Anyone have a sirius, I got the home kit where you theoretically
can get the signal at your house but I get poop for signal, the
customer support person said to point the antenna to the west or
northwest, here north of Philly and I got a pretty unobstructed view
but zip for signal, it just goes 'aquiring signal' forever. I did have
a poor signal in another room but it was aimed in the wrong direction.
Now I have it aimed out a clear window, no metal screens, open sky
and aimed west or northwest, nada. Any ideas? For instance, does
anyone you know about have third party higher gain antennae
for sale. I just got this box so am totally unfamiliar with it.
I haven't activated it yet because you have to have a decent signal
first. So the customer support lady said to call product support.
But in the meantime, any help out there?
Originally posted by sonhouseJust got it for X-mas. I had the same problem and when I called for help I got some pretty ineffective help. I kept calling back unitl I got someone who knew what they were doing. She said to point it out the window. Worked like a charm. Try that. The cord to your antenae should be long enough.
Anyone have a sirius, I got the home kit where you theoretically
can get the signal at your house but I get poop for signal, the
customer support person said to point the antenna to the west or
northwest, here north of Philly and I got a pretty unobstructed view
but zip for signal, it just goes 'aquiring signal' forever. I did have
a poor signal in ano ...[text shortened]... customer support lady said to call product support.
But in the meantime, any help out there?
Can't wait for Stern!
Originally posted by sonhouseDoes it work when its outside? I had XM, and I found the attenna had to be on the outside of the window, and It worked perfectly then. I couldnt get it to work well on the inside of the window, probaly because of the metal soffit
Anyone have a sirius, I got the home kit where you theoretically
can get the signal at your house but I get poop for signal, the
customer support person said to point the antenna to the west or
northwest, here north of Philly and I got a pretty unobstructed view
but zip for signal, it just goes 'aquiring signal' forever. I did have
a poor signal in ano ...[text shortened]... customer support lady said to call product support.
But in the meantime, any help out there?
Originally posted by sonhouseApparently when listening to sirius radio you have to wear a sirius expression on your face - is that where you're going wrong?
Anyone have a sirius, I got the home kit where you theoretically
can get the signal at your house but I get poop for signal, the
customer support person said to point the antenna to the west or
northwest, here north of Philly and I got a pretty unobstructed view
but zip for signal, it just goes 'aquiring signal' forever. I did have
a poor signal in ano ...[text shortened]... customer support lady said to call product support.
But in the meantime, any help out there?
Originally posted by flyUnityworth a shot, except its snowing out! Maybe it helps, I thought
Does it work when its outside? I had XM, and I found the attenna had to be on the outside of the window, and It worked perfectly then. I couldnt get it to work well on the inside of the window, probaly because of the metal soffit
glass doesn't attenuate rf signals.
3 edits
Originally posted by sonhousehttp://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Radiography/interactionradmat.htm
worth a shot, except its snowing out! Maybe it helps, I thought
glass doesn't attenuate rf signals.
With sat signal you need direct line of sight to the transmitter.. (in outa space) its pretty weak signal.. but where theres nothing in its way.. (direct line of sight) we can receive it.
Edit: with "microwave" signal we are talking about electromagnetic radiation.
Edit: a better link http://resources.yesican-science.ca/trek/radiation/final/index_em_matter.html
Originally posted by CenterNutYeah, I know quite a bit about RF, have an amateur extra ham
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Radiography/interactionradmat.htm
With sat signal you need direct line of sight to the transmitter.. (in outa space) its pretty weak signal.. but where theres nothing in its way.. (direct line of sight) we can receive it.
Edit: with "microwave" signal we are talking about electromagnetic radiation. ...[text shortened]... t: a better link http://resources.yesican-science.ca/trek/radiation/final/index_em_matter.html
license, but am new to satellite radio. Found out Sirius has
a 12.5 megahertz slice starting at 2320 Mhz, so its not out of the
question to build a better antenna. It would be just my luck they
make the cable and the antenna impedence like 147 ohms or some
such instead of 52 or 75 or even 300 ohms like everyone else.
I heard sirius or some third party may have a 'repeater'
using an outside antenna that has a clear shot at the satellite and
then a 2320 short range transmitter that allows the placement of
the existing antenna anywhere in the house, kind of like the
wireless routers for computers. Have yet to actually find a gadget like
that but am looking. It would let my wife listen anywhere in the house.
Right now that concept is out the window, so to speak...
Originally posted by sonhouseits snowing? where you at?
worth a shot, except its snowing out! Maybe it helps, I thought
glass doesn't attenuate rf signals.
I think your correct that most glass dont attenuate rf signals, however for me, I couldnt get a good signal untill I had it outside the window a couple inches, Dont ask me why, maybe it was all the metal siding and soffit, IDK
Originally posted by flyUnityI'm in Pennsylvania, north of Philly about 70 odd miles, makes
its snowing? where you at?
