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Shark Fin Antenna on Plug-In Advanced

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by jbrad4, Jan 10, 2012.

  1. jbrad4

    jbrad4 Active Member

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    Rowlett, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
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    Plug-in Advanced
    I would really like to replace my standard antenna on my Plug-In Prius Advanced with a shark fin antenna. The main thing I'm concerned about in doing this is the operation of SiriusXM radio and Safety Connect with the shark fin. Does anyone have any experience in using a shark fin with these services? Is there any degradation in the signal with a shark fin?
    I saw a thread on Sirius, but my main concern is using Safety Connect with a shark fin.
    Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 jbrad4, Jan 10, 2012
    KLD_Prius_PI_Synergy likes this.
  2. Tracksyde

    Tracksyde Member

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    The Toyota Sienna uses a factory shark fin antenna for XM radio reception. I believe Infiniti also uses a shark fin antenna on their models for XM reception as well. I image it would be fine.
     
    #2 Tracksyde, Jan 11, 2012
  3. iRun26.2

    iRun26.2 New Member

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    The tunning of the receiver/transmitter might be matched to the antenna the car is designed to come with. I can't imagine that the sensitivity would be the same if you switched.
     
    #3 iRun26.2, Jan 11, 2012
  4. Charlie_P

    Charlie_P Junior Member

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    I have installed the shark fin offered on this site and have noticed a major reduction in my XM reception. I thought that the stick was only for AM/FM
     
    #4 Charlie_P, Aug 24, 2012
  5. bielinsk

    bielinsk Gremlin

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    AM/FM is in the passenger rear small window.

    I have the sharkfin from this site on my advanced PiP and I notice no difference in signal for XM.
     
    #5 bielinsk, Aug 24, 2012
  6. DianneWhitmire

    DianneWhitmire High PRIUStess

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    I stuck a swim flipper there and I don't get reception, but my car seems to head towards the ocean nightly.
     
    #6 DianneWhitmire, Aug 24, 2012
    surfinjoe and rogerv like this.
  7. bfd

    bfd Plug-In Perpetuator

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    [​IMG]
     
    #7 bfd, Aug 25, 2012
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  8. PRPrius

    PRPrius Active Member

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    I have a shark fin on my Advance and have not had any issues with XM. Howerver, I am expiriencing issues with the signal reception for the local FM station's HD channel. HD signals are not that strong to begin with and by removing the antenna, the car spends a lot more time on the FM than HD for my favorite local station. This being said, I am perfectly fine making that sacrifice for the looks of the shark fin.
     
    #8 PRPrius, Aug 25, 2012
  9. bielinsk

    bielinsk Gremlin

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    FM antenna is not on the roof. Shark fin cannot affect fm or am.
     
    #9 bielinsk, Aug 25, 2012
  10. PRPrius

    PRPrius Active Member

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    Actually, the Prius has 2 AM/FM antennas. One is the roof mounted antenna and the other one is an in-glass antenna. The roof mounted antenna is composed of two sections. The detachable section which sticks out like a dogs tail is the AM/FM antenna. The lower section which is part of the base, is the XM satellite radio reciever. For 2012 they added an in-glass antenna to the passenger side rear quater window. I am sure after listening to a lot of 2010-11 owners complaining about AM/FM reception. The Prius has always had the main AM/FM antenna on the roof of the car. However, if you look at the Gen I and II the base is very small due to the lack of the XM reciever. This actually was a cause of concern, when the Gen III was introduced. We didn't think the shark fin antenna would be able to fit over the larger Gen III base.
     
    #10 PRPrius, Aug 25, 2012
    DianneWhitmire likes this.
  11. bielinsk

    bielinsk Gremlin

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    The owners manual does not agree with you.
     
    #11 bielinsk, Aug 25, 2012
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