OEM XM satellite radio poor reception

[4Funnr]

I've never had a problem with my 2010 4runner TE OEM XM satellite reception. But in the past few months, it seems to 'fuzz' out under the slightest trees and when passing through bridges, etc. in a way it never did the previous 5 years.

Anyone else experiencing similar problems? I checked the shark fin on roof and it looks fine. No damage. Is it possible a connection is loose? Seems odd a loose connection would affect reception when driving through trees etc.

My wife has a new Camry though and side by side her car gets much better XM reception.

Something has definitely changed in my T4R.

 

[CodedSilence]

My newer 2014 TE has the same problem since day 1. I'd be interested here too

 

[Jono.ful]

I talked to XM about this a few years ago. they said that despite the fact that Sirius and XM are one company now, they maintain separate satellites; an XM receiver is incapable of receiving Sirius signals and vise versa. XM satellites are geosynchronous, whereas Sirius actually orbit and therefore have greater coverage at more latitudes. Sirius also has a greater number of ground based repeater stations and therefore greater coverage. It all adds up to Sirius being the better service, even though they are the same damn company.

 

[4Funnr]

I talked to XM about this a few years ago. they said that despite the fact that Sirius and XM are one company now, they maintain separate satellites; an XM receiver is incapable of receiving Sirius signals and vise versa. XM satellites are geosynchronous, whereas Sirius actually orbit and therefore have greater coverage at more latitudes. Sirius also has a greater number of ground based repeater stations and therefore greater coverage. It all adds up to Sirius being the better service, even though they are the same damn company.

Thanks for this explanation. I'm not sure how it relates to my specific problem though.

I didn't change service or vehicles. Just woke up one morning and my XM reception seemed to be worse. I think it coincided with having my rear bumper repainted but I can't imagine what they could have knocked loose back there to affect XM connection.

 

[BlacknTan]

I've had my '15 Trail for a little over a month now, and I'm experiencing the same thing. I was prepared to like the satellite radio, but it's been a big disappointment.

Programming is great, but reception is poor except in perfectly open areas ... I won't be signing up once the trial period ends ..

 

[adamvax]

I've had the same issue on my new T4R I just bought in April. My Brother is also having the same issue on his 2014 tundra. ITS SUPER ANNOYING

 

[4Surfin]

My 11 and now my 15 both suck ass! I let me trial subscription run out. Never had an issue with any other vehicle only my 4runner. I don't really believe the XM VS SIRIUS receiver crap they are feeding people.

 

[Watchdogg]

My 15 sucks too. Never had a problem with any of my cars until I got this one. My trial runs out in July, gonna see what they offer when I call up to cancel.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I just put everything under the sun I like on an iTouch and keep that baby plugged in the truck. For what XM costs over a year you can buy an iTouch and listen to what you want 24x7.

I've never been real impressed with Sirrius or XM in several vehicles. One thing I did learn a few vehicles back, never, ever give them your phone number.

 

[mazatal]

Fades in and out in my '13 LTD in tall timber and deep canyons, Iridium satellites often have the same issue. Better than nothing.

 

[Jaan]

I've had my 14 for almost a year now, and I didn't notice it fading in and out until a month or two ago, and this was on roads I regularly travel.

 

[4Funnr]

Sounds like we all started experiencing problems around the same time. Except my wife doesn't have any problems at all with her XM, so I'm thinking a connection must have come loose?

I can drive her car past the same few meager trees that kill my reception and hers is rock solid. Mine was too, until about 3 months. ago. WTF.

 

[Stewart]

Add me to the party..
Had a 2004 T4R with an aftermarket Sirius unit and the reception was flawless. Bought a 2010 T4R with he Factory XM Unit and the reception is noticeably worse. Add to this the fact that i now cant get the same channels I used to listen to.. (Specifically 161)

 

[4Surfin]

Sounds like we all started experiencing problems around the same time. Except my wife doesn't have any problems at all with her XM, so I'm thinking a connection must have come loose?

I can drive her car past the same few meager trees that kill my reception and hers is rock solid. Mine was too, until about 3 months. ago. WTF.

this is not new. my 11 4runner did it from day one.

 

[john504]

I've had terrible connections with my 14 trail since day 1. I just opted to do the iPod route to not have to deal with it anymore.

 

[NoDak]

ever since our 2009 rav (and they gave us a year free), sat radio reception has sucked as mentioned.

this one issue sealed the deal of NEVER paying for sat radio.

I would use the usb stick method, BT steam from phone, or if you have a big GB plan (I have a cheap 40gb plan for $150), use Pandora (bias to them since they stream at 64kb max for free).

 

[BlacknTan]

OK, I like Pandora ..

Please tell an old guy without a cell phone, and no intention of getting one, the easiest and cheapest way to get Pandora in the 4Runner?

I tried a USB stick with tunes downloaded and converted off youtube. Works OK, but sound quality is rather poor, and constantly must ride herd on the volume control for different tunes. Not a great solution..

 

[Jaan]

OK, I like Pandora ..

Please tell an old guy without a cell phone, and no intention of getting one, the easiest and cheapest way to get Pandora in the 4Runner?

Do you have anything else you can connect to the radio, like a tablet computer?

If you get Spotify premium, you can save the music to your tablet or smart phone when you're connected to wireless internet, and you don't need a internet connection to lay the songs. Ask around for someone you know that has an old smartphone you can have. You don't need phone service for this to work. Also, in case of emergency, 911 always works on a mobile phone even if you don't have service.

You could always just pirate music from Bit Torrent, since you're already doing that through You Tube. If songs are encoded in at least 320kbps then they should sound good. Don't download one song at a time, download a "discography". That would be every single album made by a band in one shot.

You could always just get an iPod and pay for the songs.

Without a mobile phone with a plan that connects to the internet, you can't stream Pandora as far as I know. Easy and cheap are mutually exclusive here...if you want to do things legally.

 

[NoDak]

OK, I like Pandora ..

Please tell an old guy without a cell phone, and no intention of getting one, the easiest and cheapest way to get Pandora in the 4Runner?

I tried a USB stick with tunes downloaded and converted off youtube. Works OK, but sound quality is rather poor, and constantly must ride herd on the volume control for different tunes. Not a great solution..

w/o a cellphone there is no way to get Pandora thru the head unit. unless your sitting nearby a wifi spot and stream indirectly to the head unit via an ipad/android device.

or if you have a personal hotspot to tether to the head unit (but that will involve a data plan with a cellphone company)

 

[LandCruiser]

I've had GM's... great sat radio reception.

My 13 TE sucks... and why I'm not paying for a subscription.

Can't drive down a tree canopy road without losing signal.