Which PNP SIRIUS unit do you guys use and other q's?
 

I'm in the market for a plug n play Sirius unit, now that I've decided that I'll like Sirius better than XM. Also, b/c the HU only displays one line and the factory option is quite expensive, the PNP route is the way I'm going.

Someone posted a while back using a Kenwood unit and attaching it using some industrial velco directly under the toggle bank. I'm thinking that the new PDA-style ones would offer more portability though. Are there any that do Tivo-like functions with a buffer for replays?

I'll assume that the antenna will be difficult to install going from the front of the car clear to the back and roof. I'm not too keen on the dash install, but I might have to resort to it.

I am currently using an Audiovox SIR-PNP2 connected to the Aux jack on my stock headunit. Initially I kept the antennait came with on the dash, but the signal attenuation through the glass and surrounded by metal made it drop out in areas with dense trees or buildings. That antenna also had a rat-tail cable protector which made placement outside the vehicle even more difficult. I replaced the antenna with a Terk Mini (how appropriate!) antenna which fits perfectly in the space behind the sharkfin NAV antenna The Terk antenna is also the only one which would live in that space because of the way the hatch hovers over the roof when open. The hatch barely clears the antenna, anything higher than the Terk (a little over half inch) would be hit with the hatch lip when opened.

Great thanks...I also have the NAV so I'll look out for that antenna. Was it a royal pain to run the antenna to the back? Is there a write-up for it somewhere? Do you have interior pics of your setup? Thanks again...

No pics of the install yet, except for this one which was part of another post regarding interior lighting:
http://home.comcast.net/%7Egreatbear/dragonlight3.jpg


As for running the cable, I recommend pulling out the rubber boot that covers the wiring to the hatch electrics, piercing it with a small pointed object then running the antenna wire through it. Run it up from below and not in from the top to keep out rainwater. Pull out the weather strip surrounding the hatch at the top and right side. Remove the motion sensor box from inside as well. Fish the cable through the hatch wiring cavity and towards the interior. maneuver the cable into the space above the headliner and back towards the rear of the car. Then tuck the cable into the space that the weatherstrip fills until you get to the C pillar.

Open the boot cubby on that side and fish the wire into the compartment. Lift up the carpet in the back and remove the one screw in the side panel nearest the seat. This will allow you to pull the cable out from underneath the bottom edge of the panel. Tuck the cable under the paneluntil you get to the seat. Lift the rear seat bottom and continue tucking the cable under the panel edge till you get to the door opening.

Pull up the weatherstripping at the door sill and remove it up to the dashboard. pass the cable under the rear panel in a way such that it emerges in the space that was filled by the door stripping. Tuck the cable into this space until you get near the dash, where you can now tuck it along underneath the dash until you get near the area where you installed your Sirius (or XM) receiver. I removed the small trim piece under the toggle bank and fished the cable into that area. There was a notch in the trim which accomodated the cable pefectly.

Replace all the trim, covers, screws and weatherstripping. The cable is long enough to install the antenna in a Suburban, so length is not an issue. Tuck excess into different spaces, leaving slack where you pass it through the boot, the cubby area, the transition at the door and under the dash. This will help in dealing with the cable later if you (or someone else) needs to removepanels or trim to do work/upgrades on the car.

Some helpful hints when fishing the cable:

Wiggling the edges of the panels help the cable to fit into place.

Do NOT use a pointed sharp object to poke the cable into place, it can be damaged easily. Use you fingers.

Form a drip loop in the cable before you pass it into the car.

The small strain relief can be bent to guide the cable into the space between the hatch and body. Dont let the cable contact the hatch edge or it will chafe.

The Terk antenna comes with a green plastic latching piece commonly used on headunits and not in plug-and-play receivers. Pull out the white plastic retainer then slide off the green piece to expose the smaller connector that will fit your reciver.

Pics to come soon when I get a chance to take them. :wink:

I'm using a Blaupunkt America mounted above the speedometer on a Kuda multimedia console. All of the wires run out of the cradle, under the dash pad and down to the auxiliary input and cigarette lighter. My antenna is the streamer style antenna (has a tail) that is mounted on the right rear of the roof, about 1" from the side of the rear roof window. My antenna cable is run the same way Greatbear ran his.

Sorry, no pics yet.
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/pro...CA-o_wide.jpeg
http://www.kuda-phonebase.com/images/imagesb/292325.jpg

My wife just bought me the Sportster from Best Buy. It came in a kit for the car. The antenna came with a rubber and magnate tail that I cut off and placed right behind the standard car antenna. I saw a pic of that application somewhere on this site. The boot is able to open with this antenna also. I am running the wire much like Greatbear mentioned. I just began installing it on Friday and haven't finished the install as I am testing receiver placement. The only drawback to this unit is its size. Its a little bulky and because it is removeable from the cradle to use inside or in another vehicle (a great feature I am sure I will use soon), it doesnt quite fit under the toggles.

Just the other day I posted asking for help with placement and a bracket called panavise (I think, search this site) was recommended that may work. It somehow attached to the side of the radio head unit and angles into the cabin area. It looks interesting and something I will probably try.

I will soon be hooking up to an aux input when I get one ordered from Mini. Right now, I am just listening through the fm radio which is acceptable for now.

Butch

Thanks for the great write-up Greatbear. I will try to follow your guidelines. It seems that the Kenwood unit another person had installed under the toggles with the velcro is no longer available and is to be replaced with a unit at the end of January - looks pretty cool.

For now, I think I'm going to go w/ the Audiovox PNP3, which is a little smaller than the Sportster and the display seems a bit better as well. I'm hoping I can get it under the toggles.

Does anyone have any pics of their PNP Sirius or XM installs?