Anybody use a PnP satellite tuner in their car in a major metro area?

[Goldmund]

I just got the Sirius radio installed in my car, with a plug-and-play FM modulator. The radio itself works great -- I think -- but there's always some static in the reception. If I turn off the satellite receiver, and keep the regular radio on the FM frequency it was at, I still hear static of the same pattern -- suggesting that the static gets introduced between the FM transmitter and my car radio's FM receiver. I've tried to tune the modulator to different frequencies to no avail.

I think the problem may be that since I live in the NYC area, the FM spectrum is so saturated that there is no such thing as a "quiet" FM band. Actual stations usually come in at 0.4 MHz intervals -- but in between them the signal isn't really any quieter, it's just a wall of white noise.

So, first, if you have this configuration -- a satellite receiver that feeds your car radio through an FM modulator -- do you have this problem? Do you have it in major metro areas? If so, have you been able to do anything about it?

Thanks!

[Bleacher Creature]

1. Kick!

Same problem here. I live in DC (where are you AAR???) and can't find a single quiet FM band between 87.9 and 93.9.

[tx_dem41]

3. I'm in Dallas

I have Sirius and use the PNP2 in my car. Dallas area has radio stations on 88.1, 88.5, and 88.7, so I normally set the FM to 88.3. Even then I have some static when driving around town. I use the Sirius more at home (on a Boombox) or on long trips, so this hasn't really been much of a problem.

[Buzz Clik]

7. Interesting solution...

How did you configure this? Is this the boombox sold by Sirius? Is is powered through the car adapter?

[tx_dem41]

9. Sorry, I must not have been clear.

I use the Boombox (sold by Audiovox) inside my house (I can plug the PNP2 Receiver right into it (and no FM stereo is required...although the sound quality isn't that great).

In the car, I use the cradle just like the guy who started this thread uses.

[Buzz Clik]

11. gotcha n/t

[Goldmund]

4. I actually called them this morning...

...and they suggested I go back to the store and get a new receiver. Sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me -- I don't see what the receiver has to do with the fact (or, a damn good hypothesis) that the static happens between the FM transmitter and the car radio receiver. I actually get similar results whether I tune to a frequency occupied by a station or one that is simply white noise.

But of course, I guess they ain't gonna say "oh, yeah, you can only get good reception in the boonies, we forgot to mention that!".

It's not that big a deal for me, since I only really need the satellite radio for long trips (and ha-ha, we have AAR here!). But it just seems kinda shitty they just neglected to mention that.

[tridim]

2. I'm in Denver and have no problems.

Well, my car stereo keeps getting stolen, but other than that my FM setup works fine on 3 of the 6 frequencies. Have you tried relocating the cradle to different locations in the car? I've read that that can make a difference since the signal is so weak.

[Goldmund]

5. hm...

The cradle? Is that where the FM signal originates?

Actually I was wondering about that. I haven't tried it, but since I had it store-installed (meaning, they punched holes through the dashboard to install it) I won't be moving it around either...

[Buzz Clik]

6. Good point.

I had my Sirius for a while, and it worked perfectly. Then got another car with the antenna in the back window. I got that static pattern even deep in the boonies where there was no other radio reception at all. I put the FM converter further toward the back seat, and the reception improved dramatically.

If you have noise (or a true broadcast) on the FM converter frequencies, that's a huge problem.

The best solution would be a hard wire connection between the Sirius receiver and the car stereo.

[Goldmund]

8. Yeah, hard-wiring is always the best...

but I have a factory-installed stereo and it doesn't even have an AUX mode.

You mention an "FM converter.". I was actually wondering about that. What is this, physically? What piece of hardware actually sends the FM signal to your car radio?

[Buzz Clik]

10. I'm not a techno-type...

I bought a "FM converter" from Radio Shack that you plug into the headphone jack of any audio equipment (e.g., portable CD player) and it converts the output to an FM signal. I'm assuming this is what is being done by the cradle I use in my car, so I just used the Radio Shack language on this.

Is your car stereo "Sirius ready", or was your Sirius put in afterwards?

[Goldmund]

12. No, I added the Sirius receiver

So you're saying you moved the cradle closer to the back seat and that fixed your problems? That may be what I'll have to do as well, since my car antenna is -- like yours -- in the back window.

Pain in the ass...

[tx_dem41]

13. Where did you place the Sirius antenna? n/t

[Goldmund]

14. It's on the trunk, right behind the back window

I have a Honda Accord.

Why would that matter, though? I think the satellite reception itself is fine. It's between the FM transmitter and the car radio that the problem happens... Or do you not agree?

[tx_dem41]

15. Agreed, if you are sure you are getting a strong signal

Have you seen the Antenna Aiming readouts (via the Menu system on the PNP2) to see whether you are getting a good satellite or terrestial signal (or both)?

[Goldmund]

16. Yes -- I've glimpsed at it

They were both almost completely solid.

[tx_dem41]

17. I think its time to hard-wire that sucker. n/t

[Goldmund]

18. Do you know if it can it be done with factory-preinstalled radios?

I don't even have an AUX mode, let alone an AUX IN jack.

[tx_dem41]

19. Not sure...Anyone else out there that can help?? n/t

[Goldmund]

20. Thanks for all the help :-)