Satellite Radio Antenna Location

MOOSE · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:33 am Post subject: Satellite Radio Antenna Location

Having gotten tired of the tangle of wires, we are upgrading to a satellite-ready radio on the MOOSE. My question is, does the antenna need to be mounted outside of the cabin or, given that the cabin is fiberglass, can it be mounted inside in the overhead shelf?
Al

ryder · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:41 am Post subject:

The antenna has to be mounted outside. I purchased a marine. satellite antenna. It is available at west marine. It hooks up to any satellite radio. I am in the process of deciding where to mount it.

ryder

rogerbum · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject:

I'd be willing to be that it will work fine through the fiberglass (just like a GPS antenna). Hook it up temporarily and give it a try.

captd · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:08 pm Post subject:

Mine works right through the fiber glass. its about the size of a half a dolla.
captd

K7MXE · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:10 pm Post subject: Antenna location (gps)

I have one gps antenna outside on a mast and one inside the boat looking
through the fiberglass. Each picks up signal in a close time frame.
Inside antenna is away from as much metal as it can be and works fine.
Its used with my ham radio aprs. Make it easy you can always change it
later.
Bob Heselberg Eatonville Wa

captd · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:02 am Post subject:

Correction , I had trouble last night, I hung it outside.
captd

Knotty C · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:02 am Post subject:

Car Toys installed our XM radio last June before our trip to Alaska last summer. It worked as well as the factory XM unit in our tow vehicle at that lattitude. Car Toys installed ours in the v-berth. I'll try to get a photo posted sometime today.

Don

lloyds · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:13 am Post subject:

My sirrius didn't work very well sitting on the dash so I ran it up to the forward hatch and just let it sit outside of the hatch. Works great, and doesn't seem to leak. I can then just open the hatch and pull it if I want to take the receiver out.

Knotty C · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:29 am Post subject:

Here are some pics of Car Toys installation and mounting of the XM radio antenna in the v-berth:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album617&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

As I said it works as well as the Silverado's factory XM.

Don

thataway · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject:

I have two satellite radio (Sirius) antennas on the shelfs on the C Dory and Tom Cat--they work fine inside, as long as no significant metal above them. They are mag mount car antennas. One sits on top of my ham radio tuner (I don't use the sirius when transmitting) and the other is velcroed in place on the shelf. I also have one inside of the fiberglass roof of my Road Trek van. I have used an external antenna in another boat, but find that the car antennas work just as well. Consider that I spend most of my time in the South--and it the signal is marginal as you go further North, it might be necessary to put the antenna outside.

MOOSE · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:41 am Post subject:

The more I listen to you guys and think about it, I might be better off with an externally mounted boat antenna. Since I do have radar mounted on a Power Tower just above the shelf, it's possible I could get some shielding. Thanks for the advice.
Al

thataway · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:45 pm Post subject:

I have my radars mounted just aft of the shelf, and it has not been a problem. Try the antenna in side first, and if it does not work there, then put it outside. The external "marine" antennas are considerably more expensive.

MOOSE · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:54 am Post subject:

Here's an external marine satellite radio antenna I found for a modest price. It's a Shakespeare Style SM-31.

At only $21.95, and given what a pain it is to drop the electronics shelf, I might be tempted to opt for something I know will work right from the git-go.
Al

MOOSE · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:34 am Post subject:

Upon further investigation, I now realize that I'm a total idiot and that the picture posted above is only the mounting base. The external marine antennas do indeed seem to be priced in the $60-$80 range.
Al

thataway · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject:

Yep, that is the base I used for the antenna I used externally.

I just contact cement velcro to the bottom of the mag mount antenna and to the shelf, and no need to drop the shelf. (we also have put on several wire ties to hold cables, a terminal block and radio/tuner mounts on the shelf without dropping it--just use a very short screwdriver or right angle screwdriver. We use a right angle drill, with a very short bit for starting the hole for a screw on the shelf.

Either way--the satellite radio is a real winner!