Truck Antennas

Truck antenna. Our 2020 F-350 SuperCab has factory AM/FM/SiriusXM with an AM/FM mast antenna at rear of front fender and a puck-type antenna on each side towards rear of cab roof. One may be satellite radio and the other GPS, though we didn't order navigation package. I expect the still-pending Hallmark Ute camper, with N-S cabover for bed and solar panels, will generally block satellite signal. A local car audio place that a year ago had said they could easily order a new Sirius antenna and cable and mount it on a front corner of hood now says they can't get anything compatible. Or, their lot is too full of young guys buying more profitable high-dollar, bass-heavy complete systems. Most online info is for the previous shark-fin and other antennas near windhield. The audio shop referred me to dealer; they only do stock. Has anyone else dealt with this, perhaps with a dealer or shop referral in Southwestern US?

When I got my after-market XM radio it came with a small magnetic-mount antenna on the end of a long cable. I have it stuck to the hood of my Tacoma a few inches from the front right. I routed the cable under the hood toward the back where I could slip it though the door, then down to under the carpet.

 

Looks like you can get them from several sellers on eBay, for instance: NEW Sirius XM NGVA3 - Best Satellite Radio Car Antenna on the Market! NGVA1

And on Amazon: Sirius XM High Gain Interoperable Magnetic Satellite Radio Car Antenna 

I also installed one of those antennas for an aftermarket radio. It will depend on if the plug is a match. They are magnetic and work very well.

See if this helps....

 

SVE Bulletin Q-327  

 

F-Series Relocation Kit For Roof Mounted Dual Antennae

 

It says, in part...

 

Beginning in MY2020, Super Duty trucks are equipped with dual roof-mounted antennae that provide modem/cellular, satellite radio and GPS functions. It is recognized that various commercial vehicle upfits involve the use of aerodynamic fairings or other equipment that would obscure the “sky view” that roof-mounted antennae require. There is now available an antenna relocation service kit which provides two replacement antennae that can be mounted on top of the upfit body in a location with a clear sky view.

Service Kit Part Number LC3Z – 18813 – B* * See Ford dealer for latest part level.

 

(For 2013-2019 Super Duty see SVE Q-293.)

Edited by Old Crow, 09 April 2021 - 03:02 AM.

Yep, ran across those pricy Ford kits after posting, but still awaiting word from Crutchfield re their low cost cable and antenna. Also, some say it does appear the 2020 twin puck antenna system does work a little better than shark fin system, so unless Crutchfield states their system is virtually plug and play, I may just wait and see what happens.

And, here's Crutchfield's reply, which I'm glad they took the trouble to do, at least:

"I've looked over the various sub-models for the 2020 F-350 pickups and seen that we do not have an antenna that works with the stock satellite radio tuner (appears to be built into the stock radio). Also, at this time, we cannot replace the stock radio in the dash with an aftermarket radio. I wish I had different news for you there.

Good luck! I hope you are able to find a new satellite antenna for it!"

At this point, I'll wait and see how stock system performs.

Edited by michelle_east_county, 12 April 2021 - 04:17 PM.

Camper ready by late summer and we finally picked it up in October, sans backordered Coleman Mach 8 Polar Cub A/C. That was a blessing in disguise, given problems with them many have had and that I posted about elsewhere.

Re radio, AM/FM might be a little worse but it is hard to tell because most automotive tuner/receivers have been marginal since early '80s, same as home audio (RIP, my old Marantz 2330).

Re SiriusXM, reception seems somewhat attenuated overall as over-compressed sound is now even more shrill and harsh than before, and now also cuts out intermittently depending on both direction of travel and angle (going up or down, and side-to-side orientation). I believe a forward camper rooftop solar panel is to blame, as wood and fiberglass of camper would only somewhat attenuate signal.

So, likely on to dual antenna and cable relocation kit per Ford Q-327 discussed above and mount antennas on each front corner of hood as there isn't enough flat horizontal fender to do so. At least the price is now generally down from list of about $345.

I downloaded the SiriusXM app on my phone and with the radio apple play I listen to it that way.  No need to relocate antenna.  Get reception pretty much everywhere.

The primary purpose of our getting Sirius XM was for when we’re beyond range of terrestrial radio and beyond cellular service. Now, if somebody made an affordable repeater that could have an antenna on camper roof connected to a transmitter mounted on underside of camper cabover near the truck antennas….

Edited by michelle_east_county, 27 February 2022 - 04:56 AM.

How's your GPS/navigation with the camper on?  Reading this post is a good consideration about where to mount solar it seems.