Well...yes it is supposed to be installed with a clear sight to the sky, you can still put it in the dash and get flawless signal.

My guess is that the installer put it in the dash, and not on metal..or just in there sitting off level.

He said it's installed right under the dash, in the same place as the stock antenna... I don't know if the Pioneer's antenna is more sensitive and needs a clearer signal or what... but it should be working.

the first pace i put the antenna was on top of the unit. never got a signal and theres no metal above it.