External Factory XM Antenna

[klossfam]

We do a lot of "obstructed sky view" driving and the wimpy dash mounted XM antenna ain't cuttin' the mustard. I like to drill holes and want to install a roof mounted OEM-style antenna same as the 2010 HL. I can pull the headliner, etc, etc and route the antenna lead cleanly under the drivers seat to the XM module.

I though finding an OEM roof mount would be EASY with the power of the interwebs but I was incorrect. I've inquired with a couple of our favorite TN sponsors and I assume any Toyota/Lexus XM external wedge/shark fin antenna would work - with a little antenna lead splicing. It looks like the OEM Corolla kit has the pre-painted antenna (and our HL is black, so an easy match). Anyone have any suggestions? I definitely want to go OEM for an "elegant install" (vs a Terk or other branded external antenna)...

[synch22]

i have the factory installed antenna and it still cuts out at any obstruction, even sometimes when i drive by a few trees. ANyway I paid for the radio to be added on since I got the NAV and I did not re-new after the 90 day trial. Maybe if they call me and I can get it for $77 a year i might consider, but to me not worth it.

[klossfam]

You can definitely get $77 per year (WINBACK as they call it). That's what my wife has in the HL - a $77 per year plan. I go with the free plan in the Infiniti > Call to cancel, they'll offer 3 months free, at the 3 month period, call and cancel again, get another 3 free months...

Just make sure you are on invoice billing, not credit card. I had to put in a bogus CC number to keep them from billing me. Then on the last "cancel" I switched to invoice billing. You have to call them...they'll rarely call you with a "decent" offer...

Satellite radio is so compressed, sometimes it's like AM radio without the hiss...so free is about what it is worth...BTW, are you saying you have the dash mounted crap-tenna or do you have a newer HL with the roof mount? Thx

[KJoeZ61]

I had the same problem, still do but not as bad. I had a dash mounted antenna which was terrible. I bought a magnetic after market one and mounted it on the roof infront of the rear hatch, I would have to say it is alot better but not perfect. Oh I forget which is which but Toyota and normal XM equipment seem to have differant standards, one is round and one is square when it comes to the connections, but it can be done whith some adaptors.

[synch22]

i have the roof mount on a 2010 with those issues i listed. Yes the compression is horrible and the fact there are commercials, i may nto even sign up for the $77 we will see. Good luck on your swap if you move forward, but might not be perfect fix, maybe some others with the roof mount can chime in on cut outs.

[klossfam]

Thanks - I know the roof mount still isn't perfect - just a little better version of bad...My G35 has a nice factory roof mount with only slight better performance than the dash mount on the HL.

However, in addition to the crappy performance of the dash mount, it looks cheap as well. I should have used the available accessory input on the JBL system for an iPod interface (since you can only have one or the other with the 2008s - pretty stupid set up IMO).

[klossfam]

I wanted to update this thread - I decided after some research that the XM antenna I want is the Corolla antenna kit (Antenna 86960-02010-C0 with 'C0' being the color code for BLACK 202/209 and the 86396-20040 mounting nut).

Now I need to decide on splicing the antenna pigtail on to the existing dash mount antenna lead wire (to use the SFA12M connector already in place) OR buying an expensive Vaistech 12 ft cable to make it true plug n play (other than the drilling through the roof and removing the headliner part).

I'll document this as a DIY when I get all the parts and pieces...


****UPDATE/CORRECTION****
The correct part number for the HL antenna is 86960-48010-C0 (Sat Antenna Assembly, Black Paint Code 202). The dedicated Highlander 2009-2010 style external antennas all share the 86960-48010-XX (the XX being a paint code/color). The pigtail is approx 24 in long and ends in the same molex-style male connector (gray) that is on the factory dash mount antenna (this is the male connector that plugs into the under seat XM unit). I may take the advice of others and just switch the antenna 'chip' from the internal antenna to the new external to avoid splicing or adapters. The internal antenna that comes with the 2008 OEM kit has plenty of antenna cable to go from the rear roof location (6.5 inches in from the seam between the roof and the spoiler). I'll follow up after this weeks install.

[fatomhd]

I have a 2009 satellite ready JBL with the roof mount (sharkfin) antenna already installed and have seen that the cost of getting the Toyota XM unit is several hundred dollars and then you have installation. I am thinking of purchasing an XM unit at a chain store. Does anyone know if there is anyway to use the pre-installed sharkfin antenna with an aftermarket tuner?

[klossfam]

All you need is the right antenna cable - the Toyotas all have a proprietary Molex style plug on the factory antenna pigtail (on the pigtails - I know the Corolla is a female connection and the Highlander is male). The connection on the XM receiver you buy would determine the other end of the cable. Vais Tech (a Toyota partner) does these cables but they are kind of a rip off ($60 roughly) but if you are getting a smokin' deal on the XM receiver it may make sense...See SFA12F and SFA12M parts at http://www.vaistech.com/ecart/agora.cgi?product=10

****ADDITIONAL INFO****
The Toyota 'branded' XM receiver is made by Pioneer and is essentially the unit below with different aka non-Toyota connections (available everywhere).

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...EX-P920XM.Shop

The Pioneer runs around $105. Pretty sure all you'd need is the wire harness to go Pioneer to Toyota/JBL head unit and the Vais Tech antenna cable - to go from the Pioneer to the OEM fin pigtail. Since I had the Toyota overpriced unit, I just took out the guts of the internal dash mounted antenna with antenna cable attached, and inserted it into the Toyota OEM fin and reassembled. The nice part about the Molex Toyota connectors is they can be taken off the end of the antenna cable very easily and clicked back to together (helps when threading the 12 ft or so of antenna cable from the roof/headliner to under the drivers seat). Really more tedious than hard...