Aftermarket head unit + Sirius or XM: Wheres you're control box?
 

I'm thinking about adding XM to my AVIC-D3, and i'm wondering where most of you guys are putting the hideway unit that has to be installed to control the unit. Behind the dash is pretty much filled with wiring harness and gps antenna wire that was left over everywhere i could cram it.

http://pioneerelectronics.com/pio/pe...GEX-P10XMT.jpg

I have mine behind the driver's seat in the empty Bose spot.

I'm wondering the same thing as I'm about to get a DNX7100 and satellite radio. Is there a place behind the dash where it will fit? I'd prefer it there rather than running a wire under the seat or behind it in the cubby.

You could probably fit it below the A/C controls, but it will probably be a tight squeeze.

I put my satellite radio hideaway box (mine is Sirius) in the large/lower compartment behind the driver's seat. It fits nicely. The wiring is pretty simple and neat for these units, so placement as far as running wires isn't much of an issue. I initially tried placing the hideaway inside the dash, but it is just so crowded there.

-- Spike

I put mine where the glove box used to be. got my crossovers and my sub amp in there as well.

Running the wiring isn't a problem from behind the seat. You can easily run the wiring right up the middle under center console.

I have mine in there too. My amp rack is there as well.

If you're putting the Sat radio unit behind the seat, where are you doing the antenna - dash or rear window?

I have my antenna on the rear strut bar. Sirius recommends placing the antenna outside the car on the roof, but mine works fine inside the car under the rear hatch window.

--Spike

I wondered if you could stick it on the inside glass of the rear hatch? Does it have to be upright or would it work upside down?

I just installed a Sirius box last week. I hid mine under the passenger seat and ran the wires up under the center console. There is no way in hell it will fit under the A/C controls or anywhere else for that matter in an 07 dash.

Mine wouldn't work for crap in that same location. I think it really has to do with what part of the country you are from in relation to the satellite. I have an indoor Sirius radio and the instructions show my antenna must be pointed in an extreme northeast direction to get a signal. I had to put it on the dash right at the center of the two vents. The GPS antenna on the otherhand is under the dash and works fine.

The only place that worked for me for the antenna was on the roof unfortunately. I tried all those spots inside and the signal sucked.

behind the driver's seat in the empty bose sub spot along with both amps

I'm not sure why you would have better reception when moving the antenna to the front of the car since both locations (front or rear) require the signal to pass through a glass surface. Is there tint added to your rear (hatch) window?

Locating a satellite radio antenna fixed to a building is important since you don't want the building blocking the signal. So that does depend upon your location. Your location (St. Louis) needs a view of the northeast sky while my location (Frostbite Falls) needs to "see" the southern sky.

Your satellite radio antenna in a car is a different situation since the car's direction (and therefore the antenna's position) is not fixed. That's why Sirius and XM advise mounting the antenna outside the car on its roof. The idea (and advantage) of satellite radio is that you can drive from Florida to Maine and not lose reception. And, you can drive around your town (changing directions) without losing reception. Since tall buildings in cities block the satellite signal, Sirius and XM install terrestrial repeaters in these locations to insure reception for their subscribers.

--Spike

:confused: Mounting the antenna on top of the rear strut bar gives me reliable reception. Not sure why you cannot receive the signal when the antenna is inside the car. I don't have any tint on my rear hatch window (and, I'm not sure if that makes any difference)

--Spike

I haven't tested this myself, but I don't believe this is something you would want to do. The antenna is directional and depends upon exposure to the satellites and terrestrial repeaters on its top and raised sides. Placing the antenna upside-down would interfere with its design for optimum reception.

Also... The wire connecting the satellite antenna to its hideaway box is somewhat fragile and cannot be altered (i.e., you cannot shorten this wire by cutting it and soldering different lengths). It would be a poor design to install the antenna in the hatch window and run the antenna wire where it would flex when opening/closing the hatch.

--Spike

This is another point you should consider when running your antenna wire for satellite radio (XM or Sirius).

You cannot "interrupt" the satellite antenna wire (cut, add a segment, etc.). If you mount your satellite radio antenna in a configuration that is not fixed and allows flexing (i.e., the rear hatch window), and there is failure (i.e., the antenna wire flexes to breakage); your only option is running a new antenna wire. You cannot repair the existing antenna wire by adding/repairing a segment.

--Spike