Integrate FM & XM Antenna?

[glastarguy]

Is it possible to integrate an XM satellite antenna with the FM/AM antenna? In the VW OEM XM radio setup, is the XM antenna on the window or integrated into the rear FM/AM antenna?

I've added an XM radio and don't want to put the hockey puck magnetic antenna on the roof. It's currently on the dash and when I am headed north, reception is intermittent.

Thanks for your help, NB audio gurus!

[hestersu]

The antenna for bugs with a satellite radio are integrated - the base of the antenna is the satellite (can be Sirius or XM) and the staff is the over the air radio. You should be able to purchase this part from your local VW dealer or get the part number and purchase from any of the online parts stores and install yourself. You may need new leads (one for the radio and one for the satellite).

[glastarguy]

Well, the VW OEM antenna with satellite is $378. OUCH!

So, I saved $378 and made up my own.

I removed the base and using it as a template, traced the base on a scrap piece of aluminum (about as thick as my cell phone antenna cable). Then I cut it out, smoothed it, and drilled a large hole in the center, sufficiently large to fit the square piece of metal in the base of the antenna.

Then, I cut the aluminum plate in half removing about 1/8" straight down the middle. I epoxied the halves to the bottom of the base.

Then, I inserted the wires from my XM satellite antenna and the wire from my cell phone antenna into the slot left between the two halves. I put some silicone sealer on, fed all three antenna wires through the roof hole, and plopped the base back down. I had to grind off the little tabs on the base nut for it to grip the threads and I threaded the antenna connectors through the nut prior to screwing it on.

Now, I have all three antenna cables coming through the roof without having to cut any additional holes. Both the cell phone antenna and the XM antenna have magnetic bases so they hold on great.

If I was just adding the XM antenna, I wouldn't cut the plat in half, I'd just remove a 1/8" (or width of my antenna wire) slot from the rear of the base plate to the center hole.

I routed the cell antenna around on the right side and down the door pillar, under the floor mat and up by the center console.

I routed the XM antenna wire (it's real small) around the left side just under the headliner trim, down the front A pillar to the console left side and over to where my XM is mounted (between the steering wheel and the left air vent.)

Everything works great! When my XM antenna was on the dashboard, it would cut out when I was driving downhill going north. Now, it gets great reception!

Pictures attached. About a 2 hour project.