sirius radio ??

[mrbb]

OK, so I have had Sirius in my trucks now since it came out, all Dodge/Ram 2500's
been living in same place, driving same roads
I NOW have a 2016,(2500) and I loose connection in places I never used to
and its winter time now, NO leaves on tree's(which would effect older trucks at times)

SO< has anyone else with a new truck noticed this??
as I doubt there is anything that can be done, but???
thought I would ask here!

 

[SnoKing]

Someone recently said it is off XM sat which is lower on the sky. Snoking

 

[mwilson]

Someone recently said it is off XM sat which is lower on the sky. Snoking

I agree, something changed a while back.

 

[mrbb]

well I drove down the same road the same day I got my truck, old truck had signal, new one didn't, or lost of off and on as I traveled same road
so to me, I feel its more with the truck than the sat
or the antenna or what ever its called that gets the signal
as its a different size and shape of my old one??

BUT OK, its NOT just me then LOL

 

[Ram4Sam]

My 2016 has interruptions in the same places as my 2014 did.......no better or worse.

Sam

 

[mrbb]

MY other truck was a 2006(and then also had a 2004)
and it held signal better in same spots
your 14 might have same set up as a 16, being the newer gen truck??

 

[Tuesdak]

I suggest you have the new Sirius XM 2.0 biased off the XM birds and repeaters. This is different than the old traditional Sirius birds and equipment. So your coverage will be like XM not the Sirius you are used to. This info you have to dig for...

http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/thr...tween-sirius-and-xm-and-new-satellite.289222/

Next time you are in for service you should have the antenna checked out.

I will note my new 2.0 Home stationary receiver cuts out 1-2 times a day where the old Sirius equipment wouldn't.

 

[mrbb]

I will inquire when it goes in for the first oil change and see what they say
but I doubt they will do anything!
all the more so since I bought the truck out of state and service dealer isn't the place I bought at(they hold a grudge when you don't buy off them it seems??)
so doubt they will do all that much to make me happy with a radio??
it works OK, NOT terrible
I just noticed it drops signal off and on at times in narrow like roads with tall tree's on the sides, where old truck on same road didn't

will see come late Spring time, when leaves are in full cover, if it gets BAD
but will dealer here make a note about the issue for sure , so they cannot say it wasn't there LOL

 

[Powder Extreme]

The new radios in the last few years don't use the same Sirius only satellites the old radios did prior to Sirius and XM merging. Don't waste your time having it checked out. The 10 new vehicles I've owned since the merger, both Sirius and XM based, don't have near the reception the older Sirius rigs did. I lose signal all the damn time. First couple of rigs I complained but nothing could ever be done about it. Now I just accept it.

 

[w6pea]

I belong to another forum and some one posted about Sirius/XM doing some kind of upgrade to their antiquated satellite system and shutting off some and supposedly upgrading their audio. I think it really stinks. I have had two relievers since they started XM, and since they merged with Sirius also they just raised their price again . I took the unit out of my old truck and kept the one in my house. I will post the link to the article when I find it.

Also I have a friend that just bought a new Jeep Grand Cherokee he also has been having the same problem. I really think it's a Sirius/XM problem and not your radio,in your truck.

 

[Jim W]

That's why I use Pandora radio or Amazon music playlist that is installed on the I-phones when we are in vehicles. Also Pandora is free and Pandora will work cross country without losing the signal.

jim

 

[wyosteve]

This thread pretty much confirms why I won't be continuing my subscription once the 1 yr. free trial expires.

 

[Tuesdak]

What, no comments about the extreme compression on some channels making them sound like they are bubbles underwater? The audio quality, or lack of, is another reason to write them and ask for less channels and better quality. The quality for each channel is adjustable and is adjusted biased on popularity etc. Howard Stern (love or hate em) included top audio quality in his contract.

Some of the guitar solo's on the rock stations sound bad even over the roar of a diesel engine. Sirius only satellites. And now you can note if XM or Sirius equipment has better compression delivering cleaner sound.

Regardless a CD will kick their low quality a $ $ around the block all day. Not to mention AM/FM and esp HD radio.

It IS the lack of commercials on music channels that some FM stations go on and on and on like the Energizer Bunny with that keeps me subscribing.

 

[kthaxton]

Also Pandora is free and Pandora will work cross country without losing the signal.

jim

You've never driven anywhere that didn't have a cell signal? Pandora won't work without access to the internet.

My satellite reception is typically pretty good. The only places with issues are when I am right next to a cliff/mountain to the south. I suspect this would be worse the further north you live.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I guess I'm in the minority here....I've never been much of an audiophile......but the 8.4 unit in my truck sounds outstanding, best of all the vehicles I have ever owned. The sat radio works great here on the left coast. For 80-90 bucks a year, I don't have to mess with play lists, my phone, or a ipod thingy, or listen to very many commercials.

Sam

 

[kthaxton]

For some reason, the Satellite radio in my Ram does sound noticeably better than in my Subaru (not sure why) but it still is not as good as the music coming from my SD card.

 

[sag2]

The reason you notice a difference is before the merger Sirius was the service FCA used for all vehicles. After the merger FCA offered Sirius and XM service on different vehicle lines (or different radios) so on one vehicle you had Sirius, but another you got XM service. On all the literature it makes it sound like Sirius/XM is one in the same, but in reality it is two different services with two different satellites. The Sirius satellite is more overhead in the northern hemisphere, the XM is more toward the equator. So you will notice a lot more drop outs if you have XM (RAx radios in the Ram) and less if you have the old Sirius service on a different radio platform. So it isn't your truck so don't bother having them look at it. Also if you look at the Sirius/XM web site the channel line ups are a little different unless they have changed it recently.
On our trip through Oregon last summer I had to switch to FM on the coast with lots of trees because the drop outs were just too annoying. Our 15 200 (RA4) also drops out in the same places the Ram does.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I guess I'm in the minority here....I've never been much of an audiophile......but the 8.4 unit in my truck sounds outstanding, best of all the vehicles I have ever owned. The sat radio works great here on the left coast. For 80-90 bucks a year, I don't have to mess with play lists, my phone, or a ipod thingy, or listen to very many commercials.

Sam

We really like ours also and will pay up soon.

 

[MJWenrich]

80-90 bucks a year? They bang me more than that. About $200 for the first one and $136 for the in house/shop units. Was that a guess or do I need to call them and ask "What up?"

 

[kthaxton]

There are different levels of service....i.e. channel packages, priced accordingly.