sirius satellite questions

[malarson]

Ok, I've had my boat for 2 years. It came with a Sirius satellite system installed. I have never registered or paid any money to them but was thinking about activating it. I have questions.
Up until this month I could get 2 or 3 stations but every time I drive under a bridge, put up the bimini, or even if I stand in the wrong spot it cuts out. Does paying money fix this problem?
What is the forums overall opinion on satellite radio? Do you use it and is it worth the money?
I haven't checked their website yet but can you buy the service one month at a time or do you have to buy a years worth?
Thanks in advance.
Mike

[dogbert]

I have satellite radio in two of my 3 vehicles, but not on the boat. I do have an iPod connector for my head unit and I like having my own music on the boat. I never use the radio on my boat.

Satellite will cut out if you're under a bridge. There's a buffer, but if you go slow enough, it will cut out. There are plenty of music options and they also have sports.

That said, on the boat, I'd spend the money to get your iPod hooked up.

[Duncan]

I have Sirius in both cars and at home. Love it. Also have it installed in the boat but have not hooked it up yet. Rely mostly on the iPod.

That said, I need to hook it up but am not sure where the receiver identfication number is hiding.

[Carter13]

Satellite would be great if it worked on a regular basis and did not cut out. I went to a lot of locations in different states and the reception was spotty and usually would only come in half the time at best. You cannot buy it month to month or at least you could not a few years ago.
Ipod all the way.

[zad0030]

Satellite radio is a directional signal. It will cut out going under a bridge or blocked by trees etc. It also all depends on where you are in regards to the satellite. I think it orbits directly above Minnesota or close to that area. But I could be wrong. We have never used it in the boat but In the cars and it does great unless you get stopped under an overpass or completely shrouded by trees.

I love how there is no commercials.

[raythompson]

I have XM radio, same technology as Sirius in my car. I like it and would not be without it.

Reception while driving through the Smokey Mountains is spotty due to the trees. Moisture in the leaves absorbs the signal. When on clear highway I have no problems. The buffer is enough to get through the bridges.

However, there is an oddity that I cannot explain. I park my car in a covered parking garage. I park on the fifth floor of a 10 story garage. There are several layers of concrete above my car. Yet I have never lost satellite radio reception in the garage, never. But I lose my GPS navigation system. Both are satellites so why does one work and not the other? Antennas are in very close proximity to each other.

You can get a month to month on XM as that is what my son has for his car. I have a three year plan on two vehicles.

For my money I would not put XM or Sirius in a boat. The boat is not used nearly as often as the car. If you really need it get a portable unit that you can move between vehicles. With a 1/8" audio cable it would be easy to relocate.

But having your own songs, tunes as it were, would be better served in your boat in my opinion. (Unless you must have Howard Stern).

[da.bell]

^^^ That one is easy.

GPS is dependant upon 5-7 satelites.

Sirius radio is dependant upon one satalite that could be located just enough to send a signal into the parking garage at just the right angle.

[raythompson]

Anomoly in XM

It will cut out going under a bridge or blocked by trees etc.

Trees cause problems. A parking garage (concrete and steel) is like a bridge in terms of construction. Yet in my parking garage at work I never lose the XM signal. I have lost it under long bridges such as in Atlanta.

I love how there is no commercials.

Oh yeh. I will never go back to broadcast radio again. I have to take a 900 mile trip to Texas this fall and I am looking forward to not having to station hunt and not have annoying commercials. Plus the dozens of channels of any genre of music, talk, comedy, news, or CRAP (Country RAP) that you would want.

[raythompson]

^^^ That one is easy.

GPS is dependant upon 5-7 satelites.

My GPS shows the satellites that it is receiving. I lose all the satellites.

Sirius radio is dependant upon one satalite that could be located just enough to send a signal into the parking garage at just the right angle.

It does not matter which floor, or how far into the garage that I venture. I still have XM but not one GPS satellite.

And to add the mystery. I can get GPS, multiple satellites, while my car is parked in my garage but I cannot get XM at all.

My is that is has something to do with the frequency on which the signals travel. But what do I know?


EDIT
OK, I was wrong, not surprisingly. I did some research and, surprise to me, XM and Sirius, not only use satellites, they also ground based repeater stations. So the mystery of the parking garage is that a ground based transmitter signal is being received (largely horizontal) that can be received in the parking garage. GPS is from sky (except for large metropolitan areas with large airports and WAAS which adds ground based signals for more accuracy) and that has to penetrate the concrete. That penetration will not happen.

While at home I cannot get the ground based XM repeaters because of the hills between Knoxvill and where I live. GPS satellite signals can penetrate wood to some degree and it is enough to allow the GPS to work.

[Ptown]

GPS and satellite radio do not track the same satellites.

If you lose the free channels on your boat, you should theoretically lose the pay channels too.

[zad0030]

My GPS shows the satellites that it is receiving. I lose all the satellites.It does not matter which floor, or how far into the garage that I venture. I still have XM but not one GPS satellite.

And to add the mystery. I can get GPS, multiple satellites, while my car is parked in my garage but I cannot get XM at all.

My is that is has something to do with the frequency on which the signals travel. But what do I know?

In some areas that might have lots of obstructions, they (Sirius & XM) have signal repeaters on the ground. If you look at the signal strength menu on your radio it will show two signals, Satellite and Terrestrial. Your reciever can automatically switch between Satellite and Terrestrial. I would bet in the parking garage your signal is 100% terrestrial.

[Jason B]

I am a Sirius WHORE!!!!!!!!!
I have it in my truck, office and on the boat and have NEVER lost a signal except under one particular bridge that is no wake and 6 lanes wide--kinda understandable.

I will never be without it!!!

I do have to complain though. The asssuckers starting playing WAAAY more crap (Sirius/XM ads, hollywood news, BS) on the hits channel than the EVER did when the two sattelite providers were competing.

[raythompson]

If you look at the signal strength menu on your radio it will show two signals, Satellite and Terrestrial.

Don't have signal strength on the radio. The radio is integrated into the car system.

I have since found out that XM/Sirius is not entirely satellite based.

[chadster2]

I put mine on the bow next to the lights, works great

[chadster2]

I used the hole for the nav lights to run wire.