Onstar antenna with GPS Nav?

[markw]

Hi,

Has anyone who is not using Onstar tried using the roof mounted Onstar antenna with a GPS Navigation system? Are there any issues? What connector does the Onstar antenna cable have?

I'd like to use it with an Eclipse navigation system, but I'm not sure if if will work...

Thanks,
Mark.

[markw]

Hi,

Has anyone who is not using Onstar tried using the roof mounted Onstar antenna with a GPS Navigation system? Are there any issues? What connector does the Onstar antenna cable have?

I'd like to use it with an Eclipse navigation system, but I'm not sure if if will work...

Thanks,
Mark.

[markw]

Hi,

Has anyone who is not using Onstar tried using the roof mounted Onstar antenna with a GPS Navigation system? Are there any issues? What connector does the Onstar antenna cable have?

I'd like to use it with an Eclipse navigation system, but I'm not sure if if will work...

Thanks,
Mark.

[Klaus]

I use the OnStar roof antenna for my navigation system. Works fine. The antenna uses a MCX connector.

Mouser Electronics (www.mouser.com) sells MCX connectors.

More info

[markw]

Hi Klaus,

Thanks for the detailed information. I'll try it out...

Thanks,
Mark

[Flubbie]

Hi,

I also need the GPS antenna for my Navigation system.
Do you know were I can find the antenna connector?

Regards Peter-jan

[Erod]

Klaus,

Let me see if I understand, you are saying that we can use the Onstar antenna as our GPS? I am planning to go with the NAV radio with a Non Lux amp (since my new sut doesnt have a lux amp) but the only thing stoping me is the GPS antenna. Can you give a little more details please Thanks

[Klaus]

OnStar is comprised of 2 systems, Cellular Phone Service, and GPS. Therefore, the OnStar antenna supports both. As a matter of fact (if equipped with XM Radio), the 2005s OnStar antenna performs 3 functions - OnStar Cellular, OnStar GPS, and XM Radio.

I REMOVED OnStar from my truck, so I had the option to use the OnStar's GPS for my NAV unit. You CANNOT use the antenna for both OnStar GPS and NAV at the same time.

Now - The NAV unit's antenna connection is non-standard. Therefore, what I did was to cut off the coax from a NAV GPS antenna and added the MCX connector to it. That gave me a patch cable to connect the NAV unit to the OnStar antenna cable.

Most folks should just install the regular NAV GPS antenna cable in the dash and be done with it. 2005 owners MIGHT have the option to replace both the OnStar antenna and the complete roof wiring harness to get the tri-band OnStar antenna mounted. I didn't do this as my 2003 had different connectors under the dash.

[prplprowlr]

Klaus,

I have been waiting and deciding on which way I want to go. Can the current ONstar antenna on the 2003 be used for XM instead of GPS? Also I am not electronically inclined so I would like to have something that is easiest done. I want the 2005 touch screen w/ XM radion the GPS is not a big issue for me. Unless you plan on taking any trips to Myrtle Beach soon I can let you install mine for a fee$$ of course only a few hours up the road for you.

Thanks Ron

[Klaus]

Ron,

No, the 2003 OnStar antenna cannot be used as an XM Radio antenna. Understand that XM antennas are actually 2 in 1. They support both satellite and also ground "repeater" reception.

Take a look at this thread:

http://elcova.com/groupee/forums?a=tpc&s=2826088551&f=6706011751&m=307102578

Look at the "magazine" type changer links.

[markw]

Hi,

I thought I'd let everyone know that the stock Onstar antenna works fine with my Eclipse navi headunit (just as Klaus suggested it would). I ended up removing the stock CMX connector from the cable and carefully soldered on the connector that was supplied with the Eclipse GPS antenna. Works great...

Mark.

[Klaus]

Cool! Glad it's working for you.