Sirius Radio Reception Issues

[icelazer]

Anyone that has experience with Sirius radio and reception, please feel free to chime in. I want to get a Sirius for my apartment primarily. The problem is, I live in the south (texas), and my apartment is on the first floor(of 3) and faces south. Siruis radio guides recommend pointing the antennas toward the midwest. What are the odds I can still get reception? (In DFW area)

 

[LeiZaK]

I have it in my car, antenna mounted on the dashboard... I always have reception no matter which direction I'm driving unless I'm going through a tunnel or stopped under a large overpass or something

 

[BlueWeasel]

If you can get a clear view of the sky, you probably won't have problems getting a signal regardless of the direction.

 

[icelazer]

I do have a clear view of the sky, way down mexico way I've heard they also install repeaters in larger cities too?

 

[Lvis]

Mine is very fussy. Sometimes the signal wont hold all day either. Where it will work in the am, it sometimes doesn't in the afternoon.

I suspect you'd have trouble, is sounds like you're facing the wrong way.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: icelazer
I do have a clear view of the sky, way down mexico way I've heard they also install repeaters in larger cities too?

Your best bet would be to check out SiriusBackstage.com Someone there would most likely be able to tell you the reception around DFW and/or local repeaters.

 

[Sysbuilder05]

Originally posted by: icelazer
Anyone that has experience with Sirius radio and reception, please feel free to chime in. I want to get a Sirius for my apartment primarily. The problem is, I live in the south (texas), and my apartment is on the first floor(of 3) and faces south. Siruis radio guides recommend pointing the antennas toward the midwest. What are the odds I can still get reception? (In DFW area)

You might be lucky enought down there for a terrestrial--Repeater antenna give the DFW size. Me,I just hooked up my Sportster today. Stereo is in our basement(bi-level,only four feet down)--south side. I ran the antenna outside and up on our deck. About the most I can get is three bars on the reception--sometimes five for a short time. I've had it cut out and have to re-aquire.

The 20' of antenna that comes with the home docking kit isn't much,I'm going to need to add an additional 30-40' to get solid reception. I don't know if you can just splice in with heavy wire for the antenna or if its some kind of shielded wire. I know they mention antenna extender wires,haven't really looked for one yet or the price.

 

[imported_Condor]

Get an outdoor antenna. Terk SIR6. Generally available for 50 to 100 bucks. If you are in the first floor and have a good window that faces the bird and can find it, it is all good with the antennal that comes with the kit. Not likely, so the Terk is your best bet.

The Terk comes with mount and 30 ft of cable. Additional cable is avaliable as Terk SIR-EXT50. That gives you an additional 50 ft of cable. Here are the links, but you can beat the prices.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-AuKt2Qqi6d...rodView.asp?search=terk+sir6&i=209SIR6

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-AuKt2Qqi6d...p?search=terk+sir%2Dext50&i=209SIREX50