Better XM Reception
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air MD
Better XM Reception
I love satellite radio when it works. The problem is -- my daily commute takes me through some terrain where the signal cuts in and out. This happens mainly on heavily tree-lined roads and when I'm under power lines. I've tried moving my antenna around, from the wheel wells to behind the tail lights to the front dash, etc., without improvement.
Having said that, I was wondering if a different antenna would help. Specifically, I looked up the Terk marine antenna for satellite radios. I wouldn't want to put this on most cars, but it could be hidden easily in the vette. According to the specs at Crutchfield.com, the marine antenna has a 30dB gain while the regular car antenna has a 2dB gain. Is this the meaningful number I should be concerned with? Is there any reason this would not work? Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated (before I spend the $99......)
Kirk
Having said that, I was wondering if a different antenna would help. Specifically, I looked up the Terk marine antenna for satellite radios. I wouldn't want to put this on most cars, but it could be hidden easily in the vette. According to the specs at Crutchfield.com, the marine antenna has a 30dB gain while the regular car antenna has a 2dB gain. Is this the meaningful number I should be concerned with? Is there any reason this would not work? Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated (before I spend the $99......)
Kirk
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
try putting a metal plate under the antenna first. see if that helps.
Originally Posted by kirk78h
I love satellite radio when it works. The problem is -- my daily commute takes me through some terrain where the signal cuts in and out. This happens mainly on heavily tree-lined roads and when I'm under power lines. I've tried moving my antenna around, from the wheel wells to behind the tail lights to the front dash, etc., without improvement.
Having said that, I was wondering if a different antenna would help. Specifically, I looked up the Terk marine antenna for satellite radios. I wouldn't want to put this on most cars, but it could be hidden easily in the vette. According to the specs at Crutchfield.com, the marine antenna has a 30dB gain while the regular car antenna has a 2dB gain. Is this the meaningful number I should be concerned with? Is there any reason this would not work? Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated (before I spend the $99......)
Kirk
Having said that, I was wondering if a different antenna would help. Specifically, I looked up the Terk marine antenna for satellite radios. I wouldn't want to put this on most cars, but it could be hidden easily in the vette. According to the specs at Crutchfield.com, the marine antenna has a 30dB gain while the regular car antenna has a 2dB gain. Is this the meaningful number I should be concerned with? Is there any reason this would not work? Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated (before I spend the $99......)
Kirk
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton, FL
Originally Posted by kirk78h
I love satellite radio when it works. The problem is -- my daily commute takes me through some terrain where the signal cuts in and out. This happens mainly on heavily tree-lined roads and when I'm under power lines. I've tried moving my antenna around, from the wheel wells to behind the tail lights to the front dash, etc., without improvement. Kirk
I don't know about the Marine antenna. That's an awful big difference in gain.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Not sure if the gain will help in your situation or not. It's a line-of-sight issue, not a terrestrial broadcast reception issue(other than the terrestrial broadcasts in cities XM does for gap coverage). Having the antenna at the top of the vehicle definitely helps as the car itself won't block it's "view" of the bird. My brother & I both have SkyFi's with the same antenna, his is sitting on top of his SUV, mine is buried under the rear shelf cover of my sedan. He gets slightly better reception than I do, but not enough to make me move my antenna.
The metal plate idea could help as it would create additional antenna surface via the magnetic link.
The metal plate idea could help as it would create additional antenna surface via the magnetic link.
