[martinnyc]

I wanted to add XM to my truck, and didn't want to fork over my hard-earned cash for the oem honda kit, so I ordered one of those I-pod adapter/terk Direct XM tuner deals online.
My second issue was that I did not want to mount the antenna anywhere visible on the truck, for a few reasons: a) I don't want it to scratch the paint b) satellite radios have been getting stolen around here, I don't need to advertise my thief-bait and c) they just look nasty on an otherwise clean truck.

Note: this should work for sirius as well.

This was my solution:

one thing before we start: you will see my antenna wire in steps 2 and 3. Please try to imagine that it is not there. I took the pictures 2 weeks after the install.

1) remove the two plastic covers from the third brake light.

2) Remove the third brake light

3) follow the third brake light wiring to the grommet, pull out this grommet.

4) Open rear window, reach inside truck and pull headliner down slightly (it's held up by velcro from the factory)

5) place your left hand between the headliner and the roof of the truck. Use your right hand to feed the wire into the hole left by the grommet. Use left hand to catch the wire inside, and pull it trough.

6) There is just enough room to stick your antenna here.

7) push grommet back in, and re-assemble everything in the reverse order of which you took it apart.

8) step back and admire the fact that you, and only you know that there's an XM antenna in there.

So far, I've had no interference, no water leaks into the cab even in torrential rains, and my signal has not dropped out once (I did this about 2 weeks ago)

 

[martinnyc]

some have also asked about the wire routing inside... so here goes:

1) get into the truck, and locate the wire that's now hanging down.

2) hide this wire between your headliner and roof.

3) push up on headliner to re-clip it to the roof.
4) using an old credit card, hide the wire behind this piece of plastic.

5) At this point, feed the wire under the rubber gasket

6) Next, you will be feeding the wire under the plastic oncemore.

7) Once you get to the other side, you continue feeding the wire under the rubber gasket.

8) keep going!

9) little further!

10) pop this panel off, and feed your wire behind the glove box here

11) pop panel back on, and follow your radio's instructions from here on out.

 

[e_piph_a_ny]

martinnyc,

This is a great How-To with pics included (esp the one with your bright yellow duster). Glad it worked out for you..:act035:

 

[martinnyc]

thanks alot, the yellow thing isn't a duster however, he's the truck-duck...a highly trained and refined killing machine.

 

[Rainmaker]

That looks great! That looks like the perfect spot for the antenna, with one caveat.

I notice you do not have a roof rack. Has anyone with a roof rack tried this? And if so, is the XM reception still acceptable when carrying, say, a kayak?

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[martinnyc]

And if so, is the XM reception still acceptable when carrying, say, a kayak?

Any feedback is appreciated.

I'll actually be throwing my two kayaks up there this weekend so I'll let you know. Reception should be fine going trough plastic, it's metal that you run into trouble with.

 

[IanRTL]

I personally enjoy the pink pig on the dash... :act035:

 

[Tconnors810]

Can't thank you enough!

My XM reception was terrible, I had it mounted under the front dash. I was going to move it to the front window but there seems to be some complaints about reception there and I didn't want to take the whole header down to run one wire to the back stop light.

The reception is excellent now, better than my factory Tahoe. Took no time at all, great pics.

Thanks again
TC

 

[canonrace]

thank you for this installation!

Before a put my xm antenna on the roof rail (where you can put the roof rack) but my dealer last week repaint my door for rust problem. at the end they wash my truck and they didnt see me xm antenna on the roof rail so......they scratch my top!!!!! grrrrrrr

So when i see your installation i do the same thing!!! great!

 

[94 accord]

just did this on saturday, works perfectly, awesome location!, wire hidden perfectly. Im going to mount the radio in the sunglass holder or this is not an ashtray draw, im going to hard wire the power cord.. has anyone else done this before? and if so which fuse did you use?

 

[Nbot]

works great, thanks Martin!!

I used this with the PXAMG and SCC1 Sirius tuner, going thru the iSimple gateway also using an iPod, text displays on stock HU, details here

 

[wrenrj1]

I've mounted my XM antenna on the hood in the front left corner where the hood quarter panel and hood come together. Great reception, except when near tall buildings in the city. My issue is with the head unit. i have an XM Roady II on a RAM mount using my cup holder. I'd sure appreciate having the cup holder back.

Does anyone know if the OEM XM Black box that actually makes your XM head unit XM ready, accept a typical XM antenna connection? It would make it much easier.

 

[OwnerCS]

CLEVER IDEA! Thanks for sharing!

 

[oldpepsiguy]

I did mine this way too, thanks for the tip, I would never have thought of that location. The hidden antenna doesn't flag the attention of would be thieves to the fact that you have xm radio, and likely a higher end sound system. Jim <><

 

[roakey]

Is there an antenna like this compatible with the factory XM? I've been thinking about adding the factory unit for some time, but hated the thought of the window mount. This would be a moot point if all XM antenna plugs were the same, but something tells me they're not.

Roak

 

[wrenrj1]

Is there an antenna like this compatible with the factory XM? I've been thinking about adding the factory unit for some time, but hated the thought of the window mount. This would be a moot point if all XM antenna plugs were the same, but something tells me they're not.

Roak

My same question a few posts ago...I'm thinking it's not the same.

 

[Nbot]

not sure what the OEM black box looks like. The antenna input would have to be on the black box though, b/c there isn't a spot to put an antenna directly into the back of the HU, fwiw.

 

[e_piph_a_ny]

just did this on saturday, works perfectly, awesome location!, wire hidden perfectly. Im going to mount the radio in the sunglass holder or this is not an ashtray draw, im going to hard wire the power cord.. has anyone else done this before? and if so which fuse did you use?

94,

Don't know if you figured it out by now, but this is how I hard wired my gps to a switched fuse post.

12v power recepticle

 

[Nbot]

FYI, for those worried about the quality of reception using the stealth install location, I just drove from the middle of WI thru the mountains of CO, and the ONLY spots (including on mountain passes) where I would lose reception is when "under" an obstruction (like a bridge, gas station overhang, or parking garage), which I think is pretty normal. So, seems to work just fine.

I should note that in one small city in CO, I never lost reception of the music, but the "Name" and "TITLE" wouldn't come thru while I was in that town (kept saying AQUIRING). Kind of funny that it didn't say ACQUIRING, but heh Once I got back on the road the Name/Title started coming thru again.

 

[Altamont]

just got the i-phone charger/Sirius on sale at Best Buy. I just threw the antenna on the dash so it doesn't work when I am driving north (I live at 49 degrees north and the satellite is down near the horizon). tomorrow, or the next day I feel like it, I will replicate your hidden install. also, I have a basket rack with two river kayaks up there at the moment (creek tomorrow) so I will report in re the interference if any from the boats. that is such a good idea I am surprised I didnt think of it!!;act028: