XM antenna/cabover camper

[Murf]

My slide in camper covers up the xm and onstar antenna pretty good - onstar seems to work ok but xm is in and out reception - anybody dealt with this problem? Murf

[et]

Murf,

I assume your regular radio antenna on the passenger side clears your slide in camper. You have at least two choices for a new location for a long XM antenna. The first is the exact opposite side where a number of members have mounted a CB antenna via a home made braket. Do a search an this site. The second choice is a CB mount that clamps to the inner fender and fits between the fender and the hood. You will have to drill out the hole to three quaters of an inch. This mount has an offset to move the antenna to the outside of the truck to clear a slide in camper.

The XM4-MM antenna is almost four feet long with the actual antenna being the last foot. The bottom threaded male fitting is three quarters of an inch. It is a stout "OTR" antenna. I see they are now as cheep as $41 on some internet sites.

Since I know of no way to switch an XM antenna, it will have to be your full time XM antenna.

Good luck

[Murf]

Thanks ET, appreciate the input - I've got an EX antenna that I had prior to getting the new set up in my new truck - I'm going to see if the dealer can install this antenna for me as it has a magnet on it and allows me to put it wherever on the truck - it currently seems to be good when pointing (the truck) in a southerly direction - goes out when heading north - I'll let folks know what happens - I gotta think theres more that one person out there with a slide in/cab over camper with these same problems?

Thanks - Murf

[Ron Richardson]

I have the exact same problem. Let me know what you find...

[Murf]

Ron, heres what I've found so far - re the XM - XM got back to me and said they cannot help me but GMC can - everyone I've talked to from GMC in a 250 mi radius is clueless. I had my antenna from my previous 'Delphi' XM system - the kind that plugs into the cassette and thought well maybe........... pulled the radio out of the dash and there are no matching hookups on the rear of the radio for that antenna (magnetic bottom and 20' cord). So end of that project - The truck with the camper on gets lousey XM reception when deveating from almost due south, On longer trips I'll just bring the Delphi system(which I also use in my house), plug it in and put the magnetic antenna out on the end of the bumper - it works fine. Its funny, when talking to people they either don't know what XM is and the idea of having to explain an overhang on a camper is a whole nother thing!!

Onstar on the other hand has been working fine (up until today) one thing I did not realize is that system relies on cellular coverage - yes it has gps capabilities however the phone system and onstar advisor contact is all done with cellular. They have been good to work with and since I got a year free I'm going to check it out and see what its worth - the in cab phone with voice activation and hands free is great when its worked - I live in a remote area so there have been some problems but they've been good about working it out.

Probably more than you wanted to know but I've been working on it for weeks now.

[Ron Richardson]

Originally posted by Murf:
My slide in camper covers up the xm and onstar antenna pretty good - onstar seems to work ok but xm is in and out reception - anybody dealt with this problem? Murf I know that this is a really old posting but it took me this long to figure out a solution. Here 'tis:

http://www.ron-richardson.com/xmradio/antenna.htm

RonR