Sharkfin hookup

atk350 · 10-10-2009, 10:13 PM

2006 325i with Sat prep installed.(S693A). I pull the trunk cover to find the pink dual antenna leads and hook my Roady XM receiver to the lead on the right with the tab lock facing straight up (I tried both connections with no luck) I get "no Signal" from my XM receiver! I hook up a magnetic antennae and it works fine! I've got a 20 foot extension http://www.xm-radio-satellite.com/in...ROD&ProdID=280 Wired very nicely through the center console and the XM receiver is sitting in the ashtray.

I'm baffled why I'm not getting a signal through the sharkfin antennae? Is the 20 foot run too long? The magnetic puck antennae is 23 feet???? Does the radio need to be coded for the sharkfin to work? I've been reading this forum where many have tapped into the shark fin with no problems. Why isn't mine working and how does one test signal strength from an XM receiver or antennae?

atk350 · 10-11-2009, 12:49 PM

I decided to rule out a bad extension cable so I plugged in the magnetic puck (antennae) and stuck it on my trunk. Now I'm getting signal to the XM Roady receiver. (which is 43 feet of cable and no signal loss that I can tell) So it's something in the shark fin or the wiring to the shark fin as my extension cable is fine. Has anyone ever taken the shark fin cover off?

fdiprete · 10-11-2009, 05:33 PM

This has been covered in the past.

The OP was suffering from signal attentuation through the extension cable and replaced it with one that was designed to work. Try plugging in your sat radio to the fin without the extension cable.

You mentioned that your car has dual leads on the ant. connection.

If it still fails you may need an ant. splitter.

http://www.xm-radio-satellite.com/in...ROD&ProdID=277

bjwaz · 10-12-2009, 06:40 PM

I am under the impression that XM and Sirius antennas are different. I don't think the Sirius shark fin will work with XM.

JayKay335i · 10-12-2009, 07:08 PM

The shark fin will work with XM. The cable plugs right into the ant connector on the shark fin.

atk350 · 10-12-2009, 08:48 PM

Yes the cable fit right into the shark fin connector, but I get No signal reading on the receiver. If I unplug the shark fin then I get an Antennae message on my receiver. So do I need to use a 2 in 1 splitter to make the shark fin work since there are 2 plugs into the BMW Pink connector? I've read where others have used one of the connections (on the right) of the BMW plug and it works, but I have no idea what type of receiver was used. I'm using an old school Roady which uses FM modulation as it had a strong modulator built in which the FCC has now severely limited in new receivers for sat radio.

JayKay335i · 10-12-2009, 08:50 PM

I think I have the sportster 2. I just plugged a 20ft extension into one of the pink connectors and got a signal. Are you doing this outside?

atk350 · 10-12-2009, 09:03 PM

Yes I hook it up in my garage then drive down the street (several miles) and my receiver reads (NO SIGNAL) I change the station to Deep Tracks (channel 40

) My receiver then lists Deep Tracks then "loading" then No Signal.. The shark fin isn't working for me. I think the extension cable is RG174 with SMB female and male connectors at the ends. It's 50 Ohm. Am I using the wrong type cable for this application?

JayKay335i · 10-12-2009, 11:40 PM

http://www.myradiostore.com/antennas...adiostore.html

Thats the cable I used

Bulldog 6 · 10-15-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjwaz

I am under the impression that XM and Sirius antennas are different. I don't think the Sirius shark fin will work with XM.

Mine does no problems in almost 3 years.

10-10-2009, 10:13 PM	#1
atk350 New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Champaign, IL iTrader: (0)	Sharkfin hookup 2006 325i with Sat prep installed.(S693A). I pull the trunk cover to find the pink dual antenna leads and hook my Roady XM receiver to the lead on the right with the tab lock facing straight up (I tried both connections with no luck) I get "no Signal" from my XM receiver! I hook up a magnetic antennae and it works fine! I've got a 20 foot extension http://www.xm-radio-satellite.com/in...ROD&ProdID=280 Wired very nicely through the center console and the XM receiver is sitting in the ashtray. I'm baffled why I'm not getting a signal through the sharkfin antennae? Is the 20 foot run too long? The magnetic puck antennae is 23 feet???? Does the radio need to be coded for the sharkfin to work? I've been reading this forum where many have tapped into the shark fin with no problems. Why isn't mine working and how does one test signal strength from an XM receiver or antennae?
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10-11-2009, 12:49 PM	#2
atk350 New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Champaign, IL iTrader: (0)	I decided to rule out a bad extension cable so I plugged in the magnetic puck (antennae) and stuck it on my trunk. Now I'm getting signal to the XM Roady receiver. (which is 43 feet of cable and no signal loss that I can tell) So it's something in the shark fin or the wiring to the shark fin as my extension cable is fine. Has anyone ever taken the shark fin cover off?
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10-11-2009, 05:33 PM	#3
fdiprete First Lieutenant 23 Rep 339 Posts Drives: 2014 512i xdrive Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NH iTrader: (2)	This has been covered in the past. The OP was suffering from signal attentuation through the extension cable and replaced it with one that was designed to work. Try plugging in your sat radio to the fin without the extension cable. You mentioned that your car has dual leads on the ant. connection. If it still fails you may need an ant. splitter. http://www.xm-radio-satellite.com/in...ROD&ProdID=277
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10-12-2009, 06:40 PM	#4
bjwaz Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2009 328i X Drive, Monaco Blue Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	I am under the impression that XM and Sirius antennas are different. I don't think the Sirius shark fin will work with XM.
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10-12-2009, 07:08 PM	#5
JayKay335i Banned 200 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	The shark fin will work with XM. The cable plugs right into the ant connector on the shark fin.
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10-12-2009, 08:48 PM	#6
atk350 New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Champaign, IL iTrader: (0)	Yes the cable fit right into the shark fin connector, but I get No signal reading on the receiver. If I unplug the shark fin then I get an Antennae message on my receiver. So do I need to use a 2 in 1 splitter to make the shark fin work since there are 2 plugs into the BMW Pink connector? I've read where others have used one of the connections (on the right) of the BMW plug and it works, but I have no idea what type of receiver was used. I'm using an old school Roady which uses FM modulation as it had a strong modulator built in which the FCC has now severely limited in new receivers for sat radio.
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10-12-2009, 08:50 PM	#7
JayKay335i Banned 200 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	I think I have the sportster 2. I just plugged a 20ft extension into one of the pink connectors and got a signal. Are you doing this outside?
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10-12-2009, 09:03 PM	#8
atk350 New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Champaign, IL iTrader: (0)	Yes I hook it up in my garage then drive down the street (several miles) and my receiver reads (NO SIGNAL) I change the station to Deep Tracks (channel 40 ) My receiver then lists Deep Tracks then "loading" then No Signal.. The shark fin isn't working for me. I think the extension cable is RG174 with SMB female and male connectors at the ends. It's 50 Ohm. Am I using the wrong type cable for this application?
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10-12-2009, 11:40 PM	#9
JayKay335i Banned 200 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	http://www.myradiostore.com/antennas...adiostore.html Thats the cable I used
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