Friday, April 17, 2009

Install An Xm Satellite Antenna

An XM radio subscriber can tune into a vast number of satellite stations from her vehicle or in her home. The XM antenna picks up the selected station and relays it to the car stereo or to a home receiver. In order to receive a clear signal through your XM radio, you will have to mount and install the antenna correctly.


Instructions


Vehicle Installation


1. Mount the antenna directly above the rear window, on top of the vehicle. This will give the antenna the ability to pick up signals from every direction, no matter which direction you are driving.


2. Route the antenna's wiring underneath the window's weatherstripping, toward the trunk of your vehicle. Open the trunk and insert the wiring into the trunk compartment.








3. Run the antenna cable along the trunk wall and into the right side of the vehicle. Put the right back seat forward, then pull the wire through to the cabin of the vehicle, on the passenger side. Return the seat to its upright position.


4. Run the cable along the side of the vehicle's cabin, underneath the trim, and continue until you reach the leg compartment of the front passenger's side. This will keep the antenna's wire out of view and keep it from being interfered with by passengers.


5. Route the antenna wire underneath the passenger side carpet and run it toward the dashboard to the XM receiver. Plug the adapter into the "ANT" input jack on the back or side of the XM receiver.


Home Installation


6. Open the antenna's clamshell at a 45-degree angle, or halfway between horizontal and vertical positions. Point the clamshell south, on or near the inside of a window sill. If necessary, use the compass in order to determine which way is south. Sit the base of the antenna on a flat surface on or near the window sill.








7. Plug the adapter end of the antenna's wire into the XM receiver's "ANT" input jack. This will send the satellite signal through the antenna and into the receiver.


8. Power on your XM receiver and access its "Signal Indicator" screen, then move the antenna's clamshell slightly, until the terrestrial (TER) and satellite (SAT) signals are at their highest on the level indicators.

Tags: antenna wire, passenger side, This will, antenna clamshell, cable along