What satellite radio antenna should I buy?

[MonacoMike]

There are several models of marine satellite radio antennas available from several brands. Have you had good or bad experiences with Terk, Shakespeare, and the most expensive Digital Antenna?

Thanks,

MM

 

[chumbley]

I looked at the various "marine" antennas to be added to the arch. Most were more money than the XM unit itself. None would have worked at the dock, since it's covered.

On a whim, I grabbed the standard mini antenna that comes with the unit and looked for a place on the bow to see if it would work. Turns out, it does. Just fine. Mine has been working for years now hidden away under the windlass chain locker door.

 

[mquiet]

I am looking at new Clarion radio with remote for helm. Clarion offers sat radio with ipod or MP3 connection. The helm unit is LED so I know what is playing (song and artist) and will display info even if through ipod. Still trying to find a good marine antenna to replace existing one on the arch.

Great question...timimn was perfect. I hope others chime in.:smt038

 

[MonacoMike]

Jeff, "under the locker door". My truck gets blocked by trees and buildings and yours works in a locker. WTF

MM

 

[fc3]

I have a Terk mounted to the radar arch on a 2" stainless steel extension and stainless mount. Works fine, but Sirius programming has gone downhill since the merger resulting in me dropping service on the boat this year. Since the Blackberry does weather and complete traffic in real-time, the advantages of Sirius keep getting fewer and fewer. If it keeps getting worse, I'll probably drop it completely and just spend more on CDs.

 

[chumbley]

Jeff, "under the locker door". My truck gets blocked by trees and buildings and yours works in a locker. WTF

MM

Yea, go figure. I have XM in one car, and Sirius in the other, and XM on the boat. My Sirius is the most sensitive to drop outs. But the XM on the boat does very well. Yes, even behind the fiberglass door.

I stuck it up there to get a signal when I was installing it to make sure everything worked, and it worked so well, I just left it there.

 

[chumbley]

I have a Terk mounted to the radar arch on a 2" stainless steel extension and stainless mount. Works fine, but Sirius programming has gone downhill since the merger resulting in me dropping service on the boat this year. Since the Blackberry does weather and complete traffic in real-time, the advantages of Sirius keep getting fewer and fewer. If it keeps getting worse, I'll probably drop it completely and just spend more on CDs.

If you are in an area when you can get weather and traffic on the Blackberry, then go ahead and get your music there too via Pandora. CD's are so 1990's....

 

[sbw1]

We have a Clarion Radio that was Sirrius ready. We bought the Sirrius antenna kit and installed it on the hardtop. Was an easy install and it works like a champ.

 

[fc3]

If you are in an area when you can get weather and traffic on the Blackberry, then go ahead and get your music there too via Pandora. CD's are so 1990's....

CDs sound better. Compressed audio sounds like compressed audio. It's ok in the car or boat, but subpar at home.

Max rips CDs for me and simultaneous creates Apple Lossless compression files for iTunes and lossy compressed files for the Blackberry's 16GB microSD card. ITunes automatically creates lossy compressed files for the iPod when syncing. It works ok.

 

[sbw1]

Satellite radio offers a reasonable alternative to carrying a bunch of CDs around or downloading a bunch of iTunes. Listening conditions are seldom ideal on a boat with boat traffic, wind, waves slapping or people hanging out and talking with music going for background. Our CD locker is now our library. We keep a bunch of books in there to read while we are anchored out or cruising.