I paid 600 dollars for the factory install option. Yes I know about the pre-wire and the option to buy it for 260.00, but I wanted that painted antenna on my roof.

I get to the dealer to pick up the car after install, and, there is a black lump on my roof. I was like WTF? this isn't factory. I said why would I pay 600 dollars for this when I could buy the unit and install it myself in the exact same way. So, after waiting and waiting and waiting for a call back, they said they would either paint plastic piece, give me the parts to install the painted (factory look) antenna on my roof, or remove it and give me my money back.

To top it off, the signal cuts out all the time. Under overpasses, under trees, I can even stick my hand over the antenna and have it cut out!

Is this normal?

If I install myself and put the antenna on the rear deck, will this problem get worse?

I had xm in my old car, antenna on the front dash, and it NEVER cut out. Not in parking garages, not in the mountains, never.

I like Sirius programming and the song selection is sooo much better than xm so far (IMO) but if it is a constant cut out, I don't want it.

So, for all of you who have Sirius, let me know how bad your cut outs are and if putting it on the rear deck made it worse. Thanks!

 

XM has more ground repeaters than Sirius, and unfortunately you paid too much I'd tell them to take it out and just do the install yourself save yourself about $500

 

Ya, that is what I am leaning towards. Any idea where to get the shark fin?

 

I have sirius in my car with the antenna on the roof. Basically if there is anything obstructing the antenna's path toward the sky, it will lose signal. At least in my car anyways.

 

I was under the impression that the black lump IS the factory antenna. Can anyone else confirm that a painted or shark fin version was available from Infiniti?

I installed a micro antenna at the base of the rear window with double stick tape. I think it looks better than the big lump on top, but a painted version would be nice.

Oh, and mine does cut out (rarely) under overpasses, and sometimes next to tall buildings or under my metal carport. It also makes a difference where you are geographically.

Curt

 

Cutting out: I only encounter this when I'm truly underneath an overpass or other large overhang that's simply obstructing the path. It only cuts out in my garage if I pull in excessivley far and close the door. I would expect it to cut out in the situations you list.

Antenna location: Painted or not, I don't like the antenna on the roof. It ruins to clean line, IMO. So that's why I did like others and simply mounted it to the parcel shelf / rear deck underneath the rear glass. Even with tinted windows, the reception is fine. I've heard that mounting it to a 3"-4" square of metal will improve reception, but I haven't found the need for it.

It's also easy to run the antenna wire from that location to behind/under the rear seat and go from there.

FWIW, my wife's Pathfinder has the same aftermarket Sirius Starmate Replay that I have. I mounted her antenna at the very rear of the roofline, as I didn't have a convenient place inside and the roof is tall enough that you simply don't see it without climbing on the foot-rails. Also, I wasn't worried about ruining the lines of the Pathfinder.

Mine recieves just as good as hers.

 

2006 they had them......

 

Maybe the antenna just sucks I never have those problems with XM only time it cuts out is if I'm sitting in traffic under an overpass

 

Nope, Sirius sucks. I had xm antenna mounted on my front dash and it RARELY cut out.... never ever cut out in town. Only going over the mountains to cali, or to the coast but even then hardly. XM has MUCH better reception. We have xm in our Acura MDX and it is flawless as well.

However, the programing is not as good as sirus, and they play commercials.

 

I agree sirius has the slight edge in programming but xm has better reception (only 3 channels have commercials) and better hardware (true portable units). Just go XM man no reason to pay 12.99 for each car when you already have XM its only an additional 6.99 to add another receiver

 

ONly 3 channels now, but how many in the future. This is clearwater don't forget....

 

Oh, forgot about one other suggestion.

Try the Sirius windshield mount antenna.

http://www.grubbsperformance.com/Mer...&Category_Code=

 

Thanks, I saw that. My point is I paid 600 dollars to have a FACTORY install, and they put a big black lump on the roof!

 

I have that lump too. Whatever, it's a lease, I can live with it.

 

lol Thats what I am saying, I will only have it for 11 months, plus I dont even use the radio, I play my CDs