Has anyone got any feedback on mounting a XM satellite radio antenna on their boat? I want to install one on my 260. I am wanting to mount it on the side/top of the cabin above the starboard porthole. I trailer alot, so mounting it on a mast at the stern would be in the way of the mast crutch.
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Interested
Well I'm thinking about the same thing. I've got a Sirius unit in one of my cars and was thinking of getting one of those portable units to take between the truck and the boat so I can listen when I'm towing also. The thing that I think you need to consider is that those antenna's usually expect to be placed on a metal truck or car body. So you might need to check the reception at different places on the boat. Jason
Well I'm thinking about the same thing. I've got a Sirius unit in one of my cars and was thinking of getting one of those portable units to take between the truck and the boat so I can listen when I'm towing also. The thing that I think you need to consider is that those antenna's usually expect to be placed on a metal truck or car body. So you might need to check the reception at different places on the boat. Jason
I bought a marine antenna
for my 260. Terx makes marine antennas for both Sirius and XM. they are about 8" tall and come with either a 1"x14 or a swivel mount. I found it on ebay for about $60.00 w/shipping. The instructions say that the sail and mast could interfere with the signal reception. I can see the mast or boom, but the sail? I dunno. I don't want to drill holes until I'm sure about the reception.
for my 260. Terx makes marine antennas for both Sirius and XM. they are about 8" tall and come with either a 1"x14 or a swivel mount. I found it on ebay for about $60.00 w/shipping. The instructions say that the sail and mast could interfere with the signal reception. I can see the mast or boom, but the sail? I dunno. I don't want to drill holes until I'm sure about the reception.
What is on your boat ?
Reudi: Do you have an "XM ready" radio already installed on your boat, or do you plan to use the Boom Box that XM has available ? I use the Boom Box, and all I need to do is keep my antenna near the side of the boat. Most times I can simply keep it attached to the Box in its holder.
Reudi: Do you have an "XM ready" radio already installed on your boat, or do you plan to use the Boom Box that XM has available ? I use the Boom Box, and all I need to do is keep my antenna near the side of the boat. Most times I can simply keep it attached to the Box in its holder.
xm radio antenna
Reudi, we actually mounted a standard auto antenna below decks, in the nav station! originally hooked up the radio and put the antenna out the forward hatch to test locations, and when we brought it back below it was still woring fine!
Reudi, we actually mounted a standard auto antenna below decks, in the nav station! originally hooked up the radio and put the antenna out the forward hatch to test locations, and when we brought it back below it was still woring fine!
I have a xm "roady2" reciever
that has a built in FM modulator so you can recieve it on a standard FM radio. Works great with the antenna on the dashboard of my truck. Chuck, regular AM or FM radio frequencies will penetrate a fiberglass hull just fine, Satellite reception requires a specialized antenna that is line of sight and the signal is much weaker than regular radio signals. It does not work inside the boat. If jeffs boombox works the signal probably will penetrate sailcloth. Thats my question.
that has a built in FM modulator so you can recieve it on a standard FM radio. Works great with the antenna on the dashboard of my truck. Chuck, regular AM or FM radio frequencies will penetrate a fiberglass hull just fine, Satellite reception requires a specialized antenna that is line of sight and the signal is much weaker than regular radio signals. It does not work inside the boat. If jeffs boombox works the signal probably will penetrate sailcloth. Thats my question.
Temporary mount
I just use the same reciever that I use in the car with the FM modulator that is built in with the 12V recepticle. I installed a 12V plug right over the radio on the boat and then just plug in the XM there. Then I just run the antenna along the cabin roof and through the companionway, turn it foward, and the twist tie it to the handrail on deck. It stays there just fine and then I can put it back in the car when I am done. That is mostly because I am just cheap though. A permanent solution would be nicer though. FYI, I have no problem with reception once the antenna is on deck - sail up or not. It doesn't work inside the cabin though so it seems the antenna must be outside. Good luck.
I just use the same reciever that I use in the car with the FM modulator that is built in with the 12V recepticle. I installed a 12V plug right over the radio on the boat and then just plug in the XM there. Then I just run the antenna along the cabin roof and through the companionway, turn it foward, and the twist tie it to the handrail on deck. It stays there just fine and then I can put it back in the car when I am done. That is mostly because I am just cheap though. A permanent solution would be nicer though. FYI, I have no problem with reception once the antenna is on deck - sail up or not. It doesn't work inside the cabin though so it seems the antenna must be outside. Good luck.
I agree with Jared
I have the XM Roady 2 which plays through the FM radio on any free station. I love it because I can take it off the boat and use it in the car too. I hook it up exactly the same as Jared and it works great. The antenna wire is micro thin and if it's raining, I pop open the hatch, plop the little antenna just outside the hatch and close it back down. BTW, the Roady's antenna has a magnetic bottom so it can be attached to a metal surface. I also found that it works pretty well inside the boat if you position the antenna by a sw facing window.
I have the XM Roady 2 which plays through the FM radio on any free station. I love it because I can take it off the boat and use it in the car too. I hook it up exactly the same as Jared and it works great. The antenna wire is micro thin and if it's raining, I pop open the hatch, plop the little antenna just outside the hatch and close it back down. BTW, the Roady's antenna has a magnetic bottom so it can be attached to a metal surface. I also found that it works pretty well inside the boat if you position the antenna by a sw facing window.
signal propagation
Ruedi, I know the theory, but fiberglass does not cause much attenuation either-what do you think the terk antenna shell is made of? my xm radio works fine with the antenna below my fiberglass deck, as does my globalstar-provided you have a line of sight to the satellite-meaning it's not low enough on the horizon that you have metal blocking the signal. the signal will be stronger above deck, and the special marine antenna will be more efficient(doesn't expect a metal ground plane like a car antenna), but it does work
Ruedi, I know the theory, but fiberglass does not cause much attenuation either-what do you think the terk antenna shell is made of? my xm radio works fine with the antenna below my fiberglass deck, as does my globalstar-provided you have a line of sight to the satellite-meaning it's not low enough on the horizon that you have metal blocking the signal. the signal will be stronger above deck, and the special marine antenna will be more efficient(doesn't expect a metal ground plane like a car antenna), but it does work
Chuck is right...
If you are having signal interference aboard th boat - it isnt' due to the fiberglass - it is probably due to what is in between the head liner and the deck! Email Terk... they are surprisingly responsive. They say no problems through fiberglass or sailcloth... only the metal that you need to watch out for on the boat. But anyway, in my set up (see link to photo forum), I mounted the stereo right in front of the compression post and just through one of those micro-antenna's right into one of my access plates near the compression post. I have never had drop out at all.
If you are having signal interference aboard th boat - it isnt' due to the fiberglass - it is probably due to what is in between the head liner and the deck! Email Terk... they are surprisingly responsive. They say no problems through fiberglass or sailcloth... only the metal that you need to watch out for on the boat. But anyway, in my set up (see link to photo forum), I mounted the stereo right in front of the compression post and just through one of those micro-antenna's right into one of my access plates near the compression post. I have never had drop out at all.
Inside the Boat
Our Sirus radio works fine with the antenna below deck around Florida. However in the Bahamas, where we were near the edge of the signal footprint, we had to move it to under the dodger for good reception. We would get a lot of drop-outs with the below deck antenna in that situation. Bill
Our Sirus radio works fine with the antenna below deck around Florida. However in the Bahamas, where we were near the edge of the signal footprint, we had to move it to under the dodger for good reception. We would get a lot of drop-outs with the below deck antenna in that situation. Bill
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