Has anyone bought the satellite radio option? Does anyone know where the antenna for the satellite radio is located? The housing for the regular radio antenna looks plenty big enough to hold it but I have no clue as to where Mini would actually place it.

I’d like to use the XM Roadie II that I used in my previous vehicle and on my bike but I’d like to avoid using the magnetic antenna and running the line through the door. I’m hopeful that the antenna, or at least the wiring, is already there.

 

The sat antenna is in the base where it kinda looks like a fin.
I'm pretty sure that you can't make use of it for a Roady type install so what I did was run the antenna wire along the center "tunnel" by the ebrake, down to the floor, under the floor mat to the edge of the back seat cushion, thru to the trunk (under the floor), over the trunk seal at the lowest point, up the side of the seal and out to the roof via the gap between the trunk/spoiler and the roof. I then just let the antenna magnetically attach about 3 inches to the side of the main MINI antenna complex. What I did was quick and dirty but the antenna wire is virtually invisble and out the way.

 

There is info in the audio forum on hooking into the satellite antenna.

 

There is a satellite antenna connection under the passenger seat. I am currently using this for an XM unit and it works good. Does seem to cut out more than my antenna that came with the XM unit though.

 

Push the passenger seat back as far as it will go. There is a slit in the carpet where the seat belt sensor wires come out. Fish around in there with your finger and you will find the connector for the sat antenna. I ordered a SMB m -> f cable off of ebay that worked just fine. Mounted my Sportscaster unit at the base of the center stack. Everything but the unit is hidden.

 

Here's a thread with lots of info
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...highlight=terk

 

I stand corrected and will have to fish under my seat.

 

I had to undo 4 screws at each corner of the plastic plate to get to the connector. Sliding the seat all the way forward and backwards lets you get to them (if you have the right screwdriver length). I ended up being able to mess with the cable with the screws out, and the seat all the way forwards, lifting up the back of the plate.

 

I am waiting for the result of the XM/Sirius merger before buying a system. If everything goes as planned, there will be new services in a year that allow you to pick programming from both services - but you will need a new receiver as the current units work with XM or Sirius but not both.

 

A letter I received from XM emphatically stated a new receiver would *not* be required, and that services from either set would work on my existing receivers.

 

Here is a kinda related question.

I put my old XM (sportster) in the cubby.
I used the auxilliary input that is right there.

I have the [source] input on the mini radio turned up all the way.
I have the output from the XM turned up all the way.
I have also increased the bass and treble adjustments on the radio
from default to about 1/2 way up on bass and all the way up on treble.

The sound is really clean. But (hard to describe) not nearly at all
as loud as the regular radio or CD (in dash), and not as
"full" sounding. I'm not sure if I am saying that right.

Is there a way to make this at least any louder?

Also, at crutchfield, the tech person said I could get a part,
for about $75. This part is to allow you to hook external sources
to the CD changer wires in the rear fender. I assume those wires
are there I didnt' get a CD changer.

Would this help?

Would it help enough to justify a $75 part and also running
RCA cables from the front dash to the rear fender.
Which will be a pain. And a little expensive too.

Thanks for any advice or input.

 

BTW, if you choose to install the normal 'kit' XM antena on
the front center of your dash, it is very easy to do.

But be aware as I found out because of the relatively tall
windows and long roofline, there will be times that you
lose reception, even though the antena is not obstructed
from directly above (as I was told to do)

 

They will likely have some crossover. It looks like you would be able to buy 12 sirius channels and vice versa and have them work with the current receivers but they will eventually market receivers that will get whatever signal/channels the combined company puts out.
To me it will end up like the OnStar issue with the ending of analog phone compatibility. At some arbitrary point the merged company would cease serving the original receivers and make you get the new models and pay the new prices.

 

Condor,

Try swapping to a different Aux cable, they are pretty cheap at Radshak. Could be the weak link in your system.

Also, the SMB cable under the front passenger seat is the best place to make the connection to the factory installed, roof mounted, well hidden antenna

 

There are several packages that will work on the existing receivers but you need a new one for the a la carte options. The receiver needs a feature to turn individual channels on and off, not just whole packages. Here is a news article that mentions it: http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/...-xmradio_N.htm