Stereo Install Questions

[nafs]

Buzz, I will have the exact same installation as you described going in this weekend. After weeks of searching, I had the same exact questions as you, with no definitive answers.

That is why I am paying for a proffesional install. I live in NYC and Audio Designs is doing the labor.(I am providing all the hardware) Its costing me about $400.00, but I feel more than confident these guys know what they are doing and are going to do it right with a 2 year labor warranty. I visited there shop in downtown Manhattan and it is first rate. At the time they were installing on a Ferrari Spyder and a Bentley. The H3 will be in good hands.

As far as your components list, it seems complete except for a dash kit(don't yet know if you really need it) but scosche 1595b is for the H3, and maybe a gm antenna adapter for regular am, fm.

As for camera mounting, if you have a tow package the rear mounting bracket in the back makes a perfect location in terms of height and line of site, also is away from most of the elements.I saw this install location at my dealer. All their aftermarket installs had them in that location.

As far as existing XM antenna usage, I have read that it can be used.
Also somebody has installed the gps antenna inside the dash assembly and it works great. I instructed my installer to test out the installation there.

I will keep you posted on my pro install experience. Good luck

[HummerNewbie]

It really depends on your experience if you should do the install yourself or not. I thought it was actually one of the easiest installs I had ever done but it was also one of the most basic since it didn't involve multiple amps, crossovers, EQs and so on. If you are experienced and like to do things yourself like I do, go for it, you should have zero problems. If you are not so experienced or are unsure, definitely get it installed by a professional like nafs is doing. It is always nice to have someone you can go back to if anything goes wrong. I am sure the shop you are going to is top notch nafs but but for those looking around, don't judge an installer by the vehicles in the shop. I have dealt with many shops over the years and on average it was the ones working on the cheaper vehicles that did the superior work and some incredible installs. I have dealt with shops whose clientele was only high-end primarily due to location and they kept coming back because they didn't know any better. I have also dealt with shops whose clientele were always on tight budgets yet they were always able to turn out incredible systems working with those budgets. That is not always the case but like the old saying goes, don't judge a book by it's cover. Just my $0.02