"Snow" on Sirius radio

[Jeepr]

I have a 2005 with the RBQ radio with the factory Sirius added afterwards. I understand that at times you will lose the signal (in garages, etc) and get "no signal" on the display and no sound. This happens and I consider it normal.



However, I have intermittent times where I start the truck and the display will show the station (leading me to believe it has a signal) but there will be "snow" or static on all of the channels. It is very intermittent, so I haven't even pursued it with the dealer yet. It seems like maybe it is that way until the truck is turned off again.



Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[Stalker04]

:--) This happens with my factory sirius when the signal is blocked at original start up. I move the truck to a spot where I can get a good signal, turn the truck off, and turn the key to the on position. If it still doesn't get a signal, I turn the key off and on until it does. Usually doesn't take more than 5 turns of the key. Local dealer "claims" they've never heard of this problem.

 

[Zmonster]

Have had the same problem as well, have read of a few others that recommended always turning the unit off before starting the truck. . Seems to work most of the time. . Those few times I have forgotten to do this, I simply turn key on and off as needed.

 

[JayWm]

I too have the same issue. I've tried the "turn off the radio before shutdown" trick and I still get the snow at times. And cycling the ignition key or turning the radio on and off has never resolved it for me. I end up listening to FM or a CD and then after awhile I try Sirius again and it will be working. I have not taken it to the dealer for the same reasons that others have not, the dealer does not want to acknowledge it and there is no way to make it duplicate to show them what its doing. I'm sure we would have seen a TSB if one existed to fix this issue by now if Dodge was on it. I refuse to give up my truck for a day or days while little or nothing gets done to fix it.

 

[jtwcummins]

Happens on my wife's pacifica, it is factory unit.

 

[GHedrick]

That has happened to me 3 times now. If I turn the truck off and restart it everything is fine. Has been several months since the last time it happened.

 

[RMurphy]

same here snow almost all the time aftermarket sirius dealer said radio working within limitations but I still here snow

 

[klenger]

I thought this was going to be about Tony Snow on Fox Talk on Sirius. Of course he's moved on to bigger and better things.

 

[BillDriscoll]

I just installed a XM sat radio and it does the same thing, mostley in the morning. I did notice that by moving the reciever around in the cab that the snow would seem to disipate, leading me to beliieve that the problem is somwhere around the factory am/fm/cd deck (rbq).



I'm thinking of getting a direct connection to see if it sounds better.



Anyone have any pics of their installs?

othanks



BillD

Pensacola,Fl

 

[JVantreese]

As often the case I'm confused. These new fangle radios are digital and as such they should either be working with a clear signal or be dead air. If you are hearing snow I wonder if its bleed from a weak station near the frequency that the radio is using. I had a problem with my XM antenna wire grounding out to the frame. I had routed the the wire through the rear slider window and along the driver side trim. I then loosened the A pillar trim and ran the wire under the A pillar grab handle. When I tightened the grab handle the wire got pinched and caused an intermittent grounding situation. When the wire was grounded I lost the XM radio and got snow noise from an FM station near the frequency that the XM was using. Moving the wire to middle of the grab handle stopped the the wire from being pinched. I look forward to hearing how your problem is resolved.

 

[Jeepr]

I look forward to hearing how your problem is resolved.

Based on the responses I probably won't do anything, seems to be pretty "normal" with the factory unit. If it gets more frequent and/or repeatable, I might take it up with the dealer.

Anyone have any pics of their installs?

Not much to see on mine. Big ugly fin on the roof, box located under the dash in the factory location, wires in headliner & a-pillar? Are were you wanting to see some of the aftermarket installs?

 

[Jeepr]

Just an FYI on an old thread I started, there is a TSB on this, dealer replaced the receiver box and I've not had a problem since.

 

[KKelly]

My stock radio would do the same thing with snow for no apparent reason. I would simply shut it off, wait a few minutes and turn it back on a couple of times. If this did not work I would then shut the truck off and restart it. The problem would then clear. It really makes you appreciate how good satellite radio is once you loose it, even for a few minutes.

 

[jam1on1]

my 2005 durango did the same thing until dealer changed sirius unit that fixed the problem