I decided to go all out and replace the head units in both our cars with sat-radio ready units.

My question is about the antenna placement:

I have been told by some people that putting the antenna on the dash at the base of the windshield works juts fine, as opposed to finding a way to mount it outside on the roof.

Has anyone done this?

The instructions specifically say it needs to be a on a metal surface, and outside the car......but I am wondering if this indeed as necessary as they say, because the antenna fits just fine on the dash.

Advice?

Thanks!

I put my g/f's in the back window of her car and it works just fine. You're "supposed" to mount it on the roof but i'm sure it would just be a matter of time before someone sees it and wants to add to their collection of useless junk. Once you get it up and runiing let me know what you think. I find that the volume level is far to quiet and you have to crank it all the way up just to be able to hear it.

Ill take a good pic in about 20 mins for ya.

From the outside you would see


and it is stays there...


That little black thing pops out and holds the antenna there perfectly. Dont know if it would be the same as a 2g though, just how mine is done.


*edit* Omg I just realized that this thread is like a month old. Sorry guys*

Its supposed to be mounted on the roof, or to the top of the trunk/hatch. Depending on coverage in your area having it on the dash could be ok. I have a buddy at work that just throws his in the cup holder and it works.

I have mine mounted to the roof of my winter beater and I have excellent reception most of the time.

On my talon I'm going to mount it under my spoiler or where my wiper sprayer mounts.

If you had a sirius radio it would have to be mounted to the roof or flat of the trunk/hatch to be able to function.

EDIT: You can also get a small pad of metal with two way tape on the bottom of it. I'm not sure where you get them, as the ones I have come from Pioneer Navi unit. Try it and see if it works...

I'm currently testing mine just under the hatch where the hinges are. So far I'm pretty satisfied with it. I'll give it a few more days before I had the wires.

I have Sirius in mine (over a year now) and it works excellent, only cuts out occasionly on bridges. P.S. Do NOT run the antenna out the hatch over the hatch seal. I did this and got uber leakage into my hatch. That is the main reason I keep it inside; the other being that these antennas are notorious for dying due to moisutre build up. I have gone through 2 already, the other two being of a diffent design (no tail). Since I no longer get free ones from warranty I try to play it safe.

I have xm radio and wasnt that hard to mount the antenna on the roof...
Ill be at the next meet if you want to have a look-see

For the time being, the antenna is firmly mounted to my dash. It looks great........except I can't use it.
My shiny new Panasonic head unit is so brand-freaking-new that no-one, -not even Panasonic- supports it for satellite radio.....Terrific.
Of all the 2006 stereo product lines, I had to go an d get the one made by a manufacturer who decided to change their component interface on the back.
Now I have to wait for the manufacturer of the aftermarket XM satellite receiver box to play catch up and release the digital adaptor cable I need so that I can have XM.