I just got Sirius trial along with my new car. The one thing that has become very annoying is the sudden dead air in the stations for a few seconds at a time. I'm not sure if this is signal related or the stations I'm listening to. But it does happen on clear days with very little obstructions. Anyone else has this experience and is the source Sirius or enviromental?

Sirius sats are always moving and are angled differently than XM's. Depending where you are, this will happen. XM sats are supposedly better and have this happen less frequently.

Does it happen on certain areas of the country? Or does it just vary? I don't think I've experienced it yet.

Most of my driving happens between Boston and the New Hampshire border. I can understand if I pass under a densly tree lined road. But when I am on the open highway, that's when the drop outs confuse me.

Where is your antenna installed?

If the signal is being blocked by trees, buildings, hills or the like, your receiver should say "Searching for signal". I get this a lot on tree-shaded streets, or at two particular points on the freeway where the signal is blocked by a hill. Sirius satellites are low in the NE from here in SoCal.

Sirius sats are always moving and are angled differently than XM's. Depending where you are, this will happen. XM sats are supposedly better and have this happen less frequently.

For home use vitod, you are right. XM will have less, or no dropouts.

But for the car, the MOVING birds of Sirius actually have MORE coverage. So they are better for the car in motion. But LOUSY for indoor reception. XM EXCELLS over Sirius for indoor reception because there birds are in one place in the sky and never move.

Anyway, to the Original Poster(OP).

Sounds like you have a bad connection somewhere. I would get that looked at by the dealer. If it is an antenna issue, then the screen would say "ACQUIRING or SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL". This would indicate a loose or bad connection from the antenna to the headend in the car.

If the sound just disappears, then there might be something wrong with the headend itself. Either a loose connection the speakers or something else.

If you just got the car, you "SHOULD" be able to get the radio replaced under warranty. Or the antenna for that matter.

It should not be dropping out for no reason.

Heavy Tree foilage(not this time of year up in New England), Overpasses, Tall buildings, or Mountains could cause a drop of signals, but that would be rare and not last very long(3-5 seconds tops).

Since you live near Boston, and other Metro areas, you may also be getting signals from towers(Repeaters) as well as the satellites, which would cause almost ZERO dropouts at all.

Sounds like a techinical problem to me off the bat, but it is just a guess on my part.

Where is your antenna installed?

On the top of the car, I believe.


Steelersrule - Thanks for the advise. I'll look into it. I have it as a trial and considering keeping it when they babble about nothing on WEEI.

On the top of the car, I believe.


Steelersrule - Thanks for the advise. I'll look into it. I have it as a trial and considering keeping it when they babble about nothing on WEEI.

You believe?:D If it's IN the car, then there's your problem.

You believe?:D If it's IN the car, then there's your problem.

I think my other option is just in front of the windshield. But I would say my GPS antenna is there.

I think my other option is just in front of the windshield. But I would say my GPS antenna is there.

Whoa, wait a minute?!

The antenna is on the INSIDE of the car?!

That is the problem if that is the case.

Even if you put it towards the front underneath the windshield.

Boiy, if they installed it thatway at your dealership, then those guys there are COMPLETE ASSES!!!

There is no nice way to put it.

The antenna is supposed to mounted on the roof(it has a magnetic bottom), or at WORST, on the back of the trunk(if applicable).

If they didn't even bother to install it correctly on the roof, I would be PISSED(I hate stupidity/laziness. Can't you tell).

That is a lousy way to do stuff, and the morons at your dealership should know better.

If that is case, go back a force them TO PROPERLY install the antenna to the roof. No drilled holes. No ********. They should be able to do it without a hitch.

Boy, Sh*t like that really pisses me off, and it is not even my car.

Just pure laziness or stupidity.