Placement of XM Antenna

[BGEagle]

For several weeks now, I have been contemplating installing XM in my wife's 2006 Avalon. But I continue to be perplexed as to where I should place the antenna. Several posters have suggested that dealerships sometimes place the antenna inside the rear brake light housing but I've closely examined the rear deck and it looks like it would be a "bear" to remove. Maybe I'm missing something. However, it seems that optimum placement of the antenna is the top of the car so that you get the best signal and the best look with the "Shark Fin". But that too looks very complex.

I don't want to order the kit until I come up with a solution to the antenna placement problem. I need some help and/or suggestions. Let me hear from you.

Note: I have been looking at other Avalons on the road and noticed that the antenna on many is located on the rear deck next to the brake light. But how did they get the wire up through the deck?

[boosted-fc3s]

The trunklid would be my suggestion. Route the wire under the trim and down the driver side trunk hinge, then into the rear rear under the carpet/door sills and finally under the dash to the radio area. Shouldn't be hard, I have the wires from my backup cam ran that way minus the trunk lid part.

[BGEagle]

and I can get the receiver output routed to the head unit radio; however, it's the antenna placement that is a mystery. I would settle for the antenna to be placed on the rear deck along side the rear brake light but I need information on how to route the antenna lead under the rear deck.

[tfelton]

I've installed satellite radios in my Sienna and in a Nissan Sentra. Both antennas were mounted outside but the installation in the Nissan is similar to the Avalon with regards to antenna placement. Both times the radio's antenna came with a mounting kit and the instructions were specifically to mount on the trunk lid. The antenna is magnetic and there is also a covering for the wire the proper length to place it on the trunk lid in the correct position. My Avalon has the antenna on the inside rear deck near the brake light because the car came with the satellite radio already installed. If you did place it on the rear deck how would you attach the antenna to the cloth on the deck?

[bear1906]

Originally Posted by BGEagle

For several weeks now, I have been contemplating installing XM in my wife's 2006 Avalon. But I continue to be perplexed as to where I should place the antenna. Several posters have suggested that dealerships sometimes place the antenna inside the rear brake light housing but I've closely examined the rear deck and it looks like it would be a "bear" to remove. Maybe I'm missing something. However, it seems that optimum placement of the antenna is the top of the car so that you get the best signal and the best look with the "Shark Fin". But that too looks very complex.

I don't want to order the kit until I come up with a solution to the antenna placement problem. I need some help and/or suggestions. Let me hear from you.

Note: I have been looking at other Avalons on the road and noticed that the antenna on many is located on the rear deck next to the brake light. But how did they get the wire up through the deck?

2005 Limited w/ Nav

I got a SoundLinq XM kit with the Aux option off the internet. Then got an iPlug RCA jack to use as an MP3 input, mounted it in the center storage next to the cell phone holder bracket (console behind the shifter). Had it installed at Best Buy, mounted the antenna behind the 3rd brake light on the deck lid. signal is good (could be better), but it adds aux capability, XM display through the NAV and I can plug my cell phone (which I also use as my mp3 player) into the Aux and use it as an integrated phone system (since I don't have bluetooth).

My car is black, so the antenna blends in. My wife has a Lexus ES350 with the factory XM kit and they put her antenna on the right side of the trunk (looks out of place since she has a white car). she has fewer signal drops though, but mine looks cooler . The tradeoff for the aesthetic is marginal.

[cvanhorn2]

On my 2009 Avalon I bought the Sirius Stratus 6 and mounted the unit on its included mount just aft of the gearshift. The small, 2" square" antenna mount on the roof 3" forward of the top of the rear window next to the antenna that is factory installed there (for a GPS I think) and a 3" strip covers the wire down to the window molding channel. With a small screwdriver and a couple of popcicles sticks it is easy to route the small wire under the molding and around and down to a bottom corner then into the trunk, out te bottom side of the rear seat, under the floor mat and up the back of the console to the unit mount. Also included is a cord to connect the unit mount to the Aux connection so it plays through the vehicle radio in Aux. Very inexpensive unit, great reception, all cords, power, antenna, aux connect to the mount so the unit is easy to slip out without having to disconnect anything to use in the house (with the home connect kit) or just to put in the glove box for security when leaving the vehicle. Best of all it was only about $69 last fall at Radio Shack.