XM Satellite Drop Outs
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 291
Likes: 8
From: Florida
XM Radio Drop Outs
Found this article about XM and the repeaters they need to set up.
As most investors and consumers are aware, Sirius XM delivers content to consumers via satellite. What many are likely unaware of is the fact that the satellite signal is supplemented by a repeater network. The repeater network allows you to receive your signal in areas where the satellite signal may be weak. Areas such a cities with tall buildings need repeaters to make the service viable.
Recently there was an article published that outlined a need for Sirius XM to install 600 repeaters to supplement its service. While there will indeed be a need for repeaters, the task is nowhere near as daunting as you may have been led to believe.
http://siriusbuzz.com/siriusxm-satel...-repeaters.php
As most investors and consumers are aware, Sirius XM delivers content to consumers via satellite. What many are likely unaware of is the fact that the satellite signal is supplemented by a repeater network. The repeater network allows you to receive your signal in areas where the satellite signal may be weak. Areas such a cities with tall buildings need repeaters to make the service viable.
Recently there was an article published that outlined a need for Sirius XM to install 600 repeaters to supplement its service. While there will indeed be a need for repeaters, the task is nowhere near as daunting as you may have been led to believe.
http://siriusbuzz.com/siriusxm-satel...-repeaters.php
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: CA
On my Iinfiniti, I get clear reception inside my garage and haven't lost signal yet. I lose signal on the GS when I pump gas... In my experience, the satellite reception on the GS much inferior compared to that of Infiniti.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using IB AutoGroup
Sent from my SCH-I605 using IB AutoGroup
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 202
Likes: 1
From: Florida
However, I do get drop outs under trees and around tall buildings depending on time of day and angle to nearest XM satellite or repeater.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
2007 GS 350 Satellite Reception Issue
Hello all, can ANYONE let me know if they found a solution to this issue? I purchased the car last year and it apparently already had the tuner installed so I activated it using my existing subscription to Sirius. The radio has the SAT button and that is what I use to access the Sirius/XM receiver. In short, the reception is horrible. I constantly lose signal in places I never did in the past when using various different Sirius receivers that plug into the lighter and get mounted to the windshield (hockey puck antenna). Reception is especially horrible on roads with a lot of trees. The reception does improve in the winter (I live on East Coast in Connecticut) when the leaves fall off the trees. I never had an issue on these same roads in the past with the hockey puck antenna portable units (any time of year).
Please let me know if you can assist and if you have any suggestions.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Ed
Please let me know if you can assist and if you have any suggestions.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Ed
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 15
From: Texas
XM quality is so bad it sounds like a Real Audio 56k stream from 1998. I pretty much hate it, it's an insult to my ears, and not every station is equally bad. Pandora or my iPod usually win.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 460
Likes: 201
From: MA
For me it's fine when the signal does not drop. Unfortunately, I am losing the signal under tree cover, and every overpass on highways. Love the content choices on XM, but the delivery sucks quite frankly.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
2007 GS 350 satellite signal issue - SOLVED
Okay, it is solved for me anyway. I posted earlier that my 2007 GS 350 with Nav and ML had "terrible" satellite reception. It seems that not everybody had this issue but for those of us that do, the issue may be the receiver that was installed by the dealer. Not sure if it is defective or substandard but I finally broke down and purchased the receiver made by iSimple for Lexus vehicles with the AM/SAT button and viola. Once installed, I once again experienced the typical reception which drops out in the usual places as opposed to everyplace. Before swapping receivers I was just about to cancel my subscription and load up the old iPod with music because I couldn't take the dropouts anymore.
This is the kit I purchased for 179.99 on eBay:
iSimple IS-TY12 Toyota Scion Lexus W/ SXV200V1 Satellite Radio Kit Aux Input PKG
I also picked up the cable that let me connect to the Shark Fin antenna
FYI - The unit installed by the dealer was located in the trunk on passenger side (mounted to the top of the inside) and was made by Pioneer.
Hope this is helpful to somebody!!
This is the kit I purchased for 179.99 on eBay:
iSimple IS-TY12 Toyota Scion Lexus W/ SXV200V1 Satellite Radio Kit Aux Input PKG
I also picked up the cable that let me connect to the Shark Fin antenna
FYI - The unit installed by the dealer was located in the trunk on passenger side (mounted to the top of the inside) and was made by Pioneer.
Hope this is helpful to somebody!!
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Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
From: SC
Hmmm. My 3 month trial is up and the crap you have to go through with Sirius to get a decent rate is hardly worth the trouble. I only listen to a couple stations and noticed the reception was has gotten worse, alone with the loss of signal around trees. Interesting this topic comes up now. Our quality of sound is so much better with bluetooth from the IPhone. Hearing that many of you are experiencing poor signals as well, I may have my answer. I doubt it is our receivers. It sounds more likely the quality of the transmission is degrading. 
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,822
Likes: 1,065
From: California
When my trial is up I'm just going to get the music only and traffic for $15/month. Those are the only ones I need anyway and the quality seems to be the same, I go under a bridge for a while it cuts off, but surprisingly it works inside a multi-level parking structure, not underground though. 
Oh traffic is good for 1 year, so music only for me for $10/month.
Oh traffic is good for 1 year, so music only for me for $10/month.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 211
Likes: 38
From: Ontario, Canada
Poor sound quality is the reason I didn't subscribe to Sirius once the free trial ended. Every station sounded like an overly-compressed MP3, though some were worse than others. The lady who phoned trying to sell me a subscription said she had never heard of that issue before and maybe it was the sound system in the car that just wasn't very good!
Considering that every other audio source (besides AM radio) sounds wonderful, and everyone else's car I've listened to Sirius in lately sounded just as bad as my GS, I think they have a problem with not enough bandwidth for the number of channels they're trying to cram onto their radio spectrum.
Considering that every other audio source (besides AM radio) sounds wonderful, and everyone else's car I've listened to Sirius in lately sounded just as bad as my GS, I think they have a problem with not enough bandwidth for the number of channels they're trying to cram onto their radio spectrum.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 15
From: Texas
An old cassette tape would sound better. The only advantages XM/Sirius has are availability (same station uninterrupted coast to coast) and variety. Quality is junk, reception is spotty, pricing is madness.
I had them renew only traffic data and stock info/gas prices. When you have an audiophile quality ML system in your car, XM is like stabbing your eardrums with icepicks.
I had them renew only traffic data and stock info/gas prices. When you have an audiophile quality ML system in your car, XM is like stabbing your eardrums with icepicks.
Driver
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
The reception for xm on this car sucks/ is horrible, it drops out when I just pass through tress. My Acura had much better reception. You think with 7 extra years of technology the reception would get better.
