XM Radio

[jazzlove]

Everyone I talk to who has XM radio in their car swears by it, over 100 channels, digital quality sound, great reception anywhere in the country, no yakky DJs. It seems like a no brainer, except for the presence of an external antenna. If I understand it correctly, on the coupe, the antenna will be placed midline on the body piece that separates the removable top from the rear hatch. Its also my understanding that on the coupe, the antenna is black in color, but body color on the convertible. If so, it would interfer with the clean lines of the car, and that's a bummer. Anyone know for sure? And if I'm right, why in the world can't it be mounted on the inside of the glass hatch, midline?

Thanks for any help.....

Jazzlove:confused

 

[Rob]

I'm not sure where the XM antenna will go on the C6, but I swear by my XM. I LOVE it!!!!

 

[patsnitrovette]

i also swear by it, i have it in my new pathfinder and channel 41--boneyard is great.

 

[Blade]

Chevy will likely do the install with class.

You should be able to modify the antenna to a more low profile and location of your likening.

 

[ruby9340th]

XM Atenna location

Check out my post under "Yellow C6" it shows what I believe to be the XM radio antenna

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45573

Everyone I talk to who has XM radio in their car swears by it, over 100 channels, digital quality sound, great reception anywhere in the country, no yakky DJs. It seems like a no brainer, except for the presence of an external antenna. If I understand it correctly, on the coupe, the antenna will be placed midline on the body piece that separates the removable top from the rear hatch. Its also my understanding that on the coupe, the antenna is black in color, but body color on the convertible. If so, it would interfer with the clean lines of the car, and that's a bummer. Anyone know for sure? And if I'm right, why in the world can't it be mounted on the inside of the glass hatch, midline?

Thanks for any help.....

Jazzlove:confused

 

[jazzlove]

Thanks for the link Ruby.

The ordering guide does state that the XM option comes with an external antenna. It baffles me that GM couldn't find a more unobtrusive location for the antenna,......... Technical issue? The current location makes it look like an afterthought. The benefits of XM are huge, but I hate anything added to my C6 that interrupts it's smooth-flowing appearance.

C4C5, can you shed some light on this? Will the production coupe equipped with XM have its antenna on top of the car? If so, can it be moved without damaging the finish, and how is it fixed to the car? It seems to me that the perfect place for it would be on the inside of the hatch glass, up high, in the center.

Thanks,

Jazzlove:cool

 

[rwd]

If I understand it correctly, on the coupe, the antenna will be placed midline on the body piece that separates the removable top from the rear hatch. Its also my understanding that on the coupe, the antenna is black in color, but body color on the convertible. If so, it would interfer with the clean lines of the car, and that's a bummer. Anyone know for sure? And if I'm right, why in the world can't it be mounted on the inside of the glass hatch, midline?

The last I heard and saw, your information is correct, although GM may elect to include a body-colored XM antenna in their Genuine Corvette Accessories line which, among other things, contains body-colored door handles and CHMSL's.

On the convertible, the antenna is body-colored and mounted on the trunk lid, as on the XLR. I'm not positive about the mounting method, but I'm pretty sure holes are necessary for both locations. I hope not.

As for the appearance issue, GM maintains that (like the CHMSL taillight) the dark finish is chosen to enhance the appearance. Their thinking, which sounds reasonable to a point, is that viewed from the side, the eye will ignore the roof antenna because it will disappear into the background. Of course, if you get far enough away, you can't see the car at all.

The downside of that thinking is that when you get close to the car, you see the ABS-looking antenna and CHMSL, and, imo, they don't really match the elegant image GM seeks to present.

Personally, I'm not convinced everybody's eyes work exactly the same way. I've seen the body-colored CHMSL, and, to me, it improves the rear end.

I can't speak to the technical issues, but apparently there are difficulties from multi-satellites being used. As I understand it, however, a number of aftermarket companies are making antennas similar to what you describe for internal mounting. Needless to say, that wouldn't address the issue of extraneous holes with a factory installation.

FWIW, on the XLR, the OnStar antenna has been mounted on the inside of the front windshield by the rearview mirror, and I presume that's also true for the C6. I have seen and sat in several C6's, but I wasn't really paying any attention to those features.

FWIW, YMMV, IMO, professional driver, closed course, etc.