Sirius - XM Reception

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by Boardhauler, Mar 8, 2014.

  1. Boardhauler

    Boardhauler Road Train Member

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    Ballin' in it for Shakey
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    Is anybody else having reception issues with their satellite radio? I Have upgraded to a truck type antenna, mounted on the top of the roof fairing, with good co-ax leading to the radio. It seems like my reception is better when I'm southbound than when I'm going north and the farther north I get the worse it is. (I run a lot of I-5 corridor) It seems to work better in CA & is terrible in Seattle. Any kind of blockage from trees, hills etc. & it totally loses the signal. It's almost useless out on the two-lanes like 101, 199, CA 20 & so forth. Could it be the radio itself or the dock thingie?

    Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions.
     
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  3. cabwrecker

    cabwrecker The clutch wrecker

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    You want the antenna to have a clear view of the southern sky.
    You said you have it mounted on the faring; any chance you could mount it on the back of your sleeper- as high up as you can get it, 3-4 inches above the roof I found worked great for me. I went under several dozen 13' 6'' bridges with this setup and it never hit the bridge.

    Doubtful it's the radio or the dock, pretty common for these antennas to loose reception in motion. I had the highest grade antenna available, the Tram 7754- worked great but nothing would stop it from losing signal.
     
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  4. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    truck i'm in now. has it's antanae up on top. it don't work any better then the portable radio i was using with antannae mounted on the right side mirror that hangs above the door looking down.

    my biggest problem is 84 in/out of portland. where your right next to the mountains.
     
  5. mjfmjf

    mjfmjf Light Load Member

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    Harpersfield, Oh
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    I have also noticed reception is better heading South. When rolling north, I hang my magnetized receiver on the mirror pointing South. Has worked like a charm! Even in the rain...it's water-tight.
     
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  6. Dna Mach

    Dna Mach Road Train Member

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    Yes, been a subscriber for 12 years and reception quality varies over time. This has to do with sunspots which are way beyond my expertise. I've had the same reception regardless of antenna type, stock magnet vs truck antenna. I glued a small metal washer to the top of my Cascadia mirror and am using the supplied magnet mount with about as good reception as is available. It's all in mounting location.
     
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  7. birdmanfromsc

    birdmanfromsc Bobtail Member

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    Great suggestion using the metal washer on the mirror....think I'll give that a try
     
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  8. juanveldez

    juanveldez Light Load Member

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    Iron Mountian MI
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    I havnt had any problems with my reception up here in Wisconsin. I have the mirror mounted antenna going to a FM Transmitter in the dash, even so the only time I had any kinds of problems was when the transmitter would touch some metal in the dash. so I used a cable tie and tied it off to a wire harness and havnt had reception problems since.
     
  9. Reycer

    Reycer Medium Load Member

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    I use the little magnetic antenae that came in the original box. Only time I have reception problems is when I get under a tree canopy, tunnel or bridge. Otherwise I hardly ever have a problem.
     
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  10. pcfreak

    pcfreak Heavy Load Member

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    Alberta, Canada
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    That's odd about the reception issues. I ran up in Fort Nelson BC with the little disc antenna actually inside the truck in one of the upper cabinets and I'd only lose reception in very thick forest. Maybe you got a bum antenna.
     
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  11. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    Green Bay Wi
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    my Sirius radio is built in so I assume my antenna is spliced into cb like the tv
    works everywhere all the time
    2012 Cascadia
     
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