Truck Antennas

[michelle_east_county]

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?

 

[Bosque Bill]

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

 

[jimjxsn]

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.

 

[Old Crow]

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.)

 

[michelle_east_county]

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.

 

[michelle_east_county]

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.

 

[michelle_east_county]

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.

 

[traveller]

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.

 

[michelle_east_county]

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….

 

[pods8]

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

 

[michelle_east_county]

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

We didn't order a navigation package but I believe the RH roof antenna does connect for the Ford software updates, notification re. alarm status, etc., though am not sure. But, there doesn't seem to be any change there. I, too, have been thinking that if I'd known solar panels could weaken a signal so substantially I'd have had solar panels mounted along middle towards rear. Now, there's a 200-watt panel across (EW) front and a 100-watt panel running behind it on driver's side (NS) that, together, somewhat block antenna. I'd wanted to leave room for a storage pod so that seemed the way to go at the time.

 

[pods8]

We didn't order a navigation package but I believe the RH roof antenna does connect for the Ford software updates, notification re. alarm status, etc., though am not sure. But, there doesn't seem to be any change there. I, too, have been thinking that if I'd known solar panels could weaken a signal so substantially I'd have had solar panels mounted along middle towards rear. Now, there's a 200-watt panel across (EW) front and a 100-watt panel running behind it on driver's side (NS) that, together, somewhat block antenna. I'd wanted to leave room for a storage pod so that seemed the way to go at the time.

Oh the 2020 sync 3 don't have the basic navigation (maps but you have to pay to be able to input an address)?

Plus on the panels mounting them closer to one end or the other would stress the roof less in my mind. Very glad to have read this though as its not something I'd have really thought about factoring in on my design prior.

 

[michelle_east_county]

Oh the 2020 sync 3 don't have the basic navigation (maps but you have to pay to be able to input an address)?

Plus on the panels mounting them closer to one end or the other would stress the roof less in my mind. Very glad to have read this though as its not something I'd have really thought about factoring in on my design prior.

Re number of panels needed, we have 300 watts total and two AGMs. What little we've used it (embroiled in home repair and remodeling) so far has been the trip to pick it up in CO, back to KS to visit relatives, home to San Diego, and one trip to Death Valley. All camping and most time in driveway has been sunny and treeless but with refer on and moderate use of lights and furnace, we're getting more energy from sun than we can use and have never seen batteries discharge below about 85% by dawn. If that's your camping, 200 watts solar might still be plenty and be easier to locate where it wouldn't block antennas. But, we did want to accomodate heavy cloud cover, tree shade for part of day, cold weather where furnace blower ran more, etc.

Another thing, the antenna blockage by solar, etc., is only a concern with fiberglass RVs. My understanding (I'm not an engineer) is that an aluminum camper would block signal everywhere anyway so panel location then wouldn't matter.

 

[pods8]

Re number of panels needed, we have 300 watts total and two AGMs. What little we've used it (embroiled in home repair and remodeling) so far has been the trip to pick it up in CO, back to KS to visit relatives, home to San Diego, and one trip to Death Valley. All camping and most time in driveway has been sunny and treeless but with refer on and moderate use of lights and furnace, we're getting more energy from sun than we can use and have never seen batteries discharge below about 85% by dawn. If that's your camping, 200 watts solar might still be plenty and be easier to locate where it wouldn't block antennas. But, we did want to accomodate heavy cloud cover, tree shade for part of day, cold weather where furnace blower ran more, etc.

Another thing, the antenna blockage by solar, etc., is only a concern with fiberglass RVs. My understanding (I'm not an engineer) is that an aluminum camper would block signal everywhere anyway so panel location then wouldn't matter.

I didn't comment on your wattage but thought in my head "hmmm that's alot" I have 400w on my trailer and that furnace draws quite a bit more power along with more lights, maybe some TV usage if crap weather for the kids, etc. and that is typically overkill having it back into adsorption mode before noon. It also was sized for cloudy/cold weather worst case furnace running alot.

On a truck camper which tends to move around more I like a DC-DC charger off the truck to accommodate voltage losses from the truck and allows for effective charging, that with 100w solar for when parked a while probably would be the route I go but I have plenty of time to over think it.

Well the aluminum roof may seal the fate then on that, we'll see if/when I get a truck delivered and toss a camper on it.

 

[shagit]

Has anyone purchased and installed the relocation kit? Does it plug in right behind the glove box near the center stack? Disappointed Ford didn't consider this, especially when ordered with the slide in cert.. Going on a trip in two weeks and did a test fit and lost all signal (XM and nav)...

 

[michelle_east_county]

After tiring of intermittently blocked SiriusXM signal from solar panels on camper roof, we complained to Sirius and asked for ideas. Rather than risk losing a customer, they sent us a new tuner and antenna kit. I mounted the antenna on a lazy Z-shaped bracket I made and bolted to right front fender using existing bolt under edge of hood, snaked wire back to cowl to door jamb to inside along lower edge of windshield to new tuner mounted to top center of dash. It transmits an FM signal to Ford tuner on whatever frequency isn’t used by a local radio station so must be reset when traveling. Sound quality is as good as original tuner. ‘ still need to clean up wiring, including power cord to tuner. But, we’re in business.

 

[UncleDougie]

So check out you-tube there is a video of a guy that ordered the OEM Kit [search for: 2022 Ford Super Duty GPS/XM Radio Antennae and Backup Camera Relocation ]



Has anyone purchased and installed the relocation kit? Does it plug in right behind the glove box near the center stack? Disappointed Ford didn't consider this, especially when ordered with the slide in cert.. Going on a trip in two weeks and did a test fit and lost all signal (XM and nav)...


I looked at it and it is $300+ so I'm still looking to figure out a piecemeal solution. Anyways he accessed the antenna on Driver-Side and basically plugged new wires into the ones that were there for original antenna. I think I can buy an antenna and the [ Fakra to SMB pigtail ] on Amazon. I'm going to the big truck camper rally this week and hope to find someone who tackled this mystery.

 

[UncleDougie]

Here is the OEM Q-327 SVE Bulletin

https://madocumentupload.marketingassociates.com/api/Document/GetFile?v1=5585885&v2=101320040514&v3=60&v4=8f0d92afee5bb12180609ed8d203f5de962289b68a58ad9608a141f0&v5=False