Can I use my sirrus Sat Antenna for GPS?

I am installing a Kenwood DNX 6960 Double Din system with GPS in my truck this week. I do not plan to use/activate my sirrus radio with this unit. The instructions call for me to run a wire out the dash and tape a GPS antenna to the dash. However, the plug (original) to the XM radio is an exact fit to where the aftermarket plug for this GPS antenna goes. So my question is: Has anyone else simply plugged the XM radio antenna into where the GPS antenna is supposed to go, and just used the XM radio antenna as the GPS antenna?

I cant be the first person to wonder this but I did a search and didn't come up with much so I had to ask.

 

Short answer: not really.

Longer answer: Sirius uses frequencies up near wi-fi range (2300mhz) while GPS uses lower frequencies, new 1500mhz. While it's possible to make antennas which offer gain over wider frequencies, neither of those products would appreciate it - they want their specific frequency, and as little signal from conflicting sources on other frequencies as possible, so combined with filters in the radio, the antennas should be tuned to only the frequencies they need.

Since both are receive-only, you can certainly TRY slapping the antenna on (bad things happen if you try to transmit with the wrong antenna, but for rx-only, worst case is really "it performs like crap"), but I don't expect you'll have a very good result.

 

Ok, this is good info. Sounds like it may not work/work very well. I may try it for S/G. I am still wondering if another Tacoma owner has already test piloted this?

 

Just in case anyone looks at this in the future: I ended up mounting my GPS antenna on top of the head unit below the dash. Still allows the GPS to work perfect. My driver for wanting to use the XM antenna as the GPS antenna was I didn't want the GPS antenna sitting on my dash as told to do by the instructions to the head unit.