Installing Sat Radio Kit in Navigation Radio

[SilverFox]

I ordered the Satellite Radio Kit that goes with the Mopar Navigation Radio and now wonder how hard it will be to install. I think the antenna has to sit on the roof and wonder what would be the best way to get the wire from the antenna to the radio. Has anyone installed this kit? Anything you can tell me would be appreciated.

 

[ntenna]

I saw the kit and the install harness, looks pretty easy. Even though they want the antenna outside, I believe you could experiment with under the dash top like the NAV antenna, there's alot of glass to see through if you get it far enough back and still stay under plastic.



I seem to remember the outside concept can either go through the hole under the back seat or behind the front seat on regular cabs and goes up the back, or you have to drop the headliner and pop out at the 3rd brake light?... I'll be at the dealer tomorrow and check the box again.

 

[SilverFox]

Hey thanks ntenna! That's the kind of info I'm looking for. I picked up my Nav Radio Monday and then decided to order the Satellite Radio Kit. This was the first Nav Radio my dealer has sold and of course he didn't know the first thing about Sat Radio. Would certainly appreciate any info you can pass on after you visit your dealer tomorrow.

 

[ntenna]

Just checked it out. Requires a 3/4" hole in the roof 10-12" in front of the third brake light. The antennna is about 3" wide and 5 " long, 2. 5" tall. A bit too large to be able to fit under the dash plastic. The way it works is that it has a 3/4" "fixed connector" with two wings which snap into the hole. A gasket on the base is compressed when the wings snap in an keeps the water out. Looks like not much choice for a different kind of mount on the cab, unless you fab something to stand above it. If you have a cap, you probably could move it back there, but the snaps are designed for the thickness of sheet metal.



There are other antennas out there for after-market. This is an Alpine rig... . wish I could give you better news.....



You use one harness if you dont have a CD changer, another with a switch-box if you do, controlled by the radio head, of course.



Let us know how you like it... I haven't decided yet about adding it to mine... .

 

[Big MAK]

They call it an 'antenna' but it's a receiver. The difference is that a receiver needs line of sight to get a signal. In other words; it would work poorly if it wasn't on the roof.



You won't have to route the 'antenna' (receiver) wire to the dash unit; you'll have to route it to the receiver unit; a box that is then wired into the radio -- unless Mopar/Infinity has redesigned things since last I looked. At that time they said the receiver unit was seperate from the dash unit.



Have you found out if the Mopar/Infinity dash unit has all the display options that a Sirius or XM control unit has? Such as displaying artist/song title/album/etc. ?

 

[SilverFox]

ntenna, Thanks for the new information. I don't have a problem with drilling a 3/4 inch hole in the roof or with the size of the antenna but I do wonder if the headliner can be removed enough to get the wire to the box. That really scares me I'm going to install it or get it installed one way or the other. I'm not going with the CD changer, don't think it will be necessary with the Sat Radio. I'll keep you informed of my progress. My truck came off the line in Mexico 2/7/03. As of yesterday it was still sitting at the factory. No body can tell me when it will be loaded on the rail car.



Big MAK, When I ordered the Sat Radio Kit I was under the impression that it was just one unit plus the antenna. This will be the first Kit the dealer has seen so don't know what it contains. I do like the idea of two boxes. Might make for an easier installation.



I know very little about Sat Radio so have no idea about what the options will be, i. e. , displaying artist, song title, etc. Thanks for the information

 

[ntenna]

Originally posted by Big MAK

They call it an 'antenna' but it's a receiver. The difference is that a receiver needs line of sight to get a signal. In other words; it would work poorly if it wasn't on the roof.



You won't have to route the 'antenna' (receiver) wire to the dash unit; you'll have to route it to the receiver unit; a box that is then wired into the radio -- unless Mopar/Infinity has redesigned things since last I looked. At that time they said the receiver unit was seperate from the dash unit.



Have you found out if the Mopar/Infinity dash unit has all the display options that a Sirius or XM control unit has? Such as displaying artist/song title/album/etc. ?

Mark- you are correct it is a "powered" antenna, sends down a bit-stream, we call them down-converters or LNB's in the trade. It does have to have a decent look at the bird, although the buffer in the receiver box, which is indeed separate from the radio, acn handle a pretty long drop-out. According to the instructions with mine, the unit will do song tilte/artist, part of the PTY (program type) system built into the radio. It does work on RDS, but would have to be more sophisticated to do all the Sirius menus, and it is supposed to be once you add the box..... the radio "learns" it has that menu once it gets data from the sat receiver box.



Amazing thing, the radio can read the vehicle ID. First power-up, the logo was Jeep. Second time, and every time since, it's a RAM

 

[SilverFox]

ntenna, What the heck is going on :--) At 10:49 AM you were trying to decide if you were going to buy the Sat Radio and at 12:13 you had it installed. Did I read your last post correctly? If you do have it installed did you have any trouble with the headliner? How do you like the radio. Any other information?



Note: Local times may be wrong.

 

[ntenna]

Originally posted by SilverFox

ntenna, What the heck is going on :--) At 10:49 AM you were trying to decide if you were going to buy the Sat Radio and at 12:13 you had it installed. Did I read your last post correctly? If you do have it installed did you have any trouble with the headliner? How do you like the radio. Any other information?



Note: Local times may be wrong.

Nah, I just have the NAV radio, but not the satellite addition yet. Did actually look over the whole kit this morning while my gutless 1500 Ram company transmitter truck was being serviced.



They have put several in Jeeps, so they have them on the shelf... .



I had the headliner down in my '98 CTD to add the cab lights. Not that big a deal, but it will kink if you don't baby it. Now on the trucks with side SRS, well, I guess a battery disconnection is a good idea.



I'll be interested in how yours does the display, are you going with the regular radio or the NAV radio? And you are right, with the satellite radio, a CD changer does sound kind of redundant!

 

[SilverFox]

ntenna, I have the Navigation Radio already and the Sat Radio Kit on order. I think I can install the Nav Radio myself but don't know about the Sat Radio. I'm not a real mechanic, but do like perfection. Wish I knew of a really good shop in Ft. Worth to do the whole install. I'll be able to tell more when my truck comes and I can look at the Kit.

 

[ntenna]

Originally posted by SilverFox

ntenna, I have the Navigation Radio already and the Sat Radio Kit on order. I think I can install the Nav Radio myself but don't know about the Sat Radio. I'm not a real mechanic, but do like perfection. Wish I knew of a really good shop in Ft. Worth to do the whole install. I'll be able to tell more when my truck comes and I can look at the Kit.

SilverFox- I can guarantee you that you can do the NAV radio no sweat. The Sat add-on wiring is also plug-and-play, but will require some interior take-apart, door jamb plastic, etc. and that headliner just at the back. I looked over the instructions. Not too intense, but set aside a half day to be sure you are happy, and if it goes together easy there will be more time to play with the tunes!

 

[SilverFox]

ntenna, Thanks for the encouragement. Will let you know how it comes out. Hope my truck gets here soon...