XM reception sucks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 286
Likes: 14
From: jacksonville florida
XM reception sucks
I have owned my 2017 for 6 months and the XM signal is terrible. Sometimes it plays for 10 minutes with no issues, and then other times it cuts on an off 5-6 times during 1 song. I know this can't be normal. Any suggestions? Is this a common issue? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Any tall obstacle on the SW side of the antenna can temporarily block the signal. It's occasionally annoying on the east coast w/ plenty of tall trees. It's no different than any other satellite signal (e.g. DIRECTV, Dish, etc.).
Last edited by Foosh; Feb 26, 2018 at 05:32 PM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 655
Likes: 114
From: Orange County, Southern California
Mine has excellent reception here in Southern California.
I have owned my 2017 for 6 months and the XM signal is terrible. Sometimes it plays for 10 minutes with no issues, and then other times it cuts on an off 5-6 times during 1 song. I know this can't be normal. Any suggestions? Is this a common issue? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 274
Likes: 86
From: Calgary
Mine cuts out lots also and usually for interference reasons such as bridges etc however it's annoying enough that I don't even bother now. A workaround is using your phone data and the XM app as your cell phone likely doesn't cut out where the XM radio does however that's only useful if you have a good data plan.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
XM here is better than Sirius. My Focus drops out from time to time, the Corvette is flawless.
Try to see if it happens in the same spots and under the same types of conditions (or even time of day).
Satellite radio isn't perfect in terms of reception.
Try to see if it happens in the same spots and under the same types of conditions (or even time of day).
Satellite radio isn't perfect in terms of reception.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: pembroke pines florida
There was an article in our local newspaper about a year ago that "t mobile" transmission towers were interferring with xm/sirius reception. There are areas, here in S.Fla, that i get no signal even though there is clear sky and no obstructions, but I can see a cell trans tower close by.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
XM and Sirius are the same company now, Sirius/XM. There's no doubt that different antennas work better or worse on different vehicles.
The further south you are, the more reliable your line of site will be. The satellites are geosynchronous (in 26.5K mile orbits approximately over the equator) meaning they match the speed of the Earth's rotation and stay over the same spot. The further the north you are, the shallower the angle and more likely for it to be blocked.
If you live in a flat part of the country, in a place with small trees, and/or the closer to the equator you get, the less likely it is for the signal to be blocked. It's fairly common for people in cities with tall buildings, people living in the mountains, norther tier of US or Canada, or in dense forested land to say sat radio sucks. Folks living in the flatlands, desert, or southern regions never lose the signal.
The further south you are, the more reliable your line of site will be. The satellites are geosynchronous (in 26.5K mile orbits approximately over the equator) meaning they match the speed of the Earth's rotation and stay over the same spot. The further the north you are, the shallower the angle and more likely for it to be blocked.
If you live in a flat part of the country, in a place with small trees, and/or the closer to the equator you get, the less likely it is for the signal to be blocked. It's fairly common for people in cities with tall buildings, people living in the mountains, norther tier of US or Canada, or in dense forested land to say sat radio sucks. Folks living in the flatlands, desert, or southern regions never lose the signal.
Last edited by Foosh; Feb 27, 2018 at 12:10 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
XM is over the equator, Sirius is over North Dakota.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/docs/sirius.html
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 394
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
The Sirius works great and reception is usually good. I did notice when way north near Mt Washington in New Hampshire, the mountains frequblocked the signal. A good reason to keep 6,000 songs on your phone playlists. They always work.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,769
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From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
I have owned my 2017 for 6 months and the XM signal is terrible. Sometimes it plays for 10 minutes with no issues, and then other times it cuts on an off 5-6 times during 1 song. I know this can't be normal. Any suggestions? Is this a common issue? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
I have seen it written but to be honest do not remember where that some of that XM is not satellite but comes from antennas here on earth. Good chance that is true because I have to cross a mile long bridge at times, and many times I loose the signal. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing to block a satellite signal on this bridge. It is a deck bridge and all the structure is below the road part!
Last edited by 6spdC6; Feb 27, 2018 at 09:34 AM.
