XM Issues
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 921
Likes: 146
From: Fairfax VA
XM Issues
I have the C6 Vert and have been having intermittent issues with the XM. Yes the sound quality isn't that good, but lately it seems to cut out quite frequently as well. Does anyone else have that or is there something wrong with it. It cuts out while driving in the open and sometimes for many seconds.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,503
Likes: 1,452
From: Pittsburgh PA
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by masihman
I have the C6 Vert and have been having intermittent issues with the XM. Yes the sound quality isn't that good, but lately it seems to cut out quite frequently as well. Does anyone else have that or is there something wrong with it. It cuts out while driving in the open and sometimes for many seconds.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 12,735
Likes: 28
From: Kayenta Utah
A few days ago there was a thread about intermittent XM reception, and it appears it may not be a subscription or an antenna problem. Most of the people who posted to the thread, including me, have reception about 20-30% of the time, with long, lonely patches of silence. There are theories, but one person thought it might require a reflash. It seems like an antenna problem, but those who had their antenna replaced had the same problem afterwards.
I predict this will be as popular a topic as the faulty fuel sensors and sending units in the C5...
I predict this will be as popular a topic as the faulty fuel sensors and sending units in the C5...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
From: Granby CT
I'm very disappointed in reception of XM. Since it goes away in the same place every time I assume that something (power lines or ??) are blocking signal. Works great in a short tunnel that I go through however. I'm seriously considering not renewing because of reception issues. Also volume is much lower than FM which should be fixed in radio.
I'm really surprised this isn't a big issue in the press etc. Good coast to coast but only if you like intermittent sound.
I'm really surprised this isn't a big issue in the press etc. Good coast to coast but only if you like intermittent sound.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
I haven't had issues...well I did have a couple drops in a very steep and deep canyon but that's expected as I lost the line of sight to the satellite. Are you going thru deep forest when it happens?
Maybe you folks could list city/state of the dropouts to see if there's any correlation.
Out in So Cal (Santa Clarita, San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley, El Segundo, and Santa Barbara) I find dropouts non-existent. I have it in 2 vehicles.
Oh yeah, and my vette is a coupe if it matters.
Rich
Maybe you folks could list city/state of the dropouts to see if there's any correlation.
Out in So Cal (Santa Clarita, San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley, El Segundo, and Santa Barbara) I find dropouts non-existent. I have it in 2 vehicles.
Oh yeah, and my vette is a coupe if it matters.
Rich
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Mandeville Louisiana
Originally Posted by masihman
I have the C6 Vert and have been having intermittent issues with the XM. Yes the sound quality isn't that good, but lately it seems to cut out quite frequently as well. Does anyone else have that or is there something wrong with it. It cuts out while driving in the open and sometimes for many seconds.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 921
Likes: 146
From: Fairfax VA
I have a convertible and it drops everywhere. It didn't happen at all for the first day I used it then it progressively got worse the next day. I can be in an absolutely clear road with no trees or anything and I loose reception.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 230
Likes: 2
From: RI
I'm having issues with XM also. Drops out quite a bit. I realize going around buildings and under bridges will cause it to drop but I'm losing it out in the open now. Had the car since mid March and the XM reception is getting worse.
On a side note - I called and renewed my subscription for the $60.00 deal for a year back in April when I heard about it. They confirmed it over the phone and said they would charge my credit card when my three months expired. It's close to the end of three months and I just got a renewal form in the mail - for the full price! I'm waiting to see if there's a mix up and they charge my card the $60.00. I won't pay the full price.
Rick
On a side note - I called and renewed my subscription for the $60.00 deal for a year back in April when I heard about it. They confirmed it over the phone and said they would charge my credit card when my three months expired. It's close to the end of three months and I just got a renewal form in the mail - for the full price! I'm waiting to see if there's a mix up and they charge my card the $60.00. I won't pay the full price.
Rick
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
Originally Posted by 63C563
I'm having issues with XM also. Drops out quite a bit. I realize going around buildings and under bridges will cause it to drop but I'm losing it out in the open now. Had the car since mid March and the XM reception is getting worse.
On a side note - I called and renewed my subscription for the $60.00 deal for a year back in April when I heard about it. They confirmed it over the phone and said they would charge my credit card when my three months expired. It's close to the end of three months and I just got a renewal form in the mail - for the full price! I'm waiting to see if there's a mix up and they charge my card the $60.00. I won't pay the full price.
Rick
On a side note - I called and renewed my subscription for the $60.00 deal for a year back in April when I heard about it. They confirmed it over the phone and said they would charge my credit card when my three months expired. It's close to the end of three months and I just got a renewal form in the mail - for the full price! I'm waiting to see if there's a mix up and they charge my card the $60.00. I won't pay the full price.
Rick
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Wilkes Barre/Scranton PA
I have a coupe, VIN 19944. I have only had XM drop out near tall buildings or if I'm close to a rock wall on the south side. Otherwise, the reception is clear and sounds better than FM. I also have not noticed any volume differences between sources.
On a separate issue, my XM cuts in and out on the right channel. Pressing around the Nav screen brings it back in for a moment. I believe something must be loose back there, although I'm surprised it doesn't do it on AM, FM, or CD. It is going into the shop for this issue tomorrow.
6/6/05 - For the record, cause was a pinched wire behind the consol. Fixed now and it sounds great!
On a separate issue, my XM cuts in and out on the right channel. Pressing around the Nav screen brings it back in for a moment. I believe something must be loose back there, although I'm surprised it doesn't do it on AM, FM, or CD. It is going into the shop for this issue tomorrow.
6/6/05 - For the record, cause was a pinched wire behind the consol. Fixed now and it sounds great!
Last edited by Ares & Randy; Jun 6, 2005 at 06:46 PM. Reason: New Info
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Orange County CA
I have a suggestion that might not solve your problem but it's free and easy to do so what the heck. Sometimes the XM radio needs to be "refreshed" with new decoding information. the XM site has an on-line utility to allow you to do this (can also be done with a phone call to XM). Here is the link for the XM Refresh. Also, last I looked into it, there are two XM satellites in service now and a third was launched a few months ago. I don't think the third is on-line yet so coverage might improve in you area in the very near future. A good site for all the information you would ever want to know about XM is XM411.COM. One last tidbit: there is an XM antenna pointing utility HERE that, while worthless for a car, will give you the azmuth and elevation of the satellites you're trying to recieve, giving a rought idea of which obsticles (mountains, buildings, trees) are likely to block the satellite view. If you live or traveling in an area where the satellites are at (relatively) low angles you're likely to have more dropouts
Last edited by Lowlead; Jun 1, 2005 at 11:36 AM.
