Hi Everyone,
I just started having the ANTENNA NOT DETECTED message on my Starmate 4. This install was completed just over a year ago. The antenna is mounted at the top of the windshield and the wire is completely hidden under the weather striping all the way into the car. I have swapped in my Sportster 5 and it gives the same message about the antenna so the troubleshooting points to the antenna or the dock itself.
I believe that the antenna is the issue as there is not much on the dock to go bad. My question is can I install the antenna inside the car on the dashboard? Does the antenna need to be mounted on a metal surface? I have had the same problem with the other four cars with outside antennas. In my Cadillac, I have the antenna on the dashboard on a metal speaker grill. This has been going strong on the same antenna for 4 years. I am sure that it is because the antenna is not exposed to the elements.
The Kia with the problem now does not have a metal grill on the dash to stick the antenna to. Is it necessary to have it mounted on a metal surface? If not, I am going to keep the next antenna in the vehicle.
Any ideas, suggestions, or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for the time and have a great day!
Respectfully,
George D.