I have in my possession 3 antennas. 2 from Antenna Specialists (New low profile unit) and 1 from Sony. I have heard some people installing the Sony inside and I'm looking for feedback on reception internally installed versus externally installed. A lot of folks seem to be installing it on the tower brace. I have a tinted rear window and have been considering a sony install on the front dash close to the point the window intersects with the dash.

I live in a wooded and mountainous area (Seattle). Any feed back on reception in this type of area is greatly appreciated.

Feedback on Antennas...

The Sony Antenna is the smallest (by far)
Antenna Specialists make a decent on-Glass unit which seems okay to look at. If worse comes to worse I'll install this unit on the side window or rear window.

The other Antenna Specialist unit (the newer ones which are low profile) is perhaps the biggest dissappointment. The unit is extremely low profile but it is HUGE. The thing looks like a frickin' saucer!! Avoid this at all cost unless you have a black Z.

 

I use the Sony antenna mounted inside on the rear tower brace. Mine is mounted behind the driver, not on the aluminum of the strut brace, but just to the left on the plastic.

Reception is great. I've found only two places in the city where I lose reception. One is just for a split second under a bridge while on the freeway, and the other is driving along some brick storefronts that block the southern sky. In other words, I don't think mounting the antenna inside the car has hurt my reception at all.

Window tint shouldn't affect it at all, unless the tint has some sort of metallic layer. Figure the antenna itself is covered by the plastic case and that doesn't seem to affect reception. I bet you could actually mount the antenna under the plastic trim pieces on the strut brace (if there is enough clearance underneath them) and it would still work fine as long as you didn't have any metal between the antenna and the sky.

Use a small piece of double side foam tape to mount the antenna so that you can remove it easily if your first choice doesn't work out. I used servo tape that you can buy at a hobby store that sells radio controlled cars. Team Associated servo tape is pretty easy to work with, and won't leave any permanent marks on your interior pieces.

JL

 

I agree, I have the Sony (looks like a mini computer mouse) mounted to the right (passenger side) of the metal on the strut brace and I have no reception problems. No window tint however.

 

Well its been over a year so I thought I would ask this question again and see if people have had any luck with the xm antenna and window tint.

My Z has dark tint on all the windows including the windshield, I am pretty sure it is the semi-metallic tint. I am installing the xm radio next week and would like to do the installation in the stut bar.

Anyone have any luck with an interior installation and semi-metallic tint?

 

You should mount it in the dash. I have not had any problems.

 

Which Sony model? And what XM unit are you using and location PLEASE! Thanks