If you have one that is.

I've used an XM SkyFi receiver that sits in a docking cradle in all my cars, my PUs, my police cars, even in the travel trunk of two Gold Wings since 2003. I've got a few spares and used to get stuff off of Ebay from estate sales. The antennas have small lead in cables, and usually I have just set them up on the dash near center with no issues. On the Mustang it's stuck under a cover of the rear package shelf under the big glass, it works fine. On the Gold Wings, it usually was set on a piece between the mount screws for a rack but inside the trunk, seeing satellites through ABS just fine.

Antennas have magnetic bases, and will hold on. I have one receiver that has been on a life subscription since back when life meant life, and the Subaru has it's own "extra" sub at a reduced rate as the "Life sub" is my primary sub. .

I have a cradle, modulator, etc in my '77 but depending on direction, have to move the antenna to maintain a south western exposure as the windshield is too steep to let it see the satellites if I'm going north eastwards. I could stick the antenna outside, but hesitate to stick it on my new paint. The antenna base has a vinyl overlay that will protect from scratches. I know from experience, 130 mph winds will not move it. But that paint didn't come cheap .... I could use a piece of static cling tint under it for short periods, but looking for ideas of more long term alternatives.
Curious if anyone else has dealt with an XM antenna on a Dent?
I have thought could route the lead in through the firewall using a grommeted hole where other wires are, then when using it opening the hood and pulling the antenna off the firewall and setting the antenna at the hood's rear edge, just while in use, not permanently. I currently have excess lead in a loop hanging up. I have on occasion, fed the antenna out a door and stuck it on the roof too, but then there's that excess lead. I'll be fine.

Our police cars, we hung our radars on the rear window glass using a bracket that had two padded leaves over glass and a "tongue" that slipped into the window channel, they were very secure.

I have options, but thought maybe someone here with a Dent has traveled this path?

 

I guess y'all don't much mess with Sat radio. Anyway, for this truck I have long used a twin lead (sat and terrestial repeater) feeds, but the newer smaller XM antennas have one lead, and after digging through my stash of spare parts, etc, I mounted a later single lead cradle and used a single lead antenna that I think will set closer to the windshield due to it's smaller size. Maybe tomorrow I take it for a drive northwards. Below is a picture of old bigger one versus newer smaller one. I just set them up there to show.



Anyway, the old one didn't do a great job of sitting under that carpet like cover over my dash, but this smaller one disappears under the same cover and it's magnet base works great too, and as I recall it being stuck to metal aids it's sensitivity. It works great, even under the carpet which it does not see. I did pad the bundle of antenna lead where I tucked it behind the cradle.



After finishing, I sat there near an hour listening to Willie's Roadhouse.
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I used to have a subscription to satellite, but smart phones have replaced it with the ability to stream anywhere and anytime, without the need to transfer docks or antennas. The ability to customize a channel is also a plus. I think I eliminated my subscription about 15 years ago. I suspect many others have the same experience. Honestly, I listed to podcasts about 80-90% of the time when I'm driving anyway, so satellite is useless to me.

 

What is this new fangled thing you call XM radio

In my truck, 81 F100, I get the full effect of 'back in the day" I use the factory AM / FM / Cassette and that works great for me.
Heck even the fancier radio in my 02 Dodge is fine for me.
Dave ----

 

I dont know how it all works or the type mirrors the truck has but maybe you can make a plate to fit the mirror?
Maybe a bracket that CB ant. mount to and can stick the xm ant to it?
Dave ---

 

On the sub, I started with XM in 2002 when Wife gave me a kit at the suggestion of a friend. I run it in my police car from 2002 until retired in 2010, it stayed in there except when I took it out to use in a POV. It survived freeze nights and hot days. After resubbing a time or two, I sprung for a life sub, and at one time that was 5 years, but my sub predates that, it is life for that receiver and has a provision that it can be transferred if needed to another receiver like if it breaks. I have unused extra receivers I gathered on estate sales, etc. One guy just "gave" me his stuff as he didn't want to even start. I also have two boom boxes, I think I maybe paid $20 for them at flea markets.

 

tbear853,

I think you lost a bunch of us at the 130 mph wind part !

 

I ditched my SXM radio and use their app with an Apple CarPlay enabled radio. Many more channels and so convenient.

 

I used to have XM/Sirus but have now switched to a USB drive loaded with a bunch of music files that I plug into the head unit, then I can move it from my '11 powerstroke, to my roadglide, to my camper or into my '79 F150. On my Harley when I had XM going on that, I actually just put the antenna directly on-top of the head unit inside the fairing. Had pretty good signal with it inside the fairing too and really only lost signal in the same areas of town (tall buildings) that I did in my pickup I had at the time.

All that said, for your dent, if it were me I would put it on the roof and would route the lead through the cargo light at the back of the cab, under the head liner, down A pillar to the receiver. I haven't painted mine yet so I wouldn't be too worried about scratches myself, but in your case you might look into getting the clear film meant to protect hoods from rock chips and make it easier to clean bugs off. You could use a small piece of that under the antenna and not have to worry about it scratching the paint. If/when the plastic film gets beat up or starts peeling off, remove it and add a fresh piece. Might even be able to get a few small scraps from an accessory shop if you have one in your area so you don't have to buy a whole roll of that film.

 

No, not me I am just glad he wasn't nearby in his patrol car when I have experienced those speeds. Things happen when you have a wide open stretch of desolate highway in my neck of the woods

 

That was not in my '77, was on police cars.

 

Have a friend that is highway patrol, he took a pheasant to his light bar about that speed when they were chasing someone many years back. Apparently it was incredibly loud when it happened and created quite the mess when it ripped the light bar completely off the car. Really sucked for the troopers following behind him fairly close...