I think your correct that most glass dont attenuate rf signals, however for me, I couldnt get a good signal untill I had it outside the window a couple inches, Dont ask me why, maybe it was all the metal siding and soffit, IDK
a triangle, Allentown, Philly, New York City, kind of.
1 edit
Originally posted by sonhouseJust for a while the signal on the indicator went to about 5 or 6 bars
I'm in Pennsylvania, north of Philly about 70 odd miles, makes
a triangle, Allentown, Philly, New York City, kind of.
and was receiving it very well, enough at least to activate.
I hope I didn't screw up, I kind of tied myself to Serius forever.
You know its 13 bucks a month and you get a couple months
free if you pay a year in advance and three months free if you
pay two years. So they have this other deal, only good till the end
of January: 500 bucks for life, no more monthly payments.
That means after three years it starts being free, it equals
13 bucks a month for 38 months.
That is only going to work out if we actually LIKE Sirius!
Actually we usually only listen to NPR, National Pubic Radio.
Listened to Garrison Keeler show for awhile, found out the little
transmitter in the unit is fairly strong, it transmitted to my portable
anywhere in the house(we have a BIG house) and also to my
music room stereo which has an outside fm antenna, so I just
tune to 88.1 and there it is. Downside, at least for today,
is the signal went to 6 bars and was working great then with nobody
even in the bedroom where the antenna and unit is, it all of a sudden
just dissapears. It seems Sirius has three satellites in highly
eliptical orbits and there are supposed to be two up at any one time
so you get signals somewhat like the GPS, similar antenna situation
too. So it looked like one of the satellites was in good position and
then it went out of orbit or something and poof, goodby signal.
It makes the case for someone making a repeater if it doesn't
exist now. Repeater: an antenna, say, on the roof with higher gain
than the little box antenna that comes with the unit, going to a small
transmitter on the same frequency, sending signals down into the
house so you can have the rig set up anywhere in the house.
If you are outside at the beach or somewhere you should get a good
signal but just like a GPS, it loses it indoors.
Originally posted by sonhouseI have Sirius too. Had the same problem at first, but now it works fine. Is your antenna outside? It should be.
Anyone have a sirius, I got the home kit where you theoretically
can get the signal at your house but I get poop for signal, the
customer support person said to point the antenna to the west or
northwest, here north of Philly and I got a pretty unobstructed view
but zip for signal, it just goes 'aquiring signal' forever. I did have
a poor signal in ano ...[text shortened]... customer support lady said to call product support.
But in the meantime, any help out there?
Originally posted by rbmorrisThat seems to be the current wisdom. I think you can get
I have Sirius too. Had the same problem at first, but now it works fine. Is your antenna outside? It should be.
50 foot antenna extension cables. 2.3 Ghz. Man, that would have
to be one lossy cable, but if it gives a better signal, it would
be worth it. Antenna outside, unit inside. Transmits to any fm radio
in the whole house, I proved that at least.
1 edit
Originally posted by CenterNutEven air. Ah, now I know what to do, just put the antenna in a
PAPER effects radiation..
Reason it works best outside is because of the direct line of sight that I said it needed..
Edit: ALL MATTER EFFECTS IT OK EVEN AIR!
satellite....
Siriously speaking, I put the unit in one of the attic bedrooms
and got signal much better, even through the walls, didn't even
have to be in the window. But outside definitely is the key.
I wish I knew the exact path of the satellites, they say point the
antenna south but would you believe one 'expert' actually
on the sirius hotline said point it northwest! Needless to say,
I didn't get a signal in that direction. I think the problem in the
downstairs locations is right in the way of the view of the southern
sky is this humungus tree, biggest friggin ash tree I ever saw,
its right outside the windows and must be 100 years old. It
pretty effectively blocks the sky in that direction. Its about 60 feet
high, the house tops out at about 55 feet at the peak of the roof,
so even on top of the roof it wouldn't get a totally clear view.
Its going to be tricky to find a good accessable spot even outside.
I have antennae up for 2 meters, 10 meters and wire for the
lower bands but 2 gigs is another matter. A dipole at 2 Ghz is about
3 inches. I could build a yagi at that frequency but it would probably
be too directive for sirius work, so to speak. Unlike XM radio which
features geostationary satellites at about 22,000 miles up,
the sirius system relies on three sats in very elliptical orbits and
any two are above the horizon at any one time. That means you
can't use too narrow a beamwidth antenna because it would have
to be aimed all over the place to find a signal, which is why I find
it a bit confusing to say point the antenna south, it has to first come
up the horizon, rise higher in the sky till its directy overhead then
dissapear over the opposite horizon.
Oh well, have to do my best.