Sirius add on

[williemx5]

The antenna goes between the top and the trunk. I bought the sirius unit at mazda south.

[MazdaSeed]

Has anyone found a place where this is less than $300? Jeesh. I'm sure I could figure out a way to hard line a sirius unit for less than that.

[fredz43]

The antenna goes between the top and the trunk. I bought the sirius unit at mazda south.

Ok, I understand that the antenna is recommended to go on the rear deck, between the top and the trunk lid. Now, how did you route the wire to get it outside on top of the deck in front of the trunk?

Thanks,

Fred Z.

[baco99]

is there a reason why the antenna couldn't go inside the car somewhere?  Like behind the rear view mirror up on the windshield?  Or on the rear speaker enclosure somewhere?  I mean, it's a convertible.

[williemx5]

The antenna goes between the top and the trunk. I bought the sirius unit at mazda south.

Ok, I understand that the antenna is recommended to go on the rear deck, between the top and the trunk lid. Now, how did you route the wire to get it outside on top of the deck in front of the trunk?

Thanks,

Fred Z.

The antenna comes from inside the trunk, you route it inside the weather stripping.

is there a reason why the antenna couldn't go inside the car somewhere? Like behind the rear view mirror up on the windshield? Or on the rear speaker enclosure somewhere? I mean, it's a convertible.

On my previous miata I left the antenna loose in the back and would place on the latches when the top was down. With the top up you lose your reception some times, that's why I opted for the trunk method this time.

[fredz43]

[

The antenna comes from inside the trunk, you route it inside the weather stripping

I guess I'm just a dunce about trying to figure out what that means. I ran the wire to behind the seats, into the well where the top goes when it is down. I just haven't figured out where to poke it thru to get it into the trunk so I can then run it from the trunk to the metal deck. I am reluctant to try to pry any of the panels out behind the well to see if there is a hole somewhere to get into the trunk with the wire.

A picture sure would be worth a few thousand words here.

Thanks,

Fred Z.

[williemx5]

[

The antenna comes from inside the trunk, you route it inside the weather stripping

I guess I'm just a dunce about trying to figure out what that means. I ran the wire to behind the seats, into the well where the top goes when it is down. I just haven't figured out where to poke it thru to get it into the trunk so I can then run it from the trunk to the metal deck. I am reluctant to try to pry any of the panels out behind the well to see if there is a hole somewhere to get into the trunk with the wire.

A picture sure would be worth a few thousand words here.

Thanks,

Fred Z.

where did you put the sirius unit? It should be placed in the area between the trunk and the panels behind the paasenger seat by the rear shock. I'll try and take some pics and post them.

[fredz43]

[ where did you put the sirius unit? It should be placed in the area between the trunk and the panels behind the paasenger seat by the rear shock. I'll try and take some pics and post them.

Ah, there's the difference, I guess. I am not using the Sirius unit designed for permanent mounting in the Miata. I got the new Sirius Starmate that is designed to be used in multiple vehicles. It is small and I just velcro it on the front of the console, right where the air bag key switch is. Then plug in the power supply to the cigarette lighter socket and mount the magnetic antenna. I have 2 antennas, so I would like to mount this one semi permanantly and then leave it there. It seems like the recommended area in front of the trunk lid would be as good as any, but I haven't figured how to get the cable from the main passenger area to the interior of the trunk so  I can then route it from the trunk to the area in front of the trunk lid.

[fredz43]

I tried installing the antenna in the interior of the car and it is working fine. I just velcroed it to the lid of the storage compartment at the rear of the console. Works fine in the driveway, anyway. Tomorrow I'll take a drive and see if the signal is ok under all driving conditions.

[thomasabowden]

Fredz43, please post your later results on mounting the antenna with velcro on the storage compartment.  Can the satellite signal penetrate the cloth top?  Great idea if it works ...  (I have my Starmate antenna on the front left fender, just inches from the door.  The wire disappears down the door jamb, into the car, under the rug (where the miles and miles of extra cable swirl under the rug) and up to the Starmate, which is suction-cupped to the windshield, between the left side of the car and the instrument cluster.  Works great, but the antenna placement is a little strange.  I just couldn't figure out a good way to get the wire all the way to the front dash from the strip between trunk and top.

[fredz43]

Fredz43, please post your later results on mounting the antenna with velcro on the storage compartment.  Can the satellite signal penetrate the cloth top?  Great idea if it works ...  (I have my Starmate antenna on the front left fender, just inches from the door.  The wire disappears down the door jamb, into the car, under the rug (where the miles and miles of extra cable swirl under the rug) and up to the Starmate, which is suction-cupped to the windshield, between the left side of the car and the instrument cluster.  Works great, but the antenna placement is a little strange.  I just couldn't figure out a good way to get the wire all the way to the front dash from the strip between trunk and top.

Yep, the antenna works perfectly right on top of the storage comaprtment lid, near the keyhole. Very unobtrusive and there is no difference in performance with top up or down.

Fred Z.

[Osiris]

I just picked up a Sportster unit from Radio Shack ( $29.00 ) for the Altima. I'd like to get the hard-wired system for the MSM because I'm assuming the sound quality is better than using the FM mod.

Is this right?

If it really doesn't matter much, I'll just go out and spend another 30 bucks for the car's unit.

[williemx5]

i've heard you lose some quality when it's wired thru your antenna. I have it hardwired on all of my cars so I don't know for sure.

[fredz43]

i've heard you lose some quality when it's wired thru your antenna. I have it hardwired on all of my cars so I don't know for sure.

I recently changed my Sirius setup in another vehicle from the FM output to a direct wire hookup and the difference was dramatic. So much so that I am now considering the expense of doing the Mazda Sirius setup so it is hardwired into the MSM. Seems like the best price I have heard of so far is about $315.

I think I read where the Mazda setup does not scroll automatically though. I like that feature on the Sportster. Is that correct williemx5?

Thanks,

Fred Z.

[Osiris]

Sounds good.

I don't mind the scrolling bit, as long as I can see the name of a song I might want to DL ( then again, with Satellite radio, why should you ever need CD's again? ), but I need it to sound good.

I think the radio in the MSM sounds pretty crappy, CD's sound much better.

I must say though, after a day of Satellite Radio, I'm quite pleased with it!