XM Satellite radio

[dennis]

Has anyone investigated what modifications are needed for XM satellite radio reception? I'm considering the $9.95/month XM subscription and wonder if the only extras (to our standard MINI radio) would be some kind of Receiver module and antenna. No need for multi-CD changers, etc. Can anyone shed light on this?

[miniyoda]

the XM radio issue has been covered on other threads, but I'll try to fill in as much as I can.

I will be installing an XM radio shortly after I get my mini (whenever they decide to fix and ship it). XM is a wonderful product, especially if you drive long distances (I drive 1.5 hours each way to work every day). If you get tired of music, you can tune in to several cable TV stations like CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, Weather Channel, etc. Even the "trucker's channel" 168 is fun to listen to.

few modifications are needed. I currently have the Sony PNP in my Explorer, and didn't mount it permantently. I have the unit on Velcro, and the antenna inside on the dash next to the radio. This way I can move it from car to car, and rarely have a problem with dropping signal. I probably will buy a permanent system for Baby. The only extras you should need, depending on your model of XM radio, is the main unit and the antenna. the main unit will "relay" the signal to whatever FM frequency you want, so you don't need to run wires from the unit to the head unit of the Mini. No need for any modifications to the current Mini's system at all.

If I've lost you dramatically, email me at gvestes@yahoo.com, and I'll try to explain it better.

[chiph]

Miniyoda -

Do you think the XM antenna can be mounted to the back of the sunroof, inside the car? Would it be intrusive there? And does the prohibition on metallic tint (for GPS antennas used for nav systems) apply to XM reception?

Chip H.

[miniyoda]

Quote:

Originally posted by chiph
Miniyoda -

Do you think the XM antenna can be mounted to the back of the sunroof, inside the car? Would it be intrusive there? And does the prohibition on metallic tint (for GPS antennas used for nav systems) apply to XM reception?

Chip H.

I'd say no to prohibition, but metallic tint would probably weaken the signal if the antenna was inside the car. You probably would still get a reception on a clear day, but under a tunnel or on heavy cloud cover you would probably drop signal.

The antenna can be mounted inside, but same rule applies as above, only more so. I listen to XM radio both in my car and in the office. I use the Sony PNP, and bring indoors during office hours. I'm about 30 feet from the nearest window, but on the top floor of the building. I can get a signal most of the time, but might loose it when someone walks by. So, to make a short story long, you will probably get an XM radio signal through the metal roof of the car, but you will weaken it, and probably would loose signal completely as you go through a tunnel or a big cluster of trees. Best I can say is "try it...if it doesn't work, move the antenna somewhere else".

good luck and let me know how it goes.

Yoda.....75 posts and still no car.

[ShowMetheMini]

I have the Sony Plug-N-Play Unit also. And I LOVE my XM. I just had the antenna removed from my current car as I expect my Cooper a week from Monday. But I'll be sure to head over to Best Buy ASAP to get it rigged back up in the MINI. I plan to mount the antenna on the rear of the roof, as the manufacturer recommends and as I did on the Ford Focus. Very little trouble with reception, except when I am in the downtown Chicago area, at which point it gets so poor that I have to turn it off. I thought of getting an in-dash unit for he car and then just leaving the Sony PNP at home, but then you need to pay two subscriptions a month, one for each unit.

[Ex Con]

XM RULES!!! the best product since Tivo!! I have it installed in my S2000. I thought it was a big scam till I got it now I can't live without it. I live in the mountains where reception is poor but with XM I have crystal clear digital sound at all times! Gret specialty stations too. Like the 1960's? go to channel 6 All 60's music 70's? go to channel 7 etc.

[normalizer]

Supposed to get my MINI this weekend, will be checking on installing XM in it almost immediately. I'll post in the ICE forum when I do.

I have the Sony PNP unit with FM modulator. Not sure if I will use the FM modulator in the MINI or not though/

[dennis]

[quote]Originally posted by ShowMetheMini
[b]I have the Sony Plug-N-Play Unit also. And I LOVE my XM.
_______________
The Sony PNP unit looks nice. Where do you mount it on your car? I understand that some units like the Pioneer Universal XM Receiver) can be glued to the top of hte dash. If your PNP is not glued on, where is it attached? Also costs please of the Sony PNP and antenna. Thanks.

[Beau]

I use the Sony PNP in my MINI too. I love XM! I agree, best thing since TiVo.

I use the Sony antenna velcro'd to the rear package shelf. It works fine except in heavily wooded areas. My MINI does not have a cassette deck so I use the iRock FM transmitter. It works just fine too except for a little high-end dropout. Still better than FM. The only problem with that device is that it only runs off batteries -- no way to run it from the car power. That became a drag so I opened up the thing & soldered in wires that then run to a 12V-3V stepdown which is under the drivers seat, then wired that into the fuse block.

You can also get a hard-wired FM modulator for it, which is how my wife's car is set up.

I don't think you'll be able to aesthetically place the antenna on the roof. With the sunroof, there is not enough room in front of the factory antenna -- and without the sunroof, it's still messy looking. And in either case, there is not enough room behind the factory antenna. You could try the Terk thru-the-glass one, but the proper place for it would be the top middle of the rear glass -- but the rear wiper prevents that. If I decide to permanently mount an antenna, it will be the Terk thru-the-glass but it will have to be offset on the rear glass -- plus the car is so small that that antenna looks _huge_ on it.

Neverless, for XM -- it's all a nice problem to have. It's a wonderful thing.

[chiph]

How about like I was suggesting (maybe I didn't make myself understood -- or maybe I did ), to use a through-the-glass XM/Sirius antenna on the back panel of the sunroof?

Chip H.

[Ex Con]

Alpine All The Way!!!

[Beau]

2 reasons that won't work:

1) you'd have to get under the headliner to run the wires. Ok so maybe that would be ok with you, but the real reason is:

2) When the roof slides back, it completely covers the rear section of the sunroof.

I was just out in the garage looking at mine. The thru-the-glass one has to be mounted in a spot where the defroster wires are greater than some distance I can't remember apart. This was ok on my wife's car but the wires are farther apart on it -- so I'm now not even sure that it could be mounted on the rear glass either.

Quote:

Originally posted by chiph
How about like I was suggesting (maybe I didn't make myself understood -- or maybe I did ), to use a through-the-glass XM/Sirius antenna on the back panel of the sunroof?

Chip H.

[chiph]

Quote:

Originally posted by Beau
2) When the roof slides back, it completely covers the rear section of the sunroof.

I suspected that might be the case, but didn't know because I don't have my MINI yet. Thanks for the info.

Chip H.