Crutchfield is having a great deal on the Pioneer XM units, so I ordered the GEX-P900XM tuner and the low profile Antenna Specialists XM20 antenna - that's the one that is only about a 1/2 inch tall and shaped like a tear drop. I will be hooking it up to the Pioneer 6500 unit I bought a month ago.

Here's a pic of the antenna.. I plan on painting the antenna to match the truck and such (it is paintable with non-metallic paint).




Now, I might be sending the XM tuner back to C-field in a few weeks, I keep waiting for the newer 910 unit to come out which has a 16 character display WITH scrolling as opposed to the 900's which only has an 8 character, non-scrolling display. We'll see.
For you guys that have run the antenna up to the 3rd brake light, how did you get the wires in through the hole with the brake light wires and get it sealed. I have a pretty good idea since I have already replaced the ceter tail with a L center, but I am curious as to the seal and such...

Later and Thanks for the replies!
Chris (ReelWork)

Yes RP, it is about time!!!! LOL I still plan on getting the 910 when it comes out, but a 3k+ mile trip in a couple weeks gave me the stick in the butt to get it now...

 

SWEEEEET! Bout time you got the ball rolling! I really like that antenna... wish it had been available when I bought mine.

RP

 

I just removed the brake light and then pulled the plug where the wire goes into the cab from the outside. Push your ant wire throught the hole into the cab and then I reinstalled the plug and used a little silicone to make sure it didnt leak.

 

On the install, did you cut a slit into the sleeve that seals the cab or just push the plug in with the wires kinda kinked, then sealed with silicone?

RP, Next thing you know, you will be putting FX4 stickers on the side of your truck and putting a ranch hand front bumper on! LOL


Buuwaaaahahahahaa - Paybacks! LOL

Late and thanks for the replies.. Keep 'em coming!

Chris (ReelWork)

 

My antenna wires run out of the third brake light hole as well. I believe they totally removed the 'plug' (which is attached to the third brake light power wire) and ran them around the plug. A little dab of silicone was used to seal that to avoid any leakage.

FX4 stickers? Dream on spoolwork... or, short for spoolwork would be SPORK. That's your new nickname SPORKER!

LOL

RP

 

Are you calling me one of these...



Them's fightin words...

Later,

Chris (ReelWork)

Just where did you come up with SpoolWork anyway? Sounds to me like one too many hits on the bong at work! I wish I could smoke a bong at work.... LOL

 

I cut a slit in the plug and put the wires into the slit, popped the plug back in, and also sealed with a little silicone.

 

Lightning, that is exactly what I was planning on doing.... Thanks for the replies folks... Pictures to follow this weekend after everything arrives. Accroding to brown tracking, both were in the Tennessee area this morning and shipped out this afternoon...

Later,
Chris (ReelWork)

 

Chris, how big of a diameter is that antenna? It looks like a dinner plate in that pic. Someday, i'd like to lose my Turk window mount and get a smaller less noticeable one. The glass mount works great, but it flips everyone off. I'll put it on a rat or the wife's car.

 

LMAO!!!!!


REEL .... SPOOL... almost the same thing... I don't know... I was in a weird mode yesterday. LMAO!!

RP

 

Yes, it about the size of a large dinner plate. Or to be more accurate, it is the size of an old LaserDisc...

Seriously though. It is only 5/8" high so that might give a little perspective. The actual dimensions are 8-7/8"L x 4-1/16"W x 5/8"H. The length obviously includes the tongue that runs for the wires and the disk itself is really only about 3 inches wide, but has a lip that protrudes making the width wider than it really is.

The thing that sold me is the flatness at just over 1/2 inch and the manufacturers stance on being able to paint it...

Later,
Chris (ReelWork)

 

Hey SPORK...

Have you done any investigation on the TERK antenna being able to be painted? I doubt I'd do it but, I'd like to know if that was an option.

RP

 

But I would be willing to bet that any NON-METALLIC would be ok..

Hey, where did you run your power from? The rear cigarette lighter, the front area, battery???? Just curious... I am probably going to mount mine behind the rear seat panel between the two access doors where it's kid of a no man's land.


Chris (ReelWork)

 

I pulled power off of the factory harness for the HU and mounted it behind the passenger side right foot kick panel.

Happy sporking!

RP