Sirius antennas

[dave73]

I just bought the Sanyo Plug & Play home & car unit from Wal-mart, which was on clearance. I bought for $60.00, and it had everything for both the car and home, in one package. My problem is I live in a mobile home and I have a difficult time getting reception on the home antenna. I only have 1 window for my bedroom and it is on an east wall. I have the indoor antenna pointed in a northeast direction, and it sometimes works, other times it displays the "Acquiring Signal" message. Since it looks like I'll have to put the antenna outside; is the home antenna safe to put the home antenna outside and mount it on the pole in front of my window? Or should I consider buying a second car antenna and place it on the roof? Like I said, I live in a mobile home and have a metal roof to where the car antenna can stick to the roof.
In case you're wondering which Sanyo Sirius model I bought, it's the CRSR-10 model. It ok, but the up & down buttons have to be pressed hard to get the highlighter to scroll. I have yet to activate the service, but I like what Sirius has to offer and chose them over XM.

 

[Radio-X]

> Since it looks like I'll have
> to put the antenna outside; is the home antenna safe to put
> the home antenna outside and mount it on the pole in front
> of my window?

Yes...at least I think so...I have the same model you have when it was about $120 at Wally World

Let me put it this way. My 'home' antenna (which I think is designed for outdoor use) has been outside since January. It has suffered being buried under 4" of snow (OK, not a lot), been pee'd on by a dog, been in temps as low as 15 deg, high as 100 deg, and still gives me a butt-kickin' signal.

Depending on the type of pole you have, birds might crap on the antenna, but that's all cosmetic.

Hope this helps,

Radio-X <P ID="signature">______________
If a DJ talks into a microphone, and no one's there to listen to him, does he make a noise?</P>

 

[only1deejayman]

do you live in an area where their are land repeaters??? major cities??? then you won't have a problem getting a signal, but putting the antenna up on the roof is no prob. with the home or car antenna, just get some velcro for the home antenna and strap it to the roof or have a little bit hang outside your bathroom window, as long as it can "see the sky" you can get the signal. good luck.

 

[dave73]

> do you live in an area where their are land repeaters???
> major cities??? then you won't have a problem getting a
> signal, but putting the antenna up on the roof is no prob.
> with the home or car antenna, just get some velcro for the
> home antenna and strap it to the roof or have a little bit
> hang outside your bathroom window, as long as it can "see
> the sky" you can get the signal. good luck.
>
I live in Gary Indiana, which is considered a Chicago suburb. But there are no land repeaters in my area since there are no tall buildings. But I have to find a way to get the antenna outside and mount it somewhere. I only hope the next place I move to will be easier to get reception than where I live now. I even have trouble with regular TV & radio reception, but have an antenna for that, though TV reception isn't that great, but that's a different topic for a different board..

 

[rdcuff]

> I live in Gary Indiana, which is considered a Chicago
> suburb. But there are no land repeaters in my area since
> there are no tall buildings. But I have to find a way to
> get the antenna outside and mount it somewhere. I only hope
> the next place I move to will be easier to get reception
> than where I live now. I even have trouble with regular TV
> & radio reception, but have an antenna for that, though TV
> reception isn't that great, but that's a different topic for
> a different board..
>

You can buy extension cables if you need them. Both the car and home antennas can survive winter weather with no problems.

Make sure the antenna points towards the northwest -- towards Winnipeg, Manitoba at an elevation of 60 degrees.

If you can't see in that direction, you're out of luck unless your community has terrestrial repeaters.

Richard / Allentown, PA

 

[Schwaag]

> > I live in Gary Indiana, which is considered a Chicago
> > suburb. But there are no land repeaters in my area since
> > there are no tall buildings. But I have to find a way to
> > get the antenna outside and mount it somewhere. I only
> hope
> > the next place I move to will be easier to get reception
> > than where I live now. I even have trouble with regular
> TV
> > & radio reception, but have an antenna for that, though TV
>
> > reception isn't that great, but that's a different topic
> for
> > a different board..
> >
>
> You can buy extension cables if you need them. Both the car
> and home antennas can survive winter weather with no
> problems.
>
> Make sure the antenna points towards the northwest --
> towards Winnipeg, Manitoba at an elevation of 60 degrees.
>
> If you can't see in that direction, you're out of luck
> unless your community has terrestrial repeaters.
>
> Richard / Allentown, PA
>

It depends. I live in an apartment in Sandusky, Ohio. No terrestrial repeaters in the area. My antenna is sitting on a windowsill facing east. Overall signal is good. It ranges between 1-3 bars, but the audio hardly ever drops out.

 

[nuzguy]

> > Since it looks like I'll have
> > to put the antenna outside; is the home antenna safe to
> put
> > the home antenna outside and mount it on the pole in front
>
> > of my window?
>
> Yes...at least I think so...I have the same model you have
> when it was about $120 at Wally World
>
> Let me put it this way. My 'home' antenna (which I think is
> designed for outdoor use) has been outside since January. It
> has suffered being buried under 4" of snow (OK, not a lot),
> been pee'd on by a dog, been in temps as low as 15 deg, high
> as 100 deg, and still gives me a butt-kickin' signal.
>
> Depending on the type of pole you have, birds might crap on
> the antenna, but that's all cosmetic.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Radio-X

RE radiodxrichmond;s post above. If an antenna can survive all those physical challenges, it's good to go for anything.
>

 

[dave73]

> RE radiodxrichmond;s post above. If an antenna can survive
> all those physical challenges, it's good to go for anything.
>
I've been getting frustrated with Sirius Radio lately. I don't know if it's a problem with satellite communication or my unit, but I can't get a signal on my unit, both at home or in the car. It worked great on day one, but the second day, it hasn't worked that great since then. I am always getting the Acquiring signal message. For it to not work in the car in the farmlands tells me either problems with the antenna or the unit. Driving through farmlands shouldn't give me that message. I may return my unit and get another one. If I still have problems, I'm going to return it for my money back & cancel Sirius. I am not going to be paying for a subscription to Sirius if I can't listen to the service.

 

[FrankF]

Sounