Best Place For XM Antenna
 

We took a long ride in our 2007 Camry Hybrid and the XM radio faded in and out a lot. We complained to the Toyota dealer that installed it and he moved the antenna about one or two inches and put a thin square thing under it, about two inches on each side. The antenna is mounted on the dash in front of the passenger. It was pretty close to the windshield, now it's been moved back a little. We haven't taken the car out on the highway again yet to see if that helped.

Does anyone know where the antenna is supposed to be mounted? It seems that a lot of people have mentioned theirs is near the third brake light on the rear shelf. I can't find an installation manual. I have XM in two other cars and have never run into this reception issue.

Thanks

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

My antenna is located on the trunk lid. It is unsightly, but the reception is good.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

You won't have as good reception on the inside as on the outside. I put mine in the back above the rear seats and every thing is working well.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

The installation manual shows it in the back window.
I had tint film installed and now the reception is not as good (if I'm driving west)
I kinda wish it was on the trunk lid like Ormond now (my car is black so it wouldn't be so noticable)

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

there is a tint film that is non-metallic (ceramic) that is desgined for this exact reason. perhaps you can have the window tint removed (easy when it is recent install) and replaced with the ceramic tint.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

When my XM radio was installed by a Toyota dealer it was placed on the rear deck inside the car and I have absolutely no problem. I live in the NY metro area and have traveled from New England to DC and get good reception. I sometimes loose reception when I travel under heavy foliage or under a bridge.

:D

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

This is where I mounted mine (XM RoadyXT aftermarket sat radio). I have since removed the XM and replaced it with an iPod interface (HK Drive+Play) that has been a bit of a disappointment because of noise/interference.

https://www.greenhybrid.com/share/fi...1/IMG_0322.JPG

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

I put mine in the rear shelf, between the c-pillar and the HMBL, near the base of the window. It never fades no matter what direction I drive, except for in car washes and parking garages.:shade: It is a sirius radio, so I don't know if that is a lot different than XM.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

I placed both an XM & Sirius antennas on the rear shelf as-well (I started with XM then switched to Sirius for NASCAR). Even though I hid the XM underneath the Child Seat latch cover XM did fade a bit but no more that when it was previously installed outside on my former Murano running an XM Roady2. The Sirius has not faded at all & is loud and clear on my Starmate 4 conncected via AUX cable. I used velco to hold the Sirius to the rear shelf on-top of the Child Seat latch cover. I've been amazed at the great reception quality given its interior location.

From the rear shelf position I was able to run both antenna wires under the moldings without any wire showing except where the wires enter the cut-out for the cubby hole (I am think about cutting a notch in the cubby as the wires sometimes pop the cover off).

Also I have a PAC SNI-1/3.5 Minijack Ground Loop Noise Isolator from Crutchfield with a 3.5mm cable splitter to attach both the Sirius and a Belkin retracting 3.5mm plug for my iPod - and - a dual power cable from Bell to connect the Sirius and iPod power cables. When I want the iPod I turn off the Sirius. I found that prior to using the Ground Loop Noise Isolator the Sirius was hissing at reasonable volume levels - once I installed the isolator I have had no noise on either the Sirius or the iPod. Despite all this stuff in the cubby, including the Starmate 4, it all fits nicely and you can't see any of it in back of Starmate 4.

Good luck with your choice of placing the antenna.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Well, I relocated my antenna to the outside on the rear deck lid. It works great.

I originally thought the antenna was not magnetic and just stuck to my rear shelf. After checking again, I figured out that it is magnetic AND it was stuck to the metal plate. Since it was magnetic, I decided to go ahead and move it outside.
I removed the rear seat cushion, the right shoulder of the seat , the c pillar panel and fed the antenna back through to the trunk. There was plenty of excess wire wrapped up behind the panel in the trunk
:)

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

The tint installers may have been referring to the FM/AM antenna embedded in the rear window. Film does not effect those because the film is on the inside.
I had great reception before my tint. I have great reception again now that I've moved the antenna outside.
Have you considered painting the antenna pearl and moving it outside?

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Thanks wilsons66604 for your input, I was thinking about that, but then I don’t know if the paint will affect the antenna? I'm thinking right now that I may put it on the rear window near the roof; with black tint it will be almost unnoticeable. I would like to hear more ideas with this thread, before I make a change. Tim

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Here is what I KNOW! The tint film does affect factory Installed XM antenna that is located inside of the car on the deck near the 3rd stop light. Let me be clear on one thing, XM service signal varies from city to city. First I installed Film by Johnsons Films called Greystone, supposedly the film was non metallic, my XM stop working the same day completely, I waited 7 days and after all bubbles and water was gone signal returned, but not 100% it was getting many fading, specially in Santa Barbara, I installed my Tint in Los Angeles, I vent back and they give me offer I could not reject, they removed my film and put the product they just received from Johnsons called Insulatir Ceramic, this film not just look good, but it does magic: first the engine remote start works a lot farther then with Old film, XM worked from the first minute I started the car, in Los Angelos signal is Great no fading, but. I will have to move antenna to outside somewhere because in Santa Barbara I still have 95% but I like 100%
Conclusion, Insulir is Great New Film with Lifetime Warranty it will run you about $500 installed comparing Graystone $240.
I'm Glad I did it.
The BEST PLACE FOR ANTENNA IS OUTSIDE.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

I agree. My reception was getting bettter as the tint "cured" but it was still not good enough. I moved my antenna outside and am very happy with it now.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Folks,

No tint here (not even a TCH, for what that's worth -- I've got an XLE), but I sure like my XM antenna location -- absolutely, totally hidden! Check it out:

http://home.comcast.net/~thoots5/xmantenna1.jpg

Note that the "black bumps" you see on the rear parcel shelf are the hooks and the "grab tag" for the XLE's rear window shade -- "that's not the XM antenna."

I had my favorite local independent car stereo shop install the Terk aftermarket system, and they installed the antenna under the plastic parcel shelf cover -- on the steel shelf below it. There's just no way that anyone can tell that I've got XM in the car, and that suits me just fine!

So far, it has worked just fine -- my previous car was a current-generation Honda Accord, with the "satellite antenna bump" on the roof. And, I really can't say that reception has been any worse in the Camry at all -- it has been virtually "just as good as the roof-mounted antenna" reception was.

"Works for me!" :shade:

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

I tried my antenna inside the trunk under the shelf but did not get reception.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

To clarify my installation: Not "in the trunk" -- the antenna should "see through plastic" and "see through glass," but it won't "see through metal." So, mine is under the very rearmost edge of the rear window glass.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Right now I have my portable XM antenna on the roof of my TCH, but I don't like the look of it there. I have metallic tint on my rear windows, so I gather I should not try placing it in the back window. Has anyone placed their antenna inside the front windshield? Thanks.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

I'm still hopping I can come across someone who can tell me that they can get better signal without taking the antenna outside.
Few days ago I found how to increase Bluetooth microphone volume.
I also try from XMRADIO.com sending fresh signal, it still fades in the same 10-15 places here in Santa Barbara, LA is great.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

I figured I'd mention that I replaced my Roady XT with the Terk XMDTL100/XM Direct setup directly to my NAV system last week. So far I'm very pleased. A few different threads in this forum proved extremely useful (see the ones with pictures on installing XM and eliminating squeaks).

I stuck the antenna to the rear passenger side panel cover for the baby seat hook using self-sticking velcro. Then I tucked the antenna wire between the carpet and the door sills and behind the carpet in the passenger footwell. Sometimes I get dropouts when passing below overpasses but I like having the antenna inside so it doesn't get caught in a carwash.

The only things that caught me off guard were (1) pulling out the center vents there's nowhere to get a good grip, so I carefully pried out the bottom and was able to do so without damaging the plastic; (2) the doghouse took a little more squeezing and tugging than expected but it came out; and (3) I left the car sitting outside for almost an hour and never was able to tune my channels. I finally gave up, put the car in the garage and went to bed figuring I'd try a refresh the next morning. When I got up everything was working so maybe it needed a power cycle to take effect or something.

I stuck the XM units under the doghouse basically like the poster in the XM thread did (BIG thanks for posting those pics!). The only thing I did differently was that I crammed foam around the units to prevent future vibration.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

I flew out of town this weekend and left my car in the parking garage at the airport. When I got back Monday evening, I noticed my XM reception was terrible (like before I moved it to the trunk).
I thought that somebody may have messed with my antenna while parked in the garage.

Well, I just got an email from XM saying that one of the satellites went off-line Monday and should be back today.
I was releaved to hear that it was not my system!!!

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

The dealer added XM to my radio and put the antenna behind the passenger side of the rear view mirror. I barely noticed it. I haven't had the car long enough to determine reception quality.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

On Monday my signal was fading every time I drove under a tree and I thought perhaps I'd been wrong about putting the antenna on the rear package shelf. So I spent over an hour installing it outside on the rear trunk lid right in front of the third brake light. I took it out for a test drive and lo and behold the signal quality still sucked. I came back inside, really annoyed, and found out about the XM outage after about 3 seconds with my good friend Google. On the plus side, I like how the antenna looks on the trunk lid and after seeing all the pics of tinted windows in this forum, I'm thinking I might get it done and I won't have to spring for the ceramic stuff.

For those who care, I routed the wire along the driver's side trunk support, brought it in through the fold down seat, then tucked it between the door sill and the carpet. Once it reached under the driver's seat, I tucked it under the carpet split up to the center console. Then I just ran it back under the doghouse and plugged it in. There wasn't a lot of excess wire using this route. It's no professional installation but it's hidden so it'll work for me.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Here it is, i got the pictures of my XM antenna location. Works great, signal is strong. Looks great, I think Toyota should install them in my location at the factory. I like the look, let me know what do you think.
https://www.greenhybrid.com/share/fi.../cimg19102.jpg

https://www.greenhybrid.com/share/fi.../cimg19153.jpg

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

I think that it looks fine. Your rims look even better. :D What are your modifications Tim? That is one hot looking Camry.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Hello Ormond , Check out this thread with more of my TCH pictures
https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...339#post128339

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

Daare,
Is your XM radio antenna actually on the mirror? Let us know how your reception is. Thanks.

Re: Best Place For XM Antenna
 

OverEager,

The antenna is attached to the inside of the wind shield behind the passenger side of the rear view mirror. I've had the car for 3 weeks and reception is great. My last car had an outside antenna and I haven't noticed any difference in reception. The downside of a magnet outside antenna is it moves around in a car wash and leaves scatches in the wax. Overall, I prefer the inside mount.

Daare