Satellite Antenna '05 F150

[GalaxyFE]

Greetings All...I am looking at installing a satellite radio head unit in my truck ( I have a PnP right now). I want to know if anyone has ever tried to mount it (the antenna) under the "non-skid" tray on top of the dashboard (the recessed square w/ the rubber mat)? I have my antenna for my PnP just sitting up there and it works great. I know that the antenna works well under plastic, but I haven't looked in the dash to see what is there. How tough is it to remove that panel and is it accessable when the radio bezel is removed? Any opinions? Thanks!

[JerseyGeorge]

How about this option: http://www.audiowarehouse.peachhost.com/ct_PR14110.htm

Plugs into the HU antenae input and then has a wire that plugs into the satellite unit.

[Gordon M.]

I mounted mine under the panel below the wipers removal of the panel is not needed just slide the sat antenna under it on the passenger side the antenna wire can be run through the boot where the power window/locks wires goes

[rebs]

I mounted mine in front of the recessed panel on the dash. Ran the cable underneath the tray. Don't have any problems with receprion.

[HotLap]

Guys - great ideas on mounting locations for the antenna. I'm doing my XM install now and was going to go to all the trouble of mounting it in top of the cab - just in front of the rear cargo light fixture and running the wire through the housing - if it works great in the windshield/cowl area - that would be much easier to run the wire to.

[GalaxyFE]

Hey guys...after hearing a few people say "it doesn't work...", I went ahead and mounted it behind the 3rd brake light. So, my new Kenwood shows up, and I start the install. I notice that under the tray (above the radio), there is nothing to block the reception, AND there is a nice aluminum support in which it could be mounted to (double sided tape). Anyway, with the extra antenna I had, I stuck it in there, and took a test drive for about 45 minutes....it worked JUST FINE!!! Now this is Siruis, and I know the satellite angles are different between XM and Sirius, so I can't vouch for the XM...anyway, makes for a REALLY CLEAN install!

[2005-Ford-KR]

Originally Posted by GalaxyFE

Hey guys...after hearing a few people say "it doesn't work...", I went ahead and mounted it behind the 3rd brake light. So, my new Kenwood shows up, and I start the install. I notice that under the tray (above the radio), there is nothing to block the reception, AND there is a nice aluminum support in which it could be mounted to (double sided tape). Anyway, with the extra antenna I had, I stuck it in there, and took a test drive for about 45 minutes....it worked JUST FINE!!! Now this is Siruis, and I know the satellite angles are different between XM and Sirius, so I can't vouch for the XM...anyway, makes for a REALLY CLEAN install!

Pictures?

[minus_13]

Originally Posted by 2005-Ford-KR

Pictures?

What he said...

[HotLap]

Originally Posted by GalaxyFE

Hey guys...after hearing a few people say "it doesn't work...", I went ahead and mounted it behind the 3rd brake light. So, my new Kenwood shows up, and I start the install. I notice that under the tray (above the radio), there is nothing to block the reception, AND there is a nice aluminum support in which it could be mounted to (double sided tape). Anyway, with the extra antenna I had, I stuck it in there, and took a test drive for about 45 minutes....it worked JUST FINE!!! Now this is Siruis, and I know the satellite angles are different between XM and Sirius, so I can't vouch for the XM...anyway, makes for a REALLY CLEAN install!

Galaxy - nice to know - sure does poke holes in the "line of sight" theory.....let us know if a couple of weeks if you are experiencing any "drop outs" ....

[02SuperCrew4X]

I have my antenna for the PnP unit that I installed recently mounted right outside the window, if you're sitting in the driver's seat, it's in the upper left hand corner...right above the window. I ran the wire down the side of the windshield (under the rubber moulding) and in through the doorjamb. It works great. Next thing I have to work on is getting some way to put the audio directly into the headunit. I hate FM modulation.

[GalaxyFE]

I have some pictures here:

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/...w.cfm?num=9257

I don't have any pictures of the space under the tray, they just didn't turn out. I am currently using the antenna by the brake light until I get some time to perma-mount my extra one under the tray. For the short time I tried it out, it worked very well, with no dropouts. When I pull it back apart, I am going to remove the tray (two screws I believe) and take some pictures so people have an idea what it looks like. It's very simple to get to, remove the radio bezal, remove two screws and it pops right off. I'm not sure about the line of sight thing, I have read how XM and Sirius differs, and the following article explains it...so I'll leave it up to you to figure out which way "works" better. I know that my Sirius has worked fine with the antenna under the tray, and it even works under some awnings, if they are high enough...maybe there is a astrological dude on the board that can "explain" the difference...



Article Excerpt:

Here are two basic ways to cover a given area with satellites. The traditional approach and the one used by most space communications systems is to put up a geostationary satellite over the desired area. Geostationary satellites are put into a circular orbit around the equator about 22,300 miles from earth. In such an orbit, the satellite speed matches the rotation of the earth, so the satellite is always overhead to any observer or station on earth. Sirius' competitor XM Radio uses this system with two satellites providing full U.S. coverage. The equatorial geostationary orbit is unique and currently jammed with satellites side by side only a few degrees apart. As with the frequency spectrum, we're simply running out of space.

Sirius takes the other approach of using elliptical orbits. The company has three elliptical orbits over the U.S. They are geosynchronous, meaning that their rotational period is 24 hours just like a geostationary satellite. The satellite apogee (high point) is 29,200 miles over Canada and the perigee (low point) is 14,900 miles. The orbits function in a way where two satellites are over the U.S. at all times. The satellites are spaced eight hours from one another, and each satellite is over the U.S. for about 16 hours. All three transmit the same data.

The elliptical orbits offer the advantage of a very high angle of coverage. With a conventional geostationary satellite, the line-of-sight path runs at a very low angle of elevation above the equator (about 30°) to the south from the U.S. Because microwave transmissions are direct-line-of-sight, signals from geostationary satellites encounter many more obstacles like trees and buildings. With elliptical orbits, the satellites are more directly overhead (always above 60°) and thereby avoid most earth obstacles. Yet at such distances, the attenuation from satellite to earth is enormous. Typical signal strength in the U.S. is −102 dBi, meaning that a hot receiver is needed.

All communications satellites are space-based repeaters that receive an uplinked signal, which is translated to another frequency and retransmitted back to earth. In the Sirius system, the digitized music and talk is uplinked from studios in New York City and retransmitted back to earth.

Mike Ledford, VP of engineering for Sirius, explains the system. Sirius is assigned 12.5 MHz of spectrum from 2320 to 2332.5 MHz centered on 2.32625 GHz (2326.25 MHz). This spectrum is roughly divided into thirds. One third is assigned to transmitting satellite #1 (TDM1) centered at 2322.3 MHz, one third to the terrestrial repeater network (more on that later) centered on 2326.25 MHz, and one third to transmitting satellite #2 (TDM2) centered on 2330.2 MHz. This gives each satellite roughly 4-MHz bandwidth.


So I like my Sirius!!!

[Red05stx]

I have had my sirus antenna under that dash tray now for about 4 months.
I works ok, but I do get alot of drop outs. Sometimes to the point of turning it off and going back to FM. I am located in mid west Florida, so I am shure location makes a difference. I am planning on moving mine outside to see if I get better results. I dont know about other areas but I would not recommend it for west florida.
I am gonna try the outside cowl by wipers location.

[tampacannon]

[QUOTEI am gonna try the outside cowl by wipers location.[/QUOTE]

Mounted mine there, andit works great. Only drops if im under an gas station overhang or something like that.