Satellite Radio Antennas - Improve Your Reception

Conventional radios in our vehicles have an antenna provided for us. Is usually located in the rear of the vehicle and it works for FM and AM which operate in the megahertz and kilohertz frequency range respectively. Satellite radios require an antenna that will not work well from the one in our vehicle, so they require the driver to install it.

The purpose of the antenna is to attract the radio signal from satellites orbiting the earth back to your vehicle. It is not as impossible as you may think since the antenna is highly tuned for the exact frequency that satellite radio providers use. Our only job is to position it in a place where it works close to 100% of the time.

The easiest place to locate the antenna is simply throwing it up on the dash. This works most of the time but the signal from space could be bouncing off the car especially the roof since the antenna is located inside the vehicle. Creating reflection points is the last thing you want to do since it is now harder to reach the antenna. It may be easy to locate the antenna inside but the reception may be fuzzy.

It does not matter which satellite radio provider you choose, the antenna should have a magnet on one end. This works great while attaching it to sheet metal on the external of the vehicle. The sheet metal actually helps the reception by turning the whole vehicle into an extension of the antenna. The antenna uses the antenna currents of the vehicle to boost the reception power of the antenna.

Not all locations on the sheet metal will work the same and you may have to do some trial and error. Antennas work different on each vehicle since the sheet metal is different on each vehicle. This difference changes the reflection points and other antenna properties, which does not make for a cut and dry solution. The roof will mostly work the best since there are no obstructions between the antenna and the satellite. Placing the antenna on the trunk lid may also work well provided the length of the cable is long enough.

Now that you have the antenna positioned, the last word of advice is the antenna cable. This cable is most cases are very long and you have to hide it somewhere. Make sure there are not kinks in the line. This will degrade the signal even though you positioned the antenna correctly. Imagine the cable, as a water hose, any kinks and you would be preventing the water from continuing through. The antenna signal works the same.

Try different spots in your vehicle and even try different spots for your receiver as well. In some cases, moving the receiver can make the reception change drastically. This is only for some models but if you have located the antenna correctly and the reception is still poor, try that next and of course make sure you are using a blank station. Use these tips and you will be on your way to a happy satellite radio experience.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Antennas