The Sirius/XM app is not supported by Car Play. The other streaming apps I suggested are. You can connect the phone by cable to the USB port (best) or by bluetooth. Go to the audio button from the home screen (forget Car Play or get out of it if it comes up). You will find the phone as a media device---it will either show up as a phone or an I-pod. It may start playing music that is stored on your phone. If it does, open the XM app on your phone, find the channel you want to hear,select it and you will be able to then control it from the touchscreen. The song and artist info will also show. You can also pause the feed from the center screen and it will also pause and mute if you get a phone call.
2017 Any way to fix awful XM reception?
I saw an old thread or two about this but I thought I'd start this one because I'm thinking of dropping the headliner and getting to the XM antenna to see if there's anything I can do to boost the signal. Has anyone tried anything?
I live in the country and didn't really pay much attention because the only place it went out was along a ~1 mile stretch where there are high power lines on the side of the road. But... I've been doing more driving down in the city this week and just about every city road that has power lines on one or both sides causes the XM radio to lose signal. It's so bad that either I'm going to stop using XM or I have to fix it somehow. None of my prior cars had this problem in the same places.
So I guess I'll start by asking, has anyone tackled this problem and gotten any results? Of course, the car is under warranty (2017) but from the older threads it doesn't seem like much relief is to be had by taking it to the dealer. I'm hesitant to do that anyway because it makes me cringe thinking about the dealer tearing into things.
Thanks,
Mike
I live in the country and didn't really pay much attention because the only place it went out was along a ~1 mile stretch where there are high power lines on the side of the road. But... I've been doing more driving down in the city this week and just about every city road that has power lines on one or both sides causes the XM radio to lose signal. It's so bad that either I'm going to stop using XM or I have to fix it somehow. None of my prior cars had this problem in the same places.
So I guess I'll start by asking, has anyone tackled this problem and gotten any results? Of course, the car is under warranty (2017) but from the older threads it doesn't seem like much relief is to be had by taking it to the dealer. I'm hesitant to do that anyway because it makes me cringe thinking about the dealer tearing into things.
Thanks,
Mike
21 - 27 of 27 Posts
I have a friend that works for XM. the current issue is interference from 5g towers mainly as well microwave repeaters, these can cause interference not only to XM signals but also GPS. XM has developed filters to be added to new antennas but the car companies are slow to adopt new designs so it will take years likely for all equipped cars to have these filters. i have a test antenna and plan on testing it on my volt and will post here to report improvements. the problem is that it would mean using a puk antenna instead of the fin as that has all antennas on a single board inside.I saw an old thread or two about this but I thought I'd start this one because I'm thinking of dropping the headliner and getting to the XM antenna to see if there's anything I can do to boost the signal. Has anyone tried anything?
I live in the country and didn't really pay much attention because the only place it went out was along a ~1 mile stretch where there are high power lines on the side of the road. But... I've been doing more driving down in the city this week and just about every city road that has power lines on one or both sides causes the XM radio to lose signal. It's so bad that either I'm going to stop using XM or I have to fix it somehow. None of my prior cars had this problem in the same places.
So I guess I'll start by asking, has anyone tackled this problem and gotten any results? Of course, the car is under warranty (2017) but from the older threads it doesn't seem like much relief is to be had by taking it to the dealer. I'm hesitant to do that anyway because it makes me cringe thinking about the dealer tearing into things.
Thanks,
Mike
I have no reception issue thus far. The only time I lost reception was during a severe rainstorm. GPS and cellular signals were also gone. The only thing working was FM/AM
The filters are a good idea - the low cost patch antenna in the plastic hood case can use the extra help.
I would think that trucks or boats would have access to a better antenna.
I would think that trucks or boats would have access to a better antenna.
Here's the dirty little secret: More people receive SXM from their terrestrial repeaters than from the satellites themselves. (The repeaters are in urban areas, which is where most of their customers are.)SXM is satellite based. So if you can't see the sky, you aren't going to get reception.
Those repeaters are not getting into tunnels, underpasses, parking garages and such which is where you get most of your dropouts in urban areas. Minor coverage issues (trees, etc.) are not a problem.Here's the dirty little secret: More people receive SXM from their terrestrial repeaters than from the satellites themselves. (The repeaters are in urban areas, which is where most of their customers are.)
as an update, i have tested the new design antenna on my volt and reception is indeed improved, even next to the cell tower by my kids school i get signal where before it would drop about half a mile away from the tower. will report if I notice any drops at all. so far, none...I have a friend that works for XM. the current issue is interference from 5g towers mainly as well microwave repeaters, these can cause interference not only to XM signals but also GPS. XM has developed filters to be added to new antennas but the car companies are slow to adopt new designs so it will take years likely for all equipped cars to have these filters. i have a test antenna and plan on testing it on my volt and will post here to report improvements. the problem is that it would mean using a puk antenna instead of the fin as that has all antennas on a single board inside.
21 - 27 of 27 Posts
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