I just took ownership of a new 2014ES with SiriusXM radio. I noticed that occasionally I lose reception replaced by a short (about a second) whooshing sound. This happens sometimes when I pass under an overhead wire (most often it does NOT occur when passing under wires) and others times it occurs when there is apparently nothing overhead. This is my first experience with a satellite radio. Is this a normal occurrence? I live in northern NJ. I don't believe I remember this happening with my friend's Mercedes. Thanks in advance.

 

With SAT yes occasional drop outs are a fact of life.

 

I keep getting the drop-outs - and very frequently - on the same stretches of road, especially in my town (NW NJ). But driving in my friend's 2009 Mercedes we get almost no drop-outs on these same roads. Leads me to think the ES antenna (its design or possibly an internal connection) might be to blame. Will have it checked out at the first 5,000 mile service (would rather they don't take apart my car!) but has anyone had this problem on a 13-14 ES and taken it to their Lexus dealer for evaluation?

 

When I had sat in different vehicles I noticed that Sirius did that but XM on my truck never had a problem. Of course that was when they were 2 companies before there merger. Now on my ES I'm still under the free period but I don't ever use it. I won't be buying it with HD radio and Pandora being free, I don't feel the need for paying for music. Plus the quality isn't as good since it's not HD.

 

Yes I think it's pretty common for some drop outs... I've noticed it in my car, sometimes when nothing is over head... but I can tell you that when I pull into the bank drive thru atm or stop at a light where I'm stopped under an overpass, the signal goes out completely.. but as soon as I pull back out where there's a line of sight signal, the signal is restored almost immediately.

Poppa