XM antenna cable routing

[romad]

During Circuit City's going-out-of-business sale, I picked up an extra Terk antenna for my XM radio. I was thinking of installing it in the Prius full time so I don't have to do it when I move my XM receiver over to the Prius before a trip.

Usually I just put the antenna on the top behind the AM/FM antenna, dropping the cable though the open hatch with a drip loop in the channel and the just running the cable over the back seats and up to the XM receiver. However, since this is to be a more permanent installation, I was wondering what others did when adding a sat radio antenna.

[Skwyre7]

Here is how I installed my Sirius antenna.

[romad]

Originally Posted by Skwyre7

Here is how I installed my Sirius antenna.

Looks like a good plan. How did you insulate the wire from rubbing on the edge of the hole in the metal roof? Also, after "notching" the weather seal gasket for the wire, how did you seal it against rain? Last, my Terk XM lead is 2 mm (5/64") in diameter, what is your Sirius antenna lead?

[Skwyre7]

Originally Posted by romad

How did you insulate the wire from rubbing on the edge of the hole in the metal roof?

I didn't. Once it's run through the car, it wasn't likely to move much. I left a little slack as I ran the lead through the rest of the car. A couple wraps of electrical tape should give you plenty of insurance.

Originally Posted by romad

Also, after "notching" the weather seal gasket for the wire, how did you seal it against rain?

I didn't. I thought about getting some marine silicone to dab on/in the notch, but opted against it (due to laziness). The whole thing lived under the sharkfin antenna, which did a great job of keeping the rain out. I was a bit worried at first, but it never leaked.

Originally Posted by romad

Last, my Terk XM lead is 2 mm (5/64") in diameter, what is your Sirius antenna lead?

I have no idea. I bet it's similar.

[romad]

Originally Posted by Skwyre7

I didn't. Once it's run through the car, it wasn't likely to move much. I left a little slack as I ran the lead through the rest of the car. A couple wraps of electrical tape should give you plenty of insurance.


I didn't. I thought about getting some marine silicone to dab on/in the notch, but opted against it (due to laziness). The whole thing lived under the sharkfin antenna, which did a great job of keeping the rain out. I was a bit worried at first, but it never leaked.

Hmm, the pdf only showed the factory antenna not a shark fin. The factory antenna is, at 1/8 wave length, already too short and the shark fins are worse for reception, so I won't replace the factory antenna. I guess I'd go the silicone RTV route.

[Skwyre7]

Originally Posted by romad

Hmm, the pdf only showed the factory antenna not a shark fin. The factory antenna is, at 1/8 wave length, already too short and the shark fins are worse for reception, so I won't replace the factory antenna. I guess I'd go the silicone RTV route.

I didn't take a picture of the shark fin since people had already seen what it looks like. A small dab of that marine silicone should make a good enough seal. Good luck.