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06-24-2003, 10:45 PM
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#1 of 15 
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Join Date: Jun 2003
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Local Date: 10-11-2008
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Just a general question about Satellite radio
I heard a few days ago that satellite radio can not work as well when driving in between tall buildings. Makes sense, it does depend on satellites. My question is, how does it work if it depends on a satellite? TV satellites have to be left in a stationary position to get a clear signal, but obviously, in a car, you are always moving. Does it somehow send out a 360 degree signal for the satellite to retrieve? Another question, if it doesn't work in between tall buildings, is it worth it, since it won't necessarily work in all aspects of daily life? Thanks!
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06-25-2003, 06:37 AM
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#2 of 15
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Member
Location: Southaven, MS
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I've only had XM for a few days and only had one loss of signal. It will not work inside a multi-level parking garage. It will work inside the garage at my house and inside the service bay at the local Nissan dealership. XM has installed over a thousand repeaters to combat the drop outs while Sirius has installed less than ten. XM uses a geo-stationary orbit like satellite TV while two of the three Sirius satellites are visible as they orbit the northern hemisphere.
-Robert
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06-25-2003, 06:52 AM
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#3 of 15
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I'd like to point out that sirius is less liable for those kind of drop-outs, as while transmitting their satellites are almost directly overhead, rather than orbiting at the equator...
I have never had problems(Sirius), even while driving through underground sections of Philadelphia. I will lose signal while under a bank drive-through canopy, and in gas stations (i live in a smaller area, with no repeater), but other than that I have had maybe 5-10 dropouts in 3 months (and yes, it's constantly on  ) |
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06-25-2003, 10:51 AM
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#4 of 15
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And Sirius advertises "commercial-free" programming too, don't they? (Although, I have heard that the commercials XM has are short and far in between anyway)
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06-25-2003, 11:03 AM
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#5 of 15
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Yes, sirius is commercial free...
(You can get tons of comparison threads at both www.xmfan.com and www.siriusbackstage.com ) both a bit biased in obvious directions...
ps: i was looking at siriusbackstage, and they say sirius has closer to 100 repeaters, in major areas...
Zach, do you live in a large city, or what? I drive through some small streets on my college campus surrounded by large, 4-5 story buildings without a problem... i've had a few problems in downtown wilmington (DE), a small city (probably no repeater) w/ a few small high-rise type buildings... |
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06-25-2003, 12:03 PM
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#6 of 15
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Location: Southaven, MS
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Quote:
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i was looking at siriusbackstage, and they say sirius has closer to 100 repeaters, in major areas...
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I should have quoted my source as someone over at XMfan.com.
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(Although, I have heard that the commercials XM has are short and far in between anyway)
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I still haven't heard a real commercial. Every once in a while, I'll hear a DJ, station ID or XM promo spot.
-Robert |
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06-25-2003, 12:25 PM
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#7 of 15
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Actually David, lol, I live in the country surrounded by cows. I was just talking about the tall buildings to get some insight on the capabilities of satellite radio.  |
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06-25-2003, 01:21 PM
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#8 of 15
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lol, well, if it makes you feel any better, i recently took a drive down I-81 from I66 to blacksburg, and didn't experience a single drop out on the round trip... so it works in lands of cows too...
(note, if you do live in a rural area, there are less likely to be XM repeaters, so Sirius might get a better signal, less likely to be blocked by hills/trees etc... I am just guessing, but from what i've heard this seems logical) |
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06-25-2003, 04:44 PM
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#9 of 15
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TV satellite dishes are mostly 18" diameter. Makes for a small area to trap the signal. My understanding is that the car rooftop antennas for satellite actually use the roof of the car as the dish, obviously a much larger area than an 18" dish. Tunnels(there's only one where I live) and parking garages have been the only places where I lost signal. Not a big deal.
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06-25-2003, 05:04 PM
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#10 of 15
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Location: Coon Rapids, MN
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I have driven in downtown Minneapolis and have had no dropouts in signal. I was told there is a repeater on top of the IDS tower, which may help out with the signal.
Also I drive through a tunnel once in a while which is about 1/2 mile long and I have never lost a signal going through. But once I pull into my garage the signal is gone.
Paul
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