how are you guys wired up? My mom got my dad an XM/Sirius unit for his birthday today, but my mom has the RoadyXT in her firebird.

In the bird, we just leave it in the cradle that's clipped to the AC vent, and the antenna I ran through the top of the hatchback and magnetically attached to the roof, and ran cable behind the rear speaker panel, under pass door, and under carpet up to the dash.

The ram won't be so easy...I'm not even sure where to start. Power isn't a problem, but it needs to be easily removable (my dad keeps the GPS in the compartment under the jump seat [but leaves suction cup cradle on top of dash], radio will probably go with it) without cables being obvious or getting all tangled up.

In addition, my dad uses a high powered touching car wash (12 brushes plus 15 24" diameter centrifugal dryer fans, i kid you not) every oil change.

What I am thinking is to mount the antenna up in the sunglass holder and run the wire across the trim, down the passenger side A pillar, and behind the dash to the opening under the regular radio. Will not being on the roof affect it? I think if I put it exposed as designed, it'll be gone after 1 truck wash.

And i'm sure i can make the radio unit and it's power cord removable in one step (Dodge dun well when it comes to power...sheesh), but i'm not sure where to put the radio cradle...Having it on the AC vents is kinda cheepish, but I don't think double sided tape next to the GPS would go well either.

 

I think you need a clear view of the sky - I don't think it will work thru the metal roof. I have the factory one and it cuts out going under trees, so I can't imagine metal would be very good.

I'm actually very unhappy with the Sirius Satellite radio - there are only about 5 stations I like, and I can easily find similar stations on old fashioned radio. On top of that, the quality of the audio isn't any better than normal radio, and the fact it cuts out while driving under trees is unacceptable. A few months ago, they dropped one of the stations I actually liked - Pop2k, and that just puts the nail in the coffin. My free year is up this month and I doubt I will renew it.

 

we like the XM in the firebird. Actually got hooked on it because DirectTV carries XM as a standard channel set.

Where else can I put the antenna then? It never cuts out in the bird...but between 3 overhead brushes and all the jet dryers, i think the antenna would need to have a 3 pound neodium magnet to not break off the cable.

 

my siruis is built into my deck and i just called the number and activated it.

 

this is a 2005. not built in. Stock radio.

 

I remember someone saying they mounted it in the dash under the center Infinity speaker opening (they didn't have the Infinity system). You could even mount it on the dash if you don't mind seeing it - viewing thru the window should be fine.

 

(tunnel Express stock photos)

There's 2 sets of those brushes, and 3 turbines up each wall, and 2 rows of 5 turbines across the ceiling at Hunter's (where my dad goes, privately owned place)

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...st.0&encType=1

 

but does it affect quality like SOS said?

right now I'm thinking to go behind the dash, up driver side A pillar, behind ceiling trim, and out at the rear edge of the driver's door, such that it can be pulled inside at the car wash.

 

i'd put it right behind the stock antenna on the very very top of the fender between the antenna and windsheild. you could easily run the cord down into the engine bay and through the firewall to the receiver. if the carwash doesnt rip off the antenna, its certainly not gonna take off the xm antenna, and you have a clear, unobstructed view of the sky.

My sirius antenna is mounted on top of the cab just in front of the 3rd tail light. the truck is so tall I cant ever see it up there...unless im washing the roof (im 6'3). anywho, that doesnt help you cause it "might get blown off" (which im nearly positive wouldnt ever happen...)

 

actually, the car wash removes the OEM antenna, because it's in the brush path. That said, that was actually one of my idea, that the antenna could be slipped under the windshield cowl at the wash.


and to make sense of the turbines...both wipers come off the windshield about an inch...they blew the slats off the hood of our Z28 back before we got the 'bird. It seriously sounds like an F-16 in there when they are on..from the spool up to the rumbling of the windows to the spool down

It's a darn nice facility....but they check very closely what goes in there, to cover their butts....and there's a huge list outside of what they aren't responsible for...