Bought a satellite tuner the other day and easily got it configured... but it's breaking up bad compared to my previous Jeep. I currently have it poking out of the dash just above the radio so the windshield is just above it for clear reception but that doesn't seem to do the trick. I also read here on WF that a few people snaked it up the rollbar to the overhead bar but mine isn't metal for the antenna to stick to, it seems to be completely plastic covered. Not to mention I'm afraid the hard top would reduce signal?
Suggestions on the best place to put this thing? Does the hard top actually inhibit the signal?
I just reused the factory satellite antenna. Never had a problem with reception at all with soft or hard top. So I would suggest the factory location on the roll bar above the passenger seat.
The SiriusXM tuners use different satellites than the OEM Sirius head units, so that may or may not be having an effect on your signal. It made a huge difference in Moab. I had to go to a Browning Trucker's antenna mounted on the tire carrier when I switched from Sirius to SiriusXM. I was completely losing the signal in places where I previously had a strong signal.
Most satellite antennas are mounted on top of the roll bar. I've never seen a plastic-covered roll bar. Have you tried the magnet up there?
I don't believe I have a factory sat antenna, as I bought the vehicle with a plain stock radio (correct me if I'm wrong there). I'd assumed it didn't come with one if you didn't have one installed at the factory.
I'm sure there has to be some metal under all that plastic somewhere but I can't find a good spot to snake that large head into that area (2015 wrangler fyi). The magnet has to be 2" across at least. I must be doing it wrong :banghead:
Hell, I'm pretty sure the cord they gave me won't make it to the tire carrier as far as length goes.
I have mine in the same spot and the reception does kind of suck. I am going to put it under the padding on the roll bar below the freedom top to see if that helps. I thought the windshield would be fine but on the trails around here I got no reception. The whole reason I bought it was to have music on the trail and it didn't work last time I was out.
Satellite frequencies are VERY high and are easily blocked by anything that gets in between the antenna and satellite. For that reason, get the antenna up as high as possible, on top of the center rollbar hoop is perfect since radio signals pass through the soft top and hard top like they weren't even there. Placing it on the hood will tend to cause parts of the Jeep like the windshield frame to block the signals when you're driving in a direction away from a satellite that happens to be low on the horizon as some are.
Moved the antenna module to the top of the rollbar over the drivers seat. Still a lot of drops, but mainly a second or so, unlike before when it dropped the signal for 10+ seconds.
Anyone think moving it all the way over to the center would make any difference?
ullinghair:
It seems like anywhere atop the roll bar would give the same reception. It almost sounds like you may have a bad antenna cable or connection. The antenna wires are pretty flimsy. One reason I went with the Browning BR-Trucker satellite antenna is that it came with 17 feet of thick, sturdy RG-58/U cable...which was almost the perfect length for my mounting location on the Teraflex rear carrier/hinge.
I have my antenna mounted on the cowl, directly in front of the driver. Only in the narrowest of box canyons, have I ever lost a signal. When I am talking narrow, they are 8 feet wide and a hundred feet straight up. For me, it seems to be as good a location as can be had.
I'll agree with you there, the antenna wire is very flimsy. I was extra careful when tucking it in corners and gave plenty of room to flex if need. This damn thing is going to be my bane now, I can't stand drop-outs in the middle of a good song.
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