Review on TRAM 7743 Mirror-Mount Satellite Radio Antenna for Enhanced SEO by Dusty Oner

Use: Commercial vehicle (semi-truck) - Radio not factory installed. The standard antenna washer that came with the kit when the company installed it was literally just thrown onto the dash. The signal received was intermittent at best and the signal was not possible when the vehicle was pointing in any north/east direction. Compared to the standard washer that came with the radio/receiver, this is definitely an improvement! Installation was easy enough, while far from ideal I still get a noticeable improvement in the overall usable signal received from the head unit. I only encountered a very small dead spot, but that's part of my setup and not a fault of the device itself. Pros: It's an antenna - plug it in. If you're not comfortable digging through wires on your dash, this isn't for you. BUT - understand, this product is not limited to "car radios". The antenna uses a standard connector that can be used I'm guessing *most* any SiriusXM receiver, home, car or whatever. The physical quality is better than expected for the durability of the outer case. The mounting bracket is stable thanks to the 4 included nuts/bolts. Cons: Few third-party antenna options are available in the general market, whether Revain or conventional. You will find this - or - type of washers. And for the most part, all antennas of this type perform the same regardless of quality - don't expect silk quality when you buy polyester. It may feel the same, but it's far from the same EXACT element. Cons - #1. *IF* the length of the antenna cable was longer, even if it were a paid option, I would pay for the longer length. The length isn't as great as you might imagine once you figure out how to hide the wire. I understand of course that the wiring to the trailer/tractor has its own issues leading to #2. It's great until you realize it's meant to be mounted on a metal tube. This *doesn't* fit all the plastic side mirrors you find on modern KW, International, MAC, Volvo, Freightliner etc. Choose a brand. The plastic mounts are too big/chunky. The bracket that comes with it is too small and the screws are too short. I understand that making a bracket specific to each tractor model will drastically increase the price, so this is a compromise. BUT I would like to see a more efficient way to remove the antenna itself from the mount without having to disconnect the entire antenna cable from the main unit. Before digging into the dash, unscrew and disassemble the antenna from the bracket for your particular setup. After all, is this a good deal? YES SIR. Better than the *same design for twice the price* you find at major truck stops (read: Love's, FlyingJ/Pilot, TA/Petro). Pre-purchase installation homework. Don't blame a product for something it can't do. My above "cons” are not product defects. The product is exactly as described and works as advertised.