XM signal dropping out?

[skittles]

I activated my XM radio trial today on my NBC and loved all the variety. However, I didn't love the fact that the signal kept dropping out on me. It did it over 15 times - mostly on roads where there were lots of trees.

Is this normal? I checked the XM website to see if there was an FAQ on it and nothing.

[sb_beetle]

Originally Posted by skittles

I activated my XM radio trial today on my NBC and loved all the variety. However, I didn't love the fact that the signal kept dropping out on me. It did it over 15 times - mostly on roads where there were lots of trees.

Is this normal? I checked the XM website to see if there was an FAQ on it and nothing.

Is it possible that the trial period has a weaker reception signal. Either that or satelites are dropping out of the sky.

[hestersu]

The signal is the signal regardless of trial period or not. I've noticed that if I am on a road with heavy canopy or anything substantial to the south of me, I will lose signal. I have 3 XM units and this happens on all of them. Annoying but not a problem. It has to do with the position of the satelites relative to our position.

I believe this is a common issue regardless of the service one might use.

[MedfordBumbleBee]

What you are experiencing is typical with sat radio. Seems like every bank drive thru blocks my southern exposure so I always have no XM in a bank drive thru! XM does a better job in larger cities as they use landbased repeaters in larger cities. I love driving to Portland with my XM as it works almost everywhere there, under bridges, in tunnels, etc. In Medford, a big tree, my garage, etc. block the signal.

In my opinion, a little drop out here and there is still worth it for not having to listen to commecials!

Ed

[ChristopherC]

I get the same with my Sirius. Any thick tree canopies and I get a drop of signal.

[larryziegler]

Ditto on the tree issue with XM. I get it as well. I have my antenna placed on the dash where the windshield meets the dash, thinking the interior placement might add to the reception issues....I guess not. I am not about to re-route the antenna to the roof anyway, but this validates that the issue is with outside variables rather than my installation. Some of the more expensive satellite receivers do have a memory to handle short interruptions like this, I believe, thus making the assumption that there is never a reception problem....however that works.