Since FM band has seen better days, I have been kicking it around the idea of installing XM Radio. I would like a nice clean antenna install, and I have done the rear wiper delete and currently have a plug in that hole at the lower portion of the rear boot glass.



So I was wondering, with respect to reception, has anyone mounted a SAT antenna in that rear wiper delete hole ? I realize facing straight up is the best way to gain reception, but at that location it is pretty close to that.

Thanks.

 

Well XM radio just has a little magnetic receiver unit, it's not even an antennae really. I don't know why you would want it coming out of the window though...

 

It is an antenna with a an LNA in it. They are usually designed to be mounted against a sheet steel surface so the question is whether it needs the ground plane under it or is it merely a convenient mounting method. My guess is you don't need the ground plane; there are other satellite antennas that are free standing. Still, try it first. You should expect some shadowing from the vehicle body that would not be present with a roof top mounting location.

Does XM have a trial period? I had it for five years or so and eventually canceled it because the audio quality continued to drop while they added more and more channels to the lineup. It got very swirly sounding. Then the price increase pushed me over the edge. Still, the programming is better than terrestrial radio.