My stereo equipment is in the middle of my house foot print, and I can't get a signal. I will have to mount an antenna on the roof. Is it true XM would probably work with the antenna within the home?
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my sirius indoor reception solution.
I have a balcony in my living room. I strapped the antenna supplied with the sportster home dock to the balcony rail. I ran the wire inside and routed it so it wouldn't interfere with my sliding door. My sirius receiver is on one side of my room and my system is on the opposite side. I figured I would try using the fm transmitter option even though the home dock does not have a place to install the small transmitter antenna. It works perfect! My alarm clock radio in my bedroom picks it up too although not quite as well.
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XM's non-moving sats help aim the antenna for sure--set it and forget it. Also, they have a much larger terrestrial repeater network, but that doesn't always come into play, especially in rural areas.
That being said, I've done quite a few indoor XM installs and ALL of them worked out great. My understanding is XM also uses a stronger satellite signal with the trade-off being lower elevation so I think that helps in wood construction homes which sounds like you might be in luck.
Office buildings and the like, where it's steel construction, you're more out of luck without terrestrial repeaters and if your building is in a city of any sort, you might be in good shape with either company at that point.
That being said, I've done quite a few indoor XM installs and ALL of them worked out great. My understanding is XM also uses a stronger satellite signal with the trade-off being lower elevation so I think that helps in wood construction homes which sounds like you might be in luck.
Office buildings and the like, where it's steel construction, you're more out of luck without terrestrial repeaters and if your building is in a city of any sort, you might be in good shape with either company at that point.
Is XM better then Sirius with home reception? Yes,very much so..Their fixed birds are easy to find,point the antenna and forget it..
BUT it is NOT true in every case,especially if you're talking about indoor reception..That is 50-50 at best..There's many variables..What is the house is made of,are there trees to the south? Other buildings? Is it summer,leaves on the trees,or winter with no leaves?...Etc....
BUT it is NOT true in every case,especially if you're talking about indoor reception..That is 50-50 at best..There's many variables..What is the house is made of,are there trees to the south? Other buildings? Is it summer,leaves on the trees,or winter with no leaves?...Etc....
I still don't get why people would choose a service based on indoor reception. Isn't the content what you really want? If just music, you can get that over the internet from either provider.
It's the unique content that, I would think, is how you would decide. And then figure out how to get a signal.
It's the unique content that, I would think, is how you would decide. And then figure out how to get a signal.
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The internet feed of Sirius is of very poor quality. XM is better, but still cannot match the signal from the satellites. Plus many want to use the satellite radio as a table top or alarm clock. That may not work for everyone using the internet to get access to XM or Sirius.
| Originally Posted by AbMagFab I still don't get why people would choose a service based on indoor reception. Isn't the content what you really want? If just music, you can get that over the internet from either provider. |
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People already complain about the sound quality of each service. Now, put them on that atrocious 34k stream from sirius.com (XM's is 64k on "high bandwidth" mode at least) and tell them to pay $12.95 for it... content or not, there would be some unhappy individuals.
Plus, only the music is available on the internet feeds with the exception of O&A on XM Online. It's getting pretty final that Howard won't be available online--certainly not by 1/9.
At least XM Online has AOL music and some exclusive non-sat channels as well, and offers an online-only sub for $7.99 to try and help. But again, no talk channels (except O&A)
| Originally Posted by AbMagFab I still don't get why people would choose a service based on indoor reception. Isn't the content what you really want? If just music, you can get that over the internet from either provider. It's the unique content that, I would think, is how you would decide. And then figure out how to get a signal. |
Plus, only the music is available on the internet feeds with the exception of O&A on XM Online. It's getting pretty final that Howard won't be available online--certainly not by 1/9.
At least XM Online has AOL music and some exclusive non-sat channels as well, and offers an online-only sub for $7.99 to try and help. But again, no talk channels (except O&A)
The best in home solution is to get Dish. The 65 music channels on Sirius are available without subscription and the sound quality is flawless. Of course it's just the music so I had to buy the service to get the football games.
It doesn't matter about content if you can't get the signal!
I have XM and generally enjoy the content!
But I do like Sirius (I listen to it on Dishnet**) and Have friends that have it and like everything about it except the reception! They constantly complain about the signal!
I have 2 friends that have borrowed my XM to test it in there car and home.
They Bought Xm and got rid of Sirius, not because XM is better sounding or has better stations but because they were frustrated with the Sirius moving satt model and signal dropouts.
I believe Sirius is good satt radio but if they don't do something like maybe launching another higher power satt to fill in there signal weakness they may loose customers!
People will only put up with so much frustration for so long before they say "SO LONG"
I have XM and generally enjoy the content!
But I do like Sirius (I listen to it on Dishnet**) and Have friends that have it and like everything about it except the reception! They constantly complain about the signal!
I have 2 friends that have borrowed my XM to test it in there car and home.
They Bought Xm and got rid of Sirius, not because XM is better sounding or has better stations but because they were frustrated with the Sirius moving satt model and signal dropouts.
I believe Sirius is good satt radio but if they don't do something like maybe launching another higher power satt to fill in there signal weakness they may loose customers!
People will only put up with so much frustration for so long before they say "SO LONG"
we always had problems with reception until we mounted the sirius antenna on the roof. We hav enever had problems since.
I have both XM and Sirius.. I get a great signal pretty much anywhere in my second floor with XM.. I just got a Sirius S50 and was about to throw it out the window.. I tried for OVER three hours to get a signal.. I even tried in my yard and got zero.. I gave up, drank a bunch of beer, and tried again the next day.. I finally found a spot where it works now and love it.. I'll take Sirius over XM just because Sirius has a metal station. XM cut their's when they had to make room for MLB.
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Hmmmm..... Still sounds like a lot of work to me!
Getting my fat A#$ up on the ladder!
I still like throwing the XM antenna almost anywhere I dam well please and getting a signal!
| Originally Posted by phishdisc we always had problems with reception until we mounted the sirius antenna on the roof. We hav enever had problems since. |
Hmmmm..... Still sounds like a lot of work to me!
Getting my fat A#$ up on the ladder!
I still like throwing the XM antenna almost anywhere I dam well please and getting a signal!
I was able to get a full strength signal by mounting my Sirius antenna in my attic very close to the roof pointing straight up. Apparently receiving the signal through the wood roof and asphalt shingles is not a problem. I could barely maintain a signal with the antenna sitting near any of the windows in my living room. Also the FM transmitter works so good like this I can pick it up on any radio in the house AND out in my car until I get about 50 feet away from the house. I guess my neighbors can pick it up too.
Jeff
Jeff
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