I have the factory sirius cd audiophile system in my truck. It seems like I run into a lot of black out spots with the Sirius. I am wondering if maybe the factory antenna for the sirius is just inferior. I suppose I could find a better antenna. I have an 18 month subscription so I want it to work as good as I can get it to.

Has anyone else had fading or black outs with their factory Sirius? And does anyone have any suggestions for a better antenna?

 

I don't have factory Sirius, I have the portable unit.
But, the antenna is just parked up there on the roof of my truck. I get blackouts through tunnels of course, but also get them occasionally in the summer on narrow, tree lined roads, and when I drive through the local city. Yet, I have covered the antenna with a canoe on a roof rack with no change in performance on a 250 mile drive to our cabin in the mountains. Go figure.
I see your location is Las Vegas. When do you lose your signal? As you drive through town or when you are out in the open? A friend of mine has a portable unit that has the antenna sitting right on the dash board and he has very few problems with it (he lives in Pittsburgh-a very hilly city).
So, the short answer is no, I don't have any concrete ideas for you regarding your antenna, other than to suggest you check any and all connections that may have worked loose and are thus intermittently breaking your signal.
I really hope you get it resolved to your satisfaction, because Sirius is awesome!

 

I have mine mounted on top of the cab. The only time it fades out is in real thick woods. It works fine everywhere else. It's the ant that came with the radio.

 

It seems to happen randomly around town. But definitley around Nellis airforce base. I am almost wondering if I have a loose connection. Because it seems to happen more often now. I have had the truck 7 months and it mainly just happened near nellis. I know I read somewhere that someone was having a problem like this and blamed the antenna.

I will check the connections first before I explore the antenna issue.

Thanks for the input.

 

Smokestone, I recently purchased a portable SIRIUS also here in Vegas, and I have noticed mild cases of static. I chose 106.1 on my portable, and with the exception of coming in from Boulder city the reception is decent. I thought the overall reception would be better. I was told if I purchase a FM adapter thing from Sirius that my reception would be better. I dont know if this helps you, but Im open for help as well!
Thanks

 

Well, in the morning I am driving to Brian Head. This will give me a chance to see if it is a reception problem or a internal connection problem. I will let you all know.

Hey tooltime, always nice to hear from someone here in LV. E-mail me and maybe we can chew the fat.

As far as the sirius problem, this weekend will be a test.

As stated before, I love sirius. I just don't like the blackouts I have been experencing

Rick

 

Enjoy the snow up there! Here is a test I just thought of, see if on your radio if there is a meter that reads the signal strength. For example, on my unit it can read the sat. strength and what they call the terrestial strength. I learned about this recently. On the open road, you should have strong sat. strength, and around town if the sat. signal is not strong, then your terrestial strength[signal] should compensate for the lack of sat. signal.You can send me a personal message on this board, then at that time we can exchange e-addresses. Enjoy the snow be safe!!!