Bad reception in car, home with Sirius?

Question

I've had a Sirius radio for a few months now, and I have had bad reception both in my home and in my car, which I am very disappointed about.

I have the Sportster 4 plug and play receiver, and I specifically bought it to be able to play at home and in my car. However, the antenna for home use does not work well at all, I have to place it outside the window and even then it barely makes it through a song without the 'acquiring signal' display message coming on. I've taken it to the beach and lake to use it, and it does not work there as well.

I don't feel justified in paying the monthly subscription fee if I can't even listen to it in my house or my car.

It works better in the car but I get a lot of static when using it, which is annoying. I would get it hard-wired to my car radio, but I want to be able to use it in other vehicles, and I don't know if I will be able to do that. I also don't want to pay the $100 install fee from Tweeter.

Anyone else with this problem?

Answer 1

Hi, my name is Alex.

I live in Inkster, Michigan a small town outside of Detroit, Michigan.

I have this same problem that you have with your SIRIUS plug and play receiver.

Back in October of 2005, I first subscribed to SIRIUS.

I use my SIRIUS Xact plug and play receiver in my room in my house, because I dont have a car.

My bedroom is upstairs. I found that I was able to get way better reception with my plug and play receiver by sitting it on my window facing to the western sky, which if you live in eastern Michigan or the northeast United States you should aim your SIRIUS XACT antenna to the north or the west, if you live in the north midwest of the United States you should aim your SIRIUS antenna overhead and away from obstructions. If you live in TEXAS or Alabama in the souther central United States aim your antenna to the north. If you live in the Pacific northwest aim your SIRIUS antenna to the east.

If you live in California and other parts of the southwest aim your SIRIUS antenna to the north or east, if you live in Florida or the southern east coast aim your SIRIUS antenna to the north or east.

I still have SIRIUS because the radio stations here in Detroit, Michigan sucks. If you ever come to Detroit make sure you have cd's an ipod or a satellite radio.

It's really not that big of a problem to me, I just have to aim and place my SIRIUS antenna in different spots to pick up reception in the house.

I found that sitting my antenna in my bedroom window facing to the west that I get the best reception that I ever had.

Just sit your SIRIUS antenna in the house in or on your window and you will get good reception in the house.

Answer 2

The home issue:

Sirius recommends that you have the antenna outside with a clear view of the sky (or better yet, on your roof).  Unless you are very close to one of their ground repeaters (major metropolitan areas), it is nearly impossible to get a signal with the antenna indoors.

The car issue:

If you have your car antenna mounted on the roof of your car, the reception should be nearly perfect.  If it isn't, maybe you have a defective antenna.  The static is bad if you are using the radio's built-in FM Modulator, due to the FCC's whining about Sirius/XM broadcasting over FM frequencies.  You have the following options as far as that goes:

1) Use a cassette adapter if your car stereo has a cassette deck.

2) If your car stereo has an AUX input port, use that.

3) Buy and install an FM Direct Adapter.  It should be available at Circuit City, Best Buy, etc., for around $20.  It is really easy to do, but you can have it professionally installed as well.  You basically wire it between your car's FM radio and the antenna connection to the FM radio.  The other end goes to the FM Out on your Sirius radio's car dock.  You would still be able take the radio from car to car; just unplug the "FM Out" line from the FM Direct Adapter.

For your car adapter problem:

If it is still under warranty, contact your retailer or Sirius to have it replaced.  If not, you can order a new adapter.  Try tss-radio.com

Answer 3

u should have a password that Sirius radio gave u when you activated it. this will allow you to listen right off of your computer. go to. www.siriusradio.com or howardstern.com to play the stations. it will tell you to enter your password and ID witch is usually your birth date and something u made up. gl

Answer 4

Derek gives a good answer.

You shouldn't be having these problems. I wouldn't go to a bunch of trouble before calling Sirius Tech Support first. You may have a defective receiver or they may tell you they are having trouble in your geographic area.

It really does make a difference where your home antenna is pointed when you put it outside the window. Follow their website directions based on where you live. If you are supposed to point it southeast, you can't point it northwest and expect good reception.

But that doesn't explain why your car antenna isn't pulling in a good signal.

See, this doesn't make sense, that's why I encourage you to contact tech support before you do anything else.

-a guy named duh