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Poor signal with my satellite radio

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Raddoctr, Jun 17, 2007.

  1. Raddoctr

    Raddoctr New Member

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    Purchased my Prius just over a month ago all excited about my factory (i.e. dealer) installed XM radio. Driving home from the dealer I lost signal repeatedly. This continued in my driving around town such that I was losing signal almost 20% of my listening time – extremely annoying. Went to the dealership (..’obviously its malfunctioning’ they said) and they did nothing except waste my time. Called XM… no help. Took a trip to a car audio specialist and they claimed the antenna had to be on the outside of the car for the best reception but that they were ‘sure’ that the antenna cable was too short for them to move it and that I had to go back to the dealer. Finally spoke with a mechanic friend of my who said he’d look at it. It took him 20 minutes to move my antenna. Its like night and day – I almost never lose reception!

    Details:
    - Dealer installed my antenna on the lower passenger side of the windshield. According to them ‘this is where they always install it and they’ve never heard of any problems’. Aside – the audio specialist informed me that he’s had other Toyota owners come to him with satellite radio problems when they were installed in a similar fashion.
    - I would lose signal not only in underpasses but near trees and often simply driving down the highway.
    - Fix: My antenna is a small, black magnetic box initially mounted on a small metal plate which was adhered to the lower passenger side windshield. As described on other satellite radio posts on this forum, the receiver is in the rear of the car thus the antenna cable is very long. My friend disassembled much of the car paneling (simply remove it by pulling on it) and pulled the antenna back to the rear where he threaded it under the rear door mounting to the roof of my car where it is adherent via its magnet.

    This post is largely therapeutic as I was so frustrated with the misinformation I was given by so many sources. My conclusion is that (assuming the dealer WAS actually installing the antenna as directed by Toyota) Toyota does not design their cars for satellite radio, instead assuming that the vast majority of buyers to not use this option.

    ~Raddoctr
     
    #1 Raddoctr, Jun 17, 2007
  2. didolgi

    didolgi New Member

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    May 9, 2007
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    I'm also having a problem with a dealer installed Satalite radio. My problems are with Sirius and not XM. They did install the antenna on the roof right behind the AM/FM antenna.

    My aunt has factory Sirius in her mini-van and never has any snigal drop out except for stops at underpasses, and I've driven car van on the exact same route I drive my Prius so I know its not a problem with the snigal itself.

    Before I bring the car back to the dealer to troubleshoot the problem - does anybody have any advice?

    EDIT: I just found a document (http://www.sirius.com/servlet/Conte...us/CachedPage&c=FlexContent&cid=1173329546779) that clearly says you need to be 3 inches from the edge of the roof and other antennas. My dealer put the antena right against the back of the roof and just below the AM/FM antenna. Is this my problem?
     
    #2 didolgi, Jun 18, 2007
  3. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    Location:
    Bucks County, PA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Raddoctr @ Jun 17 2007, 10:37 PM) [snapback]463725[/snapback]</div>
    In my (not all that knowledgable) opinion, Wisconsin is too far north for a dashboard install of the antenna. At that latitude, the XM satellite is at an angle of approximately 38 degrees above the horizon. The antenna would be frequently in the shadow of your car roof.
     
    #3 Marlin, Jun 18, 2007
  4. alanh

    alanh Active Member

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    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(didolgi @ Jun 18 2007, 11:22 AM) [snapback]464135[/snapback]</div>
    I did a self-install and am trying different positions for the antenna. The location you mentioned is what Toyota specifies, so the dealer is just following instructions.

    Sometimes the install will take a "looks better" approach than a "receives better" approach, which may be what Toyota has done here.

    The problem could be a combination of (a) less sensitivity by the Toyota module, and (b) the inclination of the roof. The Sirius satellites are to the east of me, and I seem to get less reception when heading east. Due to the roof angle, the antenna is pointing away from the satellites.

    I'm also experimenting with a microdot antenna that came with my old Starmate 4. This seems to give better reception than with the Toyota antenna.
     
    #4 alanh, Jun 18, 2007
  5. BethlehemPrius

    BethlehemPrius New Member

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    I had the same issue as you with the antenna on the roof, long story short I had to move it myself to the roof which solved all my issues.

    It is lousy of Toyota to be charging so much for an install and placing the antenna on a windshield, NO WHERE close to a professional installation! They should be sticking their heads in the sand!
     
    #5 BethlehemPrius, Jun 19, 2007
  6. J.Wilkie

    J.Wilkie 80 Mile Daily Commute

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    Location:
    Behind The Orange Curtain
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I had a local guy install my Sirius here in Orange County. One thing I noticied was that sometimes the antenna connection at the Sirius unit is loose. I unplugged the antenna and plugged it back in, then I used some electrical tape to secure the connection to make certain the antenna did not come loose. Now I hardly have drop outs at all.
     
    #6 J.Wilkie, Jun 20, 2007
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