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Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:34 am

Hi-After reading the forums and testing myself, I found that the best place for my xm satellite antenna is up top on the luggage rack. I have read where others have done the same and routed the wire through the drainage hole and then into the bus interior.

So I just need to know how to fish the wire through the hole? Do I just unscrew the screws holding the rack portion to the roof and lift it a little to get the wire through the drain?

Thanks. :)

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:44 am

what's wrong with just putting it on the dash? I have my magnetic Sirius antenna stuck right to the dash and have never had a problem with reception.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:50 am

I tried it. I liked the way it looked and was easy to hide the wire. I like easy. I live in a very hilly area and with the satellite so low on the horizon it kept cutting in and out incessantly. I moved it around on the A pillar and even just above the windshield, same thing. It wasn't until I temporarily moved it up top that I started to get reception close to what I get in my car. I think (total guess) that the Sirius signal is more stable than XM.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:19 am

No, the signal is not more stable. I have XM and have had Sirius as well. I drive about 60,000 miles a year and they both cut out in Vermont in the hilly areas as well as here in NH. I agree though, for the best possible reception in your area, the top of the bus is the way to go. I have it on the A pillar on my Tundra and it cuts out now and then. It's just where we live. When I'm in NY or PA it doesn't cut out at all because it is relatively flat in those states. I can't help you with the mounting but because I have a stupid PO crank vent in my tin top I am going to install the antenna on the top of the roof without a problem. Do they make antenna's for the satellite that are wireless? If they did, I would order one in a heartbeat for my truck.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:36 am

I think they used to make something like the wireless ipod thing that played through your system when tuned to an empty FM frequency and I hear it worked great, but the FCC ruled that they couldn't use it or something like that. Now you either have to use the hard wired antenna or some dumb thing you attach to your regular radio antenna, but I hear that doesn't work well at all.

There are some good threads on this whole satellite bus issue. The posters that have secured it to the luggage rack have gone through the drain hole, but they did not say how. I am new to all of this so things that are obvious to everyone else I have no experience with.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:43 am

Yep, how do you send the wire through the drain tube with the funky end they have on the antenna. You are correct, that damn thing that goes on your radio antenna is a piece of crap.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:48 am

Sawsalesman wrote: When I'm in NY or PA it doesn't cut out at all because it is relatively flat in those states.

Relatively flat?? Where?? Ever heard of the Adirondack Mountains? The Catskill Mountains? Possibly The Pocono, Allegheny, or The Appalachians? These are all mountain ranges within NY and PA. NY state is also home to the Ithaca Gorges and Niagara Falls. I would call NY and PA a lot of things, flat isn't one of them. Iowa is flat...NY and PA definitely are not.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:51 am

Sawsalesman wrote: Yep, how do you send the wire through the drain tube with the funky end they have on the antenna. You are correct, that damn thing that goes on your radio antenna is a piece of crap.

The luggage rack doesn't have a drain tube, it just has a hole the water drains through that puts the water in the channels on the roof anf off the Bus.

You could just undo the phillips head screws visible on the rack from the outside of the Bus and fish the antenna wire down through it and put it through to the inside of the Bus wherever you choose. The rack will lift up enough to be able to pull the wire through. To remove the rack you have to remove the front piece of the headliner in order to access the bolts underneath. You'll need to figure a way to scure the magnetic antenna to the fiberglass luggage rack also.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:59 am

Well it depends on where you travel in those states. If you think Albany to Binghamton to Findley Lake on 86 has mountains then get out the damn skiis! You are correct, I lived in the Adirondacks for a couple of years and the XM would cut out for sure. I was relating my driving experience in those states where I travel. By the way, I don't call the Catskills or the Poconos mountains. Those are freakin hills. Remember your trip across route 9 in Vermont? With the exception of Hogback Mountain, that route isn't all that bad. I drive that sucker once a month and with the exception of Brattleboro to Bennington, it's just a bunch of hills.

Vdubtech, always like hearing from you whether I'm getting blasted or someone else. I can't wait to meet you next year at Harwinton or Terryville. I do like your sense of humor and no bullshit replies. Straight to the damn point.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:06 am

Sawsalesman wrote: Vdubtech, always like hearing from you whether I'm getting blasted or someone else. I can't wait to meet you next year at Harwinton or Terryville. I do like your sense of humor and no bullshit replies. Straight to the damn point.

Thanks, you're in the minority there!! Most people take offense to my no fluff no bullshit replies and think I'm just an asshole, but people who have met me in person know it's with the best of intentions. Lookin forward to meeting you also, and seeing that awesome Firetruck of yours!! I'll be at Harwinton for sure, never miss that one!! I've only made Terryville once, but it was an awesome show. BTW--topographers would disagree with you on your take of the Catskills or the Poconos....take that Bus for a drive up one of those long mountain roads, it may just change your mind!! :D

Sorry for the sidetrack Aopisa!!

Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:12 am

I used epoxy to hold a magnetic plate on my luggage rack for the sirrius magnetic antenna and ran the antenna lead in the weatherstrip for the passenger's door to under the dash for the hook up.

I tried it on the dash and the reception was poor at best.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:12 am

Yes, very sorry Aopisa! I must admit that driving in those areas in my Tundra is no challenge but I'm sure they will be for the Type 1 motor in the firetruck. Time will tell!

Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:23 am

No problem. I hesitated calling the Greens and Taconics mountains although technically that's how they are classified (I have a B.S. in Geology). That is why I called them 'hills' because even the Catskills and Adirondacks kind of dwarf them. I drive over Rt. 9 several times a month, lately in the bus. This is where I have learned the 'count the number of cars behind me' game! I must admit that the weather in the winter can be quite unpredictable on that road. Not like Mt. Washington, but enough to make it pretty dicey at times.

Back out to the barn with my phillips. I think the epoxied piece of steel is the way to go.

Thanks for the answers

Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:25 am

Yep, don't get me wrong, Hogback can be a bitch in the winter no matter what you are driving.