sirrius radio

gmikejames · May 31, 2006

Been thinking of buying Sirrius radio and looking to install it in the blank space in the overhead. I need to replace my windshield (cracked and growing) and think this would be a good time to install the external antenna through the windshield gasket into the overhead. I believe that there is some hot wires in the overhead that the radio could be hooked up to. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Elwood 2000 · June 1, 2006

I watched them replace the windshield in my Suburban and I would not run the antenea thru the gasket/glue. It will probly leak, or at least with my luck.

I have gone both these routes and did the later just for looks.

First, you can run your antenae wire along the headliner to the passenger door, down the A pillar, behind the dash and out the rubber flex-tube that has all the wires going to the door. From the flex-tube, up the window channel, accross the top to the center of the windshield and then mount your mag. antenae in the center of the roof, a few inches behind the glass. You will need a little peice of wire loom to go from the flex-tube to the window channel on the outside. The wire will fit behind the window seal, between the seal and the paint very well.

Second, I went out the third brake light. This puts the antenae on the back side of the roof and barely noticable. Since you are going to mount in the overhead console, you can fish the wire thru the headliner. When you put the wire thru the third brake light hole, you will need just a little dot of silicone sealant to keep it from leaking. Mine is mounted on the dash and I ran my wires from behind the dash under the kick panels on the floor and up the rear corner of the cab, all behind the plastic. Pretty simple to do.

I love my Sirius radio and wonder now how I lived without it!

June 1, 2006

Go the headliner route through the third brake light. It's easy as all get out and it's hidden well.

SoCalChris · June 1, 2006

I know this isn't what you asked for advice on, but...

I had Sirius, and was completely underwhelmed by it. I like too wide a variety of music to be happy with listening to set stations. Spend a little extra money, and get an ipod. Even an used 20GB one offers room for tons of songs. Spend a few hours building a playlist, and you're set. You'll basically wind up with a radio sation that was custom made just for you.

If you do decide to go the Sirius route, I'd at least try it for a while before custom mounting it in your truck. At least see if you even enjoy it before modifying your truck.

Just my $0.02

kosb · June 1, 2006

I think you will like having satelite radio be it XM or Sirius. I've had XM for four years now and I love it. My brother has Sirius and I like it almost as much.

Any way I went the though the door route to the center of the windshield only because I carry a 4 wheel pop up camper quite a bit and the reciever would be blocked by it. If I did'nt have that problem I would have ran it out the third brake lite.

My XM head unit is mounted on my dash on a swivel mount that is attached to the blank spot next to the air bag switch. I like the idea of putting it in the overhead though. If my head unit would have been smaller I would of went that route.

Hope that helps you out.

Elwood 2000 · June 1, 2006

I have considered the Ipod route, but I like to listen to a very wide variety of things. Different types of music, news, comedy, etc. For the hours I listen, an Ipod would get old quickly, but if you are just listening on your commute, then it would be a great idea.

gmikejames · June 2, 2006

It just go to show that more than one mind can offer excellent ideas in this forum. I will use the 3rd brake light route through the headliner. I apprieciate all the suggestions. When completed I will post some pictures.

Thanks

IDGBZ71 · June 14, 2006

I installed sirius starmate this past weekend. I used the window mounting bracket they gave me but I bolted it below the 12v power outlets. I was going to put it up above but I use it for storage and I have a radar detector on front windsheld also. Works well where it is might be in the way if someone has to sit in the middle. And I ran it out the rear cab vent an around the window can't even see it.

2kwolfgang · June 16, 2006

When I installed my XM radio a few weeks ago I also put the antenna on the roof right in front of the cargo lamp. The wire ran through the gasket very well then I ran it under the headliner around the passenger side down the A-pillar. At this point I noticed I had way more wire then I needed so I coiled up some of it and stuffed it in the fuse panel on that side of the truck. From there I ran the wire in the crease under where the airbag would pop out then behind the main dash bezel and finally it hooks to the reciever which I mounted by the airbag shutoff switch just under the air vent next to the radio. The ONLY visible wire in the whole system is about 2 inches where it hooks to the reciever and about 3 or 4 inches on the roof.

cajun65 · June 19, 2006

I went through the 3rd light too to hook up my Sirius satellite. I love it. My wife's 04 Suburban had XM and when we travel, there isn't much better than having that. Along the iPod lines, I like my own playlist too so I just bought an iPod nano and had all the music options one person could stand.