I just got my new truck and I was out driving today listening to the satellite radio when it hit me...

With the truck camper on, the cabover will cover up that antenna on the top of the truck. I'm sure that will stop the radio from working. Anyone run into this and have a solution?

 

My XM wasn't factory so there was plenty of antenna wire I just built a bracket to put it on the camper roof. Not sure what to do if it's a factory setup.

 

You could buy an aftermarket mag mount antenna and put it on the hood. You could route the wire under the dash and plug it into the module. I also know of people mounting an antenna under the dash, though this may not be as affective for signal loss. Either way, make sure it has the correct connection as there are many different connectors for these antennas and I don't know exactly which one these use.

Later,

Al

 

My factory Sirrius works with my camper installed. The antenna is on the back of the cab in the center. Sometimes when I going under overpasses or on twisty mountain roads it cuts out. Most of the time reception is just fine.

 

Wow, really it works? I thought these things had to have a line of site to the sky.

 

I was suprised as well. I figured it would work when I noticed I still had reception when my truck was in the garage. Lke I said, it does cut out occaisionally but If I'm rolling down a good straight raod with the camper on it does come in fine.

 

You have a cab over camper? A cab over camper is not going to work at all. You will have to move it someplace it has a good view of the sky. As mentioned, an after market antennae plugged into the module and placed somewhere else. My experience is that on top of the dash works just fine. Keeps it out of the weather, and it still has a good view. I have not tried it in my 1st gen, but in the 'Burb and the Sebring, and BIL's superduty the antennas on the dash work just fine.

 

As I said in my earlier post...My factory Sirrius radio works with my camper installed. The antenna is on the back of the cab in the center. It does break up occaisionaly depending on where I'm driving. If I'm sitting still it works just fine. My camper is an Outfitter APEX 8 with the extended cabover bed.

 

You do have to have line of sight with the satellite, but the signal could be bouncing off something and getting to the antennae. If the bird is straight overhead, you ain't gonna get nothing.

 

It depends on the type and thickness of the material the camper is made of. The satellite is a high freq low power signal that will pass through plastics, glass and wood to some extent but not much. It will not pass through metal but may be reflecting.

Sirius radio is a strange thing. I have a boombox that works fine in my, what looks like a dungeon, family room. When I take it outside under the 2nd floor deck where there is less obstruction and I lose signal. Go figure!

Later,
Al

 

Boy,I'm bummed. I didn't order factory Sirius because of my Northstar popup camper. Glad it's working for you.

 

On My Sirius Radio My Antenna Is Mounted On My Dash And I Have No Problems With Mine.

 

I was thinking the dash might work. It's way out in front of the camper over hang and would be really easy to stick a little low profile antenna up there.
I read on another forum that the connection for that antenna is in the kick panel on the passenger side. Anyone know if that's true?

 

According to the 2006 manual, the antenna connector for the satellite goes to the tuner behind the rear passenger seat. I could have sworn it was under the dash also.

Al

 

I have an Outfitter Apex 8 as well and mine did not work. I ended up getting a magnet mount on the hood and ran the wire along the underside of the hood and over the inside of the passengers side fender and through the hole where the stock am/fm antenna goes through. From there once it is in the cab, the stock Sirius antenna plug module is right there. Just unplug stock and re-plug new and you are done. Oh, to access the plug module you have to take the passengers side kick panel off starting at the door side of the seat and move forward towards kick panel. Hope this helps.