Discussion:
XM Reception Problems
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Jonathan
2008-01-05 03:44:22 UTC
Permalink
Greetings,

I have an XM SkiFi2 mounted in my truck and for the past 2-3 weeks I've been
getting an abnormally high number of fade-outs. The unusual part is that
it's only on certain channels.

For example, when I'm listening to the news channels (all in the 120's) I
can expect 2-4 fade-outs with complete loss of signal every minute or two,
lasting from anywhere from 2 seconds to 20+ seconds. However, when I'm
listening to music (channels ranging from the 40's to the 80's) I get no
fade-outs or signal loss at all. This does not appear to correspond with a
specific locale or area of town.

I can watch the antenna aiming screen when I'm listening to Fox or CNN and
see the signal strength vary wildly for the satellite, even with clear,
unobstructed skies. But when I switch to listening to music - no signal
loss at all, and the meter stays at 5-6 bars. This doesn't happen when I'm
in Orlando and covered by a ground repeater - only when I'm south of town
and it's only the satellite. No, we have no big buildings, etc. where I
live, it's mostly suburban with some semi-rural with no hills to speak of.

Has XM been experiencing any problems lately, or has anyone else noticed
this? Might there be something wrong with my antenna or connections?

Cheers - Jonathan
YKW '06
2008-01-05 06:21:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jonathan
Greetings,
I have an XM SkiFi2 mounted in my truck and for the past 2-3 weeks
I've been getting an abnormally high number of fade-outs. The unusual
part is that it's only on certain channels.
For example, when I'm listening to the news channels (all in the
120's) I can expect 2-4 fade-outs with complete loss of signal every
minute or two, lasting from anywhere from 2 seconds to 20+ seconds.
However, when I'm listening to music (channels ranging from the 40's
to the 80's) I get no fade-outs or signal loss at all. This does not
appear to correspond with a specific locale or area of town.
I can watch the antenna aiming screen when I'm listening to Fox or CNN
and see the signal strength vary wildly for the satellite, even with
clear, unobstructed skies. But when I switch to listening to music -
no signal loss at all, and the meter stays at 5-6 bars. This doesn't
happen when I'm in Orlando and covered by a ground repeater - only
when I'm south of town and it's only the satellite. No, we have no
big buildings, etc. where I live, it's mostly suburban with some
semi-rural with no hills to speak of.
Has XM been experiencing any problems lately, or has anyone else
noticed this? Might there be something wrong with my antenna or
connections?
Cheers - Jonathan
If you live in an area on either the western or eastern extreme fringe of
either satellite's footprint (Florida, f'rinstance), this will happen on
the channels that satellite carries as you move into and out of the contour
fringe. It's not a "problem", per se, so much as a known limitation of the
satellites and the small moving car antenna. (Repeaters are able to pick up
fringe signals more readily thanks to their stationary position and their
capacity to boost antenna gain.)
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Ed
2008-01-08 02:47:47 UTC
Permalink
Can I get XM reception in the Caribbean? I have a cruise planned in a few
weeks.

Ed
David
2008-01-08 15:39:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Ed
Can I get XM reception in the Caribbean? I have a cruise planned in a few
weeks.
Ed
Yes

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