-03-2009, 06:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
begavet Upright	Hey guys working good so far, but I have an additional question. Since I have the radio hooked up to the suction cup base, everytime I get out of the car I pull the radio out of the base and take it with me to not risk the chances of a broken window lol do you guys think that after doing this repeadtly something will get broken or no?

06-03-2009, 07:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
powerclown Junkie Location: Detroit, MI	Why would you get a broken window if you take the unit with you?

06-03-2009, 07:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
powerclown Junkie Location: Detroit, MI	Ok, well Im not sure his exact setup but I thought the removable units helped deter theft, by defintition. ???

06-03-2009, 08:53 AM	#12 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog	i wired my antenna to my rear deck lid under the rear window. ran the wire down though one of the openings for the child seat hooks and ran it behind all of the paneling in the car so it will reappear right next to the unit.. i used a large metal washer and put velcro on it. the velcro sticks to the fabric of the decklid and the antenna's magnet sticks to the washer... this way it's removable and no worries of velcro glue on the antenna when i move it to other cars. the awesome thing about putting it on the rear decklid is that it's safe from the weather and i can throw a towel or random anything ontop of the antenna to hide it from view without moving it. I often leave stuff ontop of the antenna just to keep it out of view and it still gets fine signal. I've installed mine over two years ago and haven't had a problem. i find it easier to cover removable units than it is to remove them... if a thief sees a mounting bracket or antenna, that is a indication that the car has something in it worth stealing.. most people leave their head unit panels, GPS units, and misc crap in the glove compartment when they take it off their dash... __________________ ...AquaFox...

06-03-2009, 11:25 AM	#13 (permalink)
begavet Upright	Sorry if I didn't say what I meant the appropriate way lol it must have been confusing. But yea basically its what thejazz said, I was worried about having the unit taken out of the base everytime I leave the car. So I was worried about normal tear but then again thejazz has a goodpoint and it should be fine. Thanks guys

06-03-2009, 03:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	The power jack on my plug and play pooped out on mine, possibly from the frequent removal and replacements and the antenna jack on my wife's got a bit flaky eventually. Nevertheless, if you live somewhere you don't feel warm and fuzzy leaving it visible, I'd opt for replacing a receiver eventually than a window probably. __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

06-03-2009, 03:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
begavet Upright	true lol