XM Antenna

[c21]

Where is the XM antenna located on the AI's?
Thanks,
Bill

[Alex AVI]

Not sure if all MY & models have in same spot. Mine is 2018 AI Lounge built on 2017 Sprinter.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

Not sure if all MY & models have in same spot. Mine is 2018 AI Lounge built on 2017 Sprinter.

My 2013 has it near same spot, about a foot farther forward. Also mine is a mushroom shaped antenna.

[c21]

I had a 14 AI which I have since traded in on a Leisure Unity. My recollection is that my xm antenna was near the windshield on the right side of the dash. Seemed to work good there. In my Unity I placed it by the windshield at the center of the dash and I have a lot of intermittent signal loss. May try moving it to where I think it was in my AI. Ideal would be on the roof but seems like a daunting task to route the wire.
Thanks for the feedback

[rowiebowie]

On my 2012 Avenue it is a domed antenna rather than the flat puck shape on the newer models.

It sits just ahead and to the right of my gigantic flexible solar panel.

Look closely and it says "GALAXY" & "Sirius"

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

flat puck shape on the newer models.

It sits just ahead and to the right of my gigantic flexible solar panel.

Look closely and it says "GALAXY" & "Sirius"

ROWIEBOWIE - actually on my MY the shape is a hybrid between dome (lower half) & puck (flat top). Sorta like someone at Sirius swung a ginzu knife on the mushroom head. It nice to have a gigantic solar panel, yet is still very inconspicuous

[WillieJ]

Originally Posted by c21bill

Where is the XM antenna located on the AI's?
Thanks,
Bill

2013 AI. Mine is magnetically attached to a metal plate in the passenger side on the dash. It is identical to the other magnetic mount XM antennas I have for other satellite radios I own.

I have a mushroom type antenna on the roof, but that is the gps antenna.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by WillieJ

2013 AI. Mine is magnetically attached to a metal plate in the passenger side on the dash. It is identical to the other magnetic mount XM antennas I have for other satellite radios I own.

I have a mushroom type antenna on the roof, but that is the gps antenna.

Well see, I was thinking it was just the opposite. My little roof half dome says Sirius on it. See my pic in post #5.


.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

ROWIEBOWIE - actually on my MY the shape is a hybrid between dome (lower half) & puck (flat top). Sorta like someone at Sirius swung a ginzu knife on the mushroom head. It nice to have a gigantic solar panel, yet is still very inconspicuous

I zoomed in on your picture. Your little mush-puck says "GALAXY" and "Sirius" like mine.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

I zoomed in on your picture. Your little mush-puck says "GALAXY" and "Sirius" like mine.

ROWIEBOWIE - I think I figured out why mine is a mush-puck . . . the newer sat dishes are now flattops instead of mushroom. So Sirius figured they need to go flattop instead of mushroom too

WILLIEJ - that's strange that they put your XM antenna inside windshield and GPS on roof. Of the two, XM radio needs the better signal, GPS can usually locate even inside the van. General install recommendations are to put on a good ground plane and I think on a metal surface (not 100% sure of this though). But sight line could be compromised if inside windshield if you are driving northbound since the roof of van will block antenna from south. XM would need to narrow down the exact signal spectrum from a private comm sat. But GPS signals on other hand connect to at least 3, 4, or even 9 location sats to deliver longtitue, latitude, & movement. Any issues with XM recep ?

[WillieJ]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

ROWIEBOWIE - I think I figured out why mine is a mush-puck . . . the newer sat dishes are now flattops instead of mushroom. So Sirius figured they need to go flattop instead of mushroom too

WILLIEJ - that's strange that they put your XM antenna inside windshield and GPS on roof. Of the two, XM radio needs the better signal, GPS can usually locate even inside the van. General install recommendations are to put on a good ground plane and I think on a metal surface (not 100% sure of this though). But sight line could be compromised if inside windshield if you are driving northbound since the roof of van will block antenna from south. XM would need to narrow down the exact signal spectrum from a private comm sat. But GPS signals on other hand connect to at least 3, 4, or even 9 location sats to deliver longtitue, latitude, & movement. Any issues with XM recep ?

The only reception issues have been in the area of heavier tree cover, where the sat radio in my Audi also cuts out.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by WillieJ

2013 AI. Mine is magnetically attached to a metal plate in the passenger side on the dash. It is identical to the other magnetic mount XM antennas I have for other satellite radios I own.



I have a mushroom type antenna on the roof, but that is the gps antenna.

WILLIEJ - I think you have it backwards. I also have a 2013 Interstate and the mushroom antenna on roof is for SiriuXM. Magnetic antenna on RH side of dash is for the Kenwood/Garmin GPS.

[c21]

I bit the bullet and ordered a marine grade xm antenna and I'll try the Geek Squad at best buy to install. Hope it works out satisfactorily.

[WillieJ]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

WILLIEJ - I think you have it backwards. I also have a 2013 Interstate and the mushroom antenna on roof is for SiriuXM. Magnetic antenna on RH side of dash is for the Kenwood/Garmin GPS.

You are quite correct. I have the manual for the 2015 AI and the wire routing diagram shows GPS on the dash, and the Sirius XM antenna on the roof. The GPS antenna is remarkably similar to the XM magnetic mount antennae supplied with some of the mobile add on XM radios and I made an incorrect assumption.

The 2015 wiring diagram has proved to be very accurate for my late production 2013 AI.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by WillieJ

You are quite correct. I have the manual for the 2015 AI and the wire routing diagram shows GPS on the dash, and the Sirius XM antenna on the roof. The GPS antenna is remarkably similar to the XM magnetic mount antennae supplied with some of the mobile add on XM radios and I made an incorrect assumption.



The 2015 wiring diagram has proved to be very accurate for my late production 2013 AI.

Agree the 2015 wiring diagrams are very close to our 2013 Interstates. Also here is page from the Kenwood installation manual that shows how to locate the GPS antenna on dash.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by c21bill

I bit the bullet and ordered a marine grade xm antenna and I'll try the Geek Squad at best buy to install. Hope it works out satisfactorily.

C21BILL - curious about what happened to the SiriusXM antenna that should have come with your 2014 Interstate? Thought all Interstates since about 2010 came with SiriusXM installed.

[c21]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

C21BILL - curious about what happened to the SiriusXM antenna that should have come with your 2014 Interstate? Thought all Interstates since about 2010 came with SiriusXM installed.

Nothing happened to it. I traded the AI in on my new Leisure Unity and forgot where the xm antenna was located. Leisure's don't come with an xm antenna installed. I installed a portable xm radio on my Unity that plays thru the in-dash radio. For now the antenna is laying on the dash but I do experience a lot of intermittent signal loss. I just don't relish the idea of trying to route the antenna lead from the roof to the dash so I'll give Geek Squad a try.

Attached photo shows my portable XM Radio. Upper bracket is for my Garmin RV 760. (whoops, tilt your head 90 degrees to the left to view my picture).

[Boxster1971]

C21BILL - thanks for clarifying. I forget that you switched to an LTV Unity.