Xm radio antenna

[magaca]

I drove to cabo recently and will be spending here in cabo aprox 3 months, i know of a lot of people that have xm radio here and signal its just fine, actually i know of people in mexico city and signal is fine, the thing is that most or all that i know its an aftermarket xm radio those you install in the dashboard, my reception suck it comes in and out so was thinking it could be the antenna, so here's my question does any one know if the stock satellite antenna can be changed for an aftermarket one, will this help? is weak reception just antenna or the radio itself etc, its just suck being down here with no radio just one radio station that plays news in morning classical at noon mariachi at evenings and pop at night, thanks

 

[Ryan_S]

I'm not an expert, but when I had the XM free trial (first time I've had XM) I was surprised at how often I would lose signal. It was kinda crap any time there was trees or an overpass around. It may just be the antenna/radio that is used.

 

[philsey]

Tell ya what magaca, why don't we just swap? The XM reception here is just fine - oh, and it was -27* F this morning w/ wind chill.

I was in Cabo in Nov., and I'm ready to go back.

 

[JasonCz]

I'm not an expert, but when I had the XM free trial (first time I've had XM) I was surprised at how often I would lose signal. It was kinda crap any time there was trees or an overpass around. It may just be the antenna/radio that is used.

I'm in a relatively hilly region of Virginia and on my 35 mile drive to work, I only lose reception once. I go through all kinds of valleys and heavily wooded areas. I can even get reception inside my garage, which doesn't really have many windows, and a floor above me.

I think I get better reception from the 4R then I did with the factory installed XM in my 2008 Honda Civic Coupe.

 

[SeattleMike]

I drove to cabo recently and will be spending here in cabo aprox 3 months, i know of a lot of people that have xm radio here and signal its just fine, actually i know of people in mexico city and signal is fine, the thing is that most or all that i know its an aftermarket xm radio those you install in the dashboard, my reception suck it comes in and out so was thinking it could be the antenna, so here's my question does any one know if the stock satellite antenna can be changed for an aftermarket one, will this help? is weak reception just antenna or the radio itself etc, its just suck being down here with no radio just one radio station that plays news in morning classical at noon mariachi at evenings and pop at night, thanks

When I shaved my sharkfin to install my rack, my XM reception improved dramatically. You can pull down the headliner at the back a few inches and use a crescent wrench to loosen the nut holding it in place. There are two small black tabs on either side that need to be pressed in and then it pops right out of the roof. Four phillips head screws hold the cover onto the plate. Pick a sunny day, and drive around without the cover on and see if it helps.

If it does, you can make a decision on how to proceed. If it doesn't, you have to consider that the problem in Cabo might be the lack of a repeater in the area. They most certainly have at least one in Mexico City and several in the big cities across the US. Considering the resident population of Cabo San Lucas is ~60k, they aren't likely to build one there just for the tourists, either.

 

[JasonCz]

If it doesn't, you have to consider that the problem in Cabo might be the lack of a repeater in the area. They most certainly have at least one in Mexico City and several in the big cities across the US. Considering the resident population of Cabo San Lucas is ~60k, they aren't likely to build one there just for the tourists, either.

I am not within 200 miles of an XM terrestrial repeater and I still get almost 100% reception. US XM repeaters (Google Earth File)

To OP, you may want to post a question about poor XM reception here ...http://www.dslreports.com/forum/satradio

 

[westwind77]

I am not within 200 miles of an XM terrestrial repeater and I still get almost 100% reception. US XM repeaters (Google Earth File)

Interesting file, and the 'pins' are right on the towers too. I have 2 (65m & 70m) near me but I drop reception in the same areas every day.

 

[magaca]

Tell ya what magaca, why don't we just swap? The XM reception here is just fine - oh, and it was -27* F this morning w/ wind chill.

I was in Cabo in Nov., and I'm ready to go back.

haha yes its not bad here 80 degrees

 

[magaca]

When I shaved my sharkfin to install my rack, my XM reception improved dramatically. You can pull down the headliner at the back a few inches and use a crescent wrench to loosen the nut holding it in place. There are two small black tabs on either side that need to be pressed in and then it pops right out of the roof. Four phillips head screws hold the cover onto the plate. Pick a sunny day, and drive around without the cover on and see if it helps.

If it does, you can make a decision on how to proceed. If it doesn't, you have to consider that the problem in Cabo might be the lack of a repeater in the area. They most certainly have at least one in Mexico City and several in the big cities across the US. Considering the resident population of Cabo San Lucas is ~60k, they aren't likely to build one there just for the tourists, either.

thanks ill try that