XM sure connect antenna

[unicron0827]

has anybody found a decent way of attatching the xm sure connect antenna to the factory antenna without a giant mass of wire flapping around on the roof.
ive managed to find space in the window seals on the top and drivers side of the windsheild
ive managed to get the rest hidden under dash panels and above the steering wheel behind that rubber piece and all the way to the mount on my dash.
the only thing left is that 2 or 3 inches of wire around the antenna area...
any ideas?
:banghead::banghead:

[marinofan]

has anybody found a decent way of attatching the xm sure connect antenna to the factory antenna without a giant mass of wire flapping around on the roof.
ive managed to find space in the window seals on the top and drivers side of the windsheild
ive managed to get the rest hidden under dash panels and above the steering wheel behind that rubber piece and all the way to the mount on my dash.
the only thing left is that 2 or 3 inches of wire around the antenna area...
any ideas?
:banghead::banghead:

Is it even necessary? Thats a serious question. I'm looking at buying an Inno myself and read about the new antenna thing. Have you tried just using it without the sureconnect?

[CSVT_2004]

has anybody found a decent way of attatching the xm sure connect antenna to the factory antenna without a giant mass of wire flapping around on the roof.
ive managed to find space in the window seals on the top and drivers side of the windsheild
ive managed to get the rest hidden under dash panels and above the steering wheel behind that rubber piece and all the way to the mount on my dash.
the only thing left is that 2 or 3 inches of wire around the antenna area...
any ideas?
:banghead::banghead:

Loose the sure connect, for $10 more you can have the FM Direct piece.... Sure connect blows!!

Okay, so for those who may not know here's the break down... sat antenna... needs line of sight to sky, picks up sat signal... sends it to your xm/sirius unit... unit then broadcasts FM signal for your Radio to pick up, most units also have a audio out using a headphone jack.

Breakdown of methods for getting audio from sat radio to car radio...

If you have a XM Xpress Kit, FM output does not work without sure connect or fm direct piece...

Sure Connect --- approx $20... (usually comes with xm units) Clips to exterior ant or factory glass ant... Manufacturers way of fixing their turned down FM output from an FCC ruling, effectively making FM output from stand alone unit crap... unless you enjoy static...

Direct Connect --- approx $30 (may need antenna adapters for proper connection) Goes in line with factory ant wire behind radio, provides FM output from satellite unit through the wire directly to the antenna, eliminates static.

Audio connection --- Approx $5 For those of you who have newer vehicles with AUX in or aftermarket stereos with AUX input, this is the best audio solution, no FM transmission so no static, direct audio between source unit and output unit. Users a male headphone plug with a matching male headphone plug to connect the satellite unit to the radio. Cheap....

Dedicated unit for aftermarket radios --- Only other better solution if you already have an aftermarket radio, get a dedicated satellite unit, approx $100 - $200, shows up as another source on your aftermarket radio, direct audio obviously, no external unit to steal or see....

Sirius makes a direct fm unit too, about the same price as the xm one... sirius units have direct audio output as well, they do come with something similar to a sure connect but it is just a wire... no clip...

I think that is about it....

[marinofan]

so what you're saying is go buy the Inno1 at walmart before there completly gone?

does Inno need an exterior piece to broadcast over your radio?

[whiteboy477]

Yes you will need the FM direct piece and if your putting it into the cougar you will need a couple more things such as the VW ant adapter and the reverse if you have the factory radio still installed. These parts can be picked up at any local best buy Circuit city (the devil audio express) or any private shop

The install of these pieces are quite easy if you have done any kind of audio work in the past

[unicron0827]

Is it even necessary? Thats a serious question. I'm looking at buying an Inno myself and read about the new antenna thing. Have you tried just using it without the sureconnect?


i currently have it hardwired into the stereo for the audio, ...using the tape kit, until i get the new stereo installed(still running the factory head box)

i was curious, becuase im noticing a few dropouts (escpecially between richmond & harrisonburg va) and was hoping that this secondary sureconnect antenna would help.

[unicron0827]

Loose the sure connect, for $10 more you can have the FM Direct piece.... Sure connect blows!!

Okay, so for those who may not know here's the break down... sat antenna... needs line of sight to sky, picks up sat signal... sends it to your xm/sirius unit... unit then broadcasts FM signal for your Radio to pick up, most units also have a audio out using a headphone jack.

Breakdown of methods for getting audio from sat radio to car radio...

If you have a XM Xpress Kit, FM output does not work without sure connect or fm direct piece...

Sure Connect --- approx $20... (usually comes with xm units) Clips to exterior ant or factory glass ant... Manufacturers way of fixing their turned down FM output from an FCC ruling, effectively making FM output from stand alone unit crap... unless you enjoy static...

Direct Connect --- approx $30 (may need antenna adapters for proper connection) Goes in line with factory ant wire behind radio, provides FM output from satellite unit through the wire directly to the antenna, eliminates static.

Audio connection --- Approx $5 For those of you who have newer vehicles with AUX in or aftermarket stereos with AUX input, this is the best audio solution, no FM transmission so no static, direct audio between source unit and output unit. Users a male headphone plug with a matching male headphone plug to connect the satellite unit to the radio. Cheap....

Dedicated unit for aftermarket radios --- Only other better solution if you already have an aftermarket radio, get a dedicated satellite unit, approx $100 - $200, shows up as another source on your aftermarket radio, direct audio obviously, no external unit to steal or see....

Sirius makes a direct fm unit too, about the same price as the xm one... sirius units have direct audio output as well, they do come with something similar to a sure connect but it is just a wire... no clip...

I think that is about it....

so that antenna clip, isnt a secondary antenna, its to facilitate transmission through the nonexistant fm transmission feature (i have an inno2)
which means i dont actually need this damned thing

[CSVT_2004]

so what you're saying is go buy the Inno1 at walmart before there completly gone?

does Inno need an exterior piece to broadcast over your radio?

If you're doing direct audio via headphone jack or tape adapter no, you don't need the sure connect or direct connect pieces. You need those if you're doing an FM broadcast.

so that antenna clip, isnt a secondary antenna, its to facilitate transmission through the nonexistant fm transmission feature (i have an inno2)
which means i dont actually need this damned thing

Correct.... You don't need to the sure connect if you are going to use your tape adapter for the sound.




In any sat radio install there are 3 main things.
1. Unit Power
2. Unit Sat Reception (sat antenna)
3. Unit Audio output (to FM or Direct audio)

Power is easy, do you want to plug it into the cig outlet or hardwire it behind the dash so it's hidden...
Sat Reception... well as long as your antenna has line of site to sky you should be golden... inside, or outside of car, I've done them both ways and not had issues....
Audio output is kinda the PITA, cause you have to determine the customers needs and wants.... I try to do the direct audio since it saves money as well as time.... but sometimes you can't go that way and have to go FM direct...