Need help - Satellite radio

[NickCats]

I am thinking of putting satellite radio in my vehicles ( I already have Sirius installed on the bike which I am selling ) but I am really picky about wanting a clean installation. For those of you with satellite, how did you go about installation ? I am between buying a new head unit for the Boxster, or possibly a plug and play unit so I can enjoy it in both cars. I absolutely hate the idea of exposed wires in the car.

This is the unit I am considering :

http://shop.sirius.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?nurl=control/StoreItem.vm&ctl_nbr=2640&siId=2885795&catParentID=7875&scId=7875&oldParentID=7870

Did you mount to the windshield or use a bracket like this :

http://www.tss-radio.com/porsche-boxster-19972004-p-5359.html

Also, where the heck do you put the antenna in a convertible ?

Any suggestions / pictures / advice would be appreciated...

Thanks,

Nick

[yurkope]

I have had Sirius for several years now and I have tried a couple of different locations for the sat receiver. In the Box I have a Panny Strada GPS with the Sirius module. I first mounted the receiver under the front cowl as suggested on other forums. I liked this b/c it was hidden from view but I would lose signal occasionally (under overpasses).

Next I hardwired a similar unit as you are looking at in my Volvo S60 with the receiver on the trunk, exposed to the outside. I hardly ever loose signal in the Volvo, overpasses are no big deal and I even get a signal in covered parking garages.

So I tried to find an exterior location on the Box to improve my signal. I found a small area to pass the receiver thru to access the rear trunk and mounted the receiver just behind the 3rd brake light. It turns out I got about the same reception as under the cowl. I guess I didn't get the receiver high enough on the car to make a big difference, so it is back under the cowl.

The reason I went with a detached unit in the Volvo was so I can take the receiver inside to hook it up to my home theatre.

In the Volvo I was able to hide the wires pretty well in the cubby next to the factory radio. When the unit is in, you cannot see any wires and when I pull the unit to listen inside you can see three wires in the cubby that I tuck away. I think your second link would be a good way to mount the unit and hide wires.

If you would like any other details, let me know.

[NickCats]

Thanks, yurkope, that helps !

Any chance you can tell me a little but more about the "front cowl" ?

Not quite sure what you are referring to

Nick

[Perfectlap]

something to consider, I listen to Sirius allot more indoors than I do in the car.
Between Howard Stern(20%), CNBC(70%) and gasp NASCAR(5%) I get more than my $12 worth.
I have a plug and play unit that I can use in the car or remove and plug into my PC docking station. I merely plays over the PC's speakers and doesn't tie up the network with streaming audio.
I'm not sure how the pricing works nowadays but when I first got Sirius back in 2004 they would charge you a monthly fee for each unit. I didn't want to pay for two subscriptions so I went with the plug and play unit. But if they have some new pricing it would be nice to have a built in head double DIN head unit with that 30 minute pause and replay.

[E Kaplan]

Like you I wanted a clean look. Also, I listen to my Ipod alot. I had the stock radio removed and installed a Pioneer system. It includes the radio, IPOD adaptor, XM radio (think they also make it for Sirrus) and also a USB port. The unit was installed very clean and needed no adaptation for the boxster. I have the small XM antenna in the right corner of the dash on the passengers side and the port for the USB is near the left foot area of the passengers location. Have not used the USB port yet. Purchased it from Cruichfeld for $350 including installation and got $50 back from XM. I am so pleased the the unit.

Eric

[NickCats]

Eric,

Sounds like a nice set up. What model Pioneer did you purchase ?

( if anyone else has a suggestion for an aftermarket head unit, I'm all ears )

Thanks,

Nick

[yurkope]

Originally Posted by NickCats

Thanks, yurkope, that helps !

Any chance you can tell me a little but more about the "front cowl" ?

Not quite sure what you are referring to

Nick

The piece of plastic that seperates the front hood from the windshield. I also have my GPS receiver there as well.
It is pretty easy to get the receiver to the front trunk, follow the stock radio wires through the firewall. Finding a good place to stick the receiver can be tricky, not alot of room to get your hands up in there and I didn't want to remove the cowl to do it. I believe in order to remove the cowl you must disasemble the windshield wipers and a few other things.

[NickCats]

Thanks, yurkope, I'll take a look when I get home...

Nick

[BOXZING]

i have a big bulky sporster replay unit and bought on of those flexible stalk mounts sold on ebay. mounted it to the left bolt of the right seat base. decent, suprisingly doesn't move. the antenna went ontop of the trunk.

[NickCats]

Well, I got the unit installed today and I am pretty happy with the end result.

I lost the use of one of my cubby holes, but no exposed wires, and the antenna is hidden under the front cowl ( thanks yurkope ! )

What do you guys think ?

Thanks,

Nick

[PWebRPH]

Looks pretty tight, nice work.
Do you have a pic of where the antenna is? Not sure I know where the cowl is either.

[NickCats]

Thanks PWeb !

Here's a pic :



( from benaslan on renntech.org )

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=16468

Nick

[PWebRPH]

Wow, that is cool, didn't even know an antenna could go there. That looks super clean.

[Perfectlap]

you can also clip to the side of the cubby hole with a universal mount I picked up at Best Bang.