Thread: Use Stock Antena for XM

Definatly NO. All antennas (well most) are tuned at a speific length for thier recieve frequincy. FM uses 88-106MHz and XM uses 2600Mhz (if i remember correct). Basicly they are at the total oppisite ends of the radio band. If the antenna is too short or too long, it will reduce it's recieve quality.

Plus, a lot of XM, Sirius, and GPS antennas are also known as "active antennas". They recieve a small amount of power, from the reciever to amplify or boost the signal before it goes thru the coax cable. The coax cable on FM radios can be cheap, low quality cable due to the radio stations transmitting 20,000 watts and being only up to ~60 air miles away.
XM, Sirius and GPS signals are transmitted at only about .2 watts and can be much further in distance. They require a much better coax cable to keep from loosing the signal in the wire.

Satellite antennas have gotten to be so small and so good in recieve on the newer models in the last 1-2 years that they are about the same size as a keychain remote for your car. You can easily hide it on your trunk near the rear window, and some people even put it inside on thier rear dash, although being inside and partially covered by the roof, it still works ok.

Thanx for the info, I will get the new smaller antena for the XM.
Things are hard to "hide" in a Crossfire thoug, may have it painted and just stick it on the roof.

Originally Posted by nFiniteTuning

and the antenae connector for a car is totaly different.

Actualy they are the same connector for my stock radio and the XM, both europian style connection.

Originally Posted by nFiniteTuning

The XM antenae picks up a SATELITE signal. The regular car antenae picks up radio frequencies. Totaly different.

The "satellite signal" is in the radio portion of the spectrum too.