XM Radio Signal Quality

[Tallicon]

My free trial is about to expire and I'm contemplating of signing up for a year since it's 1/2 off. However, I find the signal drops out very easily and most annoyingly it doesn't cut out the sound... it blasts static.

I live in a small'ish city with no sky scrapers or anything. My old sirius radio kit with the antenna inside the car in the front middle of the dash only lost signal under bridges. So I would have thought the external shark fin antenna would yield the same results.

Does the radio ever kick out for you guys?

 

[Bay33saw]

I live in Las Vegas NV and the only time I lose signal is if I go in a multi story car park. Apart from that it's clear as a bell and I love the fact I get no commercials.

 

[gray street]

My free trial is about to expire and I'm contemplating of signing up for a year since it's 1/2 off. However, I find the signal drops out very easily and most annoyingly it doesn't cut out the sound... it blasts static.

I live in a small'ish city with no sky scrapers or anything. My old sirius radio kit with the antenna inside the car in the front middle of the dash only lost signal under bridges. So I would have thought the external shark fin antenna would yield the same results.

Does the radio ever kick out for you guys?

You are very far up north. Read up on how their satellites are set up, unfortunately the farther north the worse its going to be.

 

[Tallicon]

Yep, block heaters are not an option up here... they are mandatory! haha

Alright then, I guess there is a difference between sirius and XM satellites.

BoooOO-URNS!

 

[Mtn.Rush]

Yep, block heaters are not an option up here... they are mandatory! haha

Alright then, I guess there is a difference between sirius and XM satellites.

BoooOO-URNS!

Moleman saying "booooo-urns" priceless. Im in NY and the only cutouts i get are under the bridges at slow speeds.

 

[Redwolf]

Right now I am in Norfolk, VA and only time it goes out is going through the tunnel and even then it just says "No Signal" and the sound is nothing, not even static.

Oh and to chime in, Love Sirius radio and will probably never go back to radio stations that play only 5 songs on repeat and a million commercials

 

[Skeletor03]

Mine drops all the time in Baltimore Maryland. I was told by XM Sirius I have to get my antenna replaced by Toyota. I love XM, but not right now!

 

[Sells]

Theres definitely is a difference between the 2 my sirius I had barely ever went out, The xm on the runner goes out when I'm in between 40 foot buildings in town and even going down the the tree lined interstate.

 

[Tallicon]

Theres definitely is a difference between the 2 my sirius I had barely ever went out, The xm on the runner goes out when I'm in between 40 foot buildings in town and even going down the the tree lined interstate.

That's what I'm getting and it seems to be worst in the evening. I will call XM and see what they say

 

[jhawk]

That's weird, I went on a trip to Savannah - lost signal under every overpass and everywhere downtown.
In Ohio, I only lose the signal stuck in traffic under an overpass.

 

[jhawk]

Also, I think i've seen several people that had the dealer replace there roof mounted receivers complaining of bad signal. Search.

 

[Sells]

That's what I'm getting and it seems to be worst in the evening. I will call XM and see what they say

Let me know what they say. Ifs it fixable that would be great,

 

[Tallicon]

Spoke to XM and as expected there isn't much they can do. Sirius and XM use different equipment all together from radios to satellites which explains the difference in signal quality. Just a bummer because if it barely works with our 3 story high buildings it's going to suck when I go to Toronto. And I highly doubt it's a problem with the head end or the antenna.

One thing I didn't know is they install signal repeaters where there is poor satellite coverage.

I do love Sat Radio tho! and this offer is to good to pass... 80$ for a year, can't complain about that.

 

[rocket67]

My factory installed XM is total Garbage. Drops signal like crazy. I loved sirius when I had it in my Taco and it would never drop out unless in a parking garage or overpass. Sirius in all my friends vehicles work perfect and friends with XM hate it as well. Great deal for a $80 year long headache.

 

[desertred]

I've not had an issue with XM reception here in Colorado, except (as many have mentioned) slow progression traveling under an overpass. When I lived in the Pac NW, There were a few spots where the satellite reception would cut out when I was next to a mountain/cliff wall; particularly when the cliff was on the south side of the road. However, the drop off was nothing like a drop in radio reception in the same spots. I have no real complaints with XM reception.

 

[ArcticEd]

The reception in the 4runner seems to be a little weak compared to aftermarket antennas (based only on my experience). I had a Roady2 in my CR-V and routed the aftermarket antenna into the factory location on the roof (same area as the 4R) and only dropped the signal in parking garages. The 4R drops under many overpasses, large trees, etc.

Haven't listened to terrestrial radio in 5 years though & will never go back!

 

[Savagewv]

I live in Charleston WV. Mountains/hills are close and vary from 300' to 400' taller than the surrounding valleys. Downtown buildings are 4 to 15 stories tall. I found that my mostly in-town driving only allowed me to get reception about 75% of the time. It was always cutting out. I was dissapointed with the reception and let my subscription expire after the free trial period. The 4runner or xm system does not work well in my area.

 

[gray street]

Mine will cut out under drive through awnings

 

[mikedallien]

SIRIUS vs XM signal quality

The delivery systems of XM and SIRIUS are STILL very different. I had SIRIUS for years and virtually NEVER lost signal; when I bought my 2010 Hyundai Sonata with built-in XM radio, the difference was apparent immediately. XM still using ground-based repeaters that produce frequent cut-outs on the northern and eastern fringes of North America - so if you live in eastern Canada you're not gonna be satisfied with XM. They keep offering me "deals" to sign up...they don't understand (and won't listen when I try to tell them) that it's not the money, it's the signal quality that's the issue.

My free trial is about to expire and I'm contemplating of signing up for a year since it's 1/2 off. However, I find the signal drops out very easily and most annoyingly it doesn't cut out the sound... it blasts static.

I live in a small'ish city with no sky scrapers or anything. My old sirius radio kit with the antenna inside the car in the front middle of the dash only lost signal under bridges. So I would have thought the external shark fin antenna would yield the same results.

Does the radio ever kick out for you guys?

 

[fdmstng99]

Mine drops all the time in Baltimore Maryland. I was told by XM Sirius I have to get my antenna replaced by Toyota. I love XM, but not right now!

I'm also in the Baltimore area and mine doesn't drop out all the time but enough to be annoying.