Sirius Radio Antenna

[FinAddict]

Anyone out there having trouble with their factory mounted Sirius radio antenna? I have a 210CC with a T-top and the factory Sirius radio option. The antenna is mounted on the console under the T-top. The signal keeps cutting in and out. The Sirius folks think that the T-top is blocking the signal. The dealer says that the antenna location is done at the factory and this is the first that they've heard of any issues.

[Genelie]

Past experience....All antenna's should always be on the highest point of the boat. The higher the ant the more your signal gets out. I am not sure nor have I seen a sirus Ant. Also check connections, a bad soder can creat that as well.

[FinAddict]

Thanks for the prompt reply. Connections are all good, no problem there. Yeah, it's seems like a no brainer to me to put antennas high (that's why I had the dealer put the vhf and gps antennas mounted on the T-top). Apparently the factory hasn't figured this out, though. I really think the console is a poor choice of mounting location for an antenna, but, before I go raise heck at the dealer I was just wondering if others have experienced this specific problem or if mine is an anomaly.

[LittleCasino]

Wow, I have that same problem and it aggrevates me to no-end. Sometimes, even if someone is standing near the antenna it will cut out.
It is kinda hard to imagine the T-top cutting the signal, but its gotta be.

What happens to people that have Sirius in thier automobiles?

It's just really bad when your in the middle of a lake in the wide open and your signal keeps cutting out.

Anyone ele's with Sirius on board without a T-top have a problem?

[FinAddict]

I have a friend with XM in his car. He has noticed signal loss but it is only when driving and usually in specific locations. In other words, he loses signal at the same locations while traveling. Speaking with him, he mentioned that he had heard that Sirius does not have the same problems that XM does with signal loss. In any event, mine happens while drifting. Maybe the rocking of the boat allows the T-top to block the signal occasionally. Your signal loss while someone is standing nearby just reinforces my belief that the mounting location under the T-top is the issue. I agree that it's real anoying. Mine came with one year of free service that I basically have not used becuase it's more aggravating to turn the darn thing on.

[LittleCasino]

For now, It is a love-hate relationship. Somedays it works fine and others days I just turn it off too.

I was thinking on some situations it might have something to do with the satellite location.

On occasion I lose my GPS signal for a brief moment and its is inside my console along with the antenna(It's portable) and GPS tracks many satellites opposed to Sirius, but then again you say your signal is cutting out while your drifting.

Maybe some boat owners with Sirius radio without a T-top can tell us If they experience the same problem, and if they don't I might move my antenna (I never liked the antenna location from the get go) Because when it's working good I really love it and so do my passengers.

[k9reno]

why is it so hard to believe that the T-top interfers with reception on your satalite radio. That is a lot of metal around the antenna to deflect a the signal away from the antenna. I have XM and only loose signal when I go under wide over passes or downtown with tall buildings to block the antennas view of the satalite. They are after all primarily line of sight receivers.

[Putershark]

Dick is correct,
They are totally VSAT or "Line of Site" communications unlike your VHF radio and even clouds (rain fade) can effect such. I would just move the antenna to the top of the T-Top for best performance.

Dave

[LittleCasino]

I understand loosing signals under bridges in a dence forest, canyons, parking garages ect. Like I said.. on occasion I lose my GPS signal (for a brief moment) thats in my console or other "line of site" recievers I might have on board. But NOTHING compared to the lost signal I get from my satellite radio. It just has to be a weaker line of site signal.

Even back when I first got my boat, I thought that is a wierd place to install a satelitte antenna. I just thought they knew what they were doing

RIIIIIIIIIGHT

I guess It's just another brainstorm (kinda like fishbox drains) from the factory or whoever to install it where it can get the most interference.

I'm going to move the antenna to the top.

[Genelie]

I read also that you were having problems with your GPS loosing signal...check out my post from last year.


GPS no signal; here's the fix
I recently was having problems with my GPS. On the other fishing sites I got all kinds of advise. Most of them repeated check connections, and your antenna wire. Well all was good. I finall got ahold of the manufacture...( by the way mine is a standard Horizon 150.) They said try 2 things prior to sending in for repairs. # 1 you could try to reboot your system...see owner manuel. Well That did the trick!!. But I decided to do # 2 as well. Which is ordering a UPGRADE chip from C-MAP. They have new software. I guess other GPS's are having the same problems. This new upgrade fixes that. It Cost $ 49.99 plus shipping. And the $ 49.99 is refundable if you return the chip within 15 days. All in all now it only takes less than a minute to aquire a signal.
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