Mystery Car Antenna
I don't know why today was the day but I noticed an antenna on the back of my car I never knew was there. Not the radio antenna (that's next to it though) but this one is small and black. Made by TERK with a model number SR8-806T. Google provided nothing. TERK seems to make XM/Sirrus Antennas even though I've never had either of the services. It is an in window mount, and the wire comes through the inside end of the rear window. I know it's not OnStar cause I don't have a GM car or the OnStar equipment. Anyone else have this thing in there? I'm half tempted to unplug it because I don't know if Big Brother has come to get me... :wink:

If it is a newer model, it probably is an XM/Sirius (or, more generically, a satellite antenna) antenna. Most car makers put the option in, and leave it up to the owner to activate the radio. It is generally easier to install in the factory than it is to install later. My dad's new Honda Accord has the antenna, and the radio to receive it, but he's not willing to pay money to listen to the radio... You can get the promo channel on it, though. It sounds like you may have an aftermarket install, though. Typically, the antenna is mounted on the ceiling, and is painted to match the body. The bigger question is, does your radio have an XM option?

Car is a 2004 Ford Taurus. Only has Tape/6 Disc CD/AM/FM. No XM/Sirrus stuff with it. I was lookin' at the connector and it looked vaugly similar to a coax. type connector on a GPS and if I can find where it leads off (truck most likely cause the radio tuner is there) I could rig up a GPS to the carputer I'm tryin' to do.

Thought... How close are XM and GPS antennas to each other? Are they interchangeable (when wiring differences are addressed)? Could you share one antenna between XM and GPS?

Could you put a pic up? On my parents' car, the XM Antenna is just a stub/blunt sharkfin thingy. More like an extruded teardrop about a half of inch high. The Onstar Antenna has a half-inch base and then an antenna protruding from it about a quarter-inch diameter and about three-inches tall. There is a like a coil visible that maybe only completes 2 turns across the entire length. I think I've heard of terk before, just can't remember. Hope this helps! EDIT Thought... How close are XM and GPS antennas to each other? Are they interchangeable (when wiring differences are addressed)? Could you share one antenna between XM and GPS? I think Pioneer does that, with their NavTraffic. IIRC, they get the Traffic Info from XM. Kinda makes sense, that XM and GPS are both satilites.

If I can find the battery to my digital camera I'll post up a pic of it, or I'll just use my phone (bleh).

Not being one to turn down hacking hardware that one gets free or gets paid to take, I got a Sirius Stratus 4 + Vehicle Kit with $30 Gift Card and $4 fatcash for the investment of $0.01 for shipping. I'm offering my $30 Sirius gift card to the first person to activate my radio on their account since I don't see any point in letting the amount left after the required activation and one month service go to waste. And I've already taken it apart but didn't find any SMaL ASICs in there :(