Does anyone know what antenna we get reception from on our GPS Nav units.
Theazz

 

If you are wanting location, it is located under the piece that flips up when you cycle the roof up or down. When it flips up, you would need to remove the material to gain access.

If you are asking about frequency range of the antenna, I cannot help you.

 

The stock GPS antenna is located at the top of the dash, under the cover and is a PITA to get to, at least on 2002s. Mine went out 18 month ago, and I found out that it was big bucks to replace. I'm wondering if it was damaged when I had the airbag recall done, since it was working before the procedure. Anyway, it is easily disconnectable at the GPS head unit in the trunk (see one of the DIYs for updating your GPS to a rev4), and replaced with a good magnetic base aftermarket antenna, which can be located under the package tray, although you may have to adjust its position a little for optimum performance. The package tray location works since it is 1) close to the GPS head unit, and 2) there is only plastic and glass between the antenna and the satellite. The guy who helped me had to do a little trimming on the unit he provided me with, and it has worked well since.

 

Thanks so the 2 antennas (front windshield and rear telescoping) have nothing to do with the GPS

 

That has always been my understanding. It is also my understanding that the GPS antenna is under the dash. This is what I was told at a Lexus dealer anyway.

 

The dash is not the location of the GPS antenna according to the Lexus shop manuals. They show it located under the package tray, then under the fabric and on the right side of center.

 

Could be, Lexus techs are not always correct.

 

No worries. The dash was my first guess until I looked it up in the shop manuals. We had this discussion last month when I was wondering where I could install the new sirrius XM antenna.
Here is the link...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...placement.html

 

I guess the techs don't see a lot of SC430s. I feel certain you are correct.

 

Yes, there are three antennas on the SC430: two are for the radio (AM/FM) and one for the GPS. GPS frequency is 1575.42 MHz. AM frequencies range from 535 to 1700 kHz and FM frequencies range from 87.5 to 108 MHz in the US (Japan is different). So the two antenna types are not interchangeable. Using two antennas for AM/FM radio is called a diversity antenna. (Two antennas allow the radio to choose the best reception since inches of difference in location can make a world of difference.)

 

Now I get it but why 2 different connector sizes, it's like why the cassette tape player?

 

Same thing with my Benz - has an F-connector for the GPS and it's a very specific F-connector as there are several variants on GPS antennas. I think it's an antenna issue (as in who sourced it) vs a Lexus (or Mercedes) issue. Lots of funky connectors out there now - seems like more than when I went to school (Elec Engineering) and the signal characteristics of the devices just don't seem to require a different connector. I expect they're hold-overs from when the devices were proprietary so you couldn't swap other vendor's hardware. Now everything in GPS land seems pretty commodotized so the funny connectors are an oddity that makes you wonder why

 

The small one is Lexus Propietary. I did a lot of searching when I did my antenna mod. Never found anything exactly the same but similar and compatible after some modification.

 

Like you Shawn I'm determined to make it fit.
Theazz

 

I believe the XM antenna is an SMC connector and for some reason I thought the GPS had the same type...I bet I am confusing the two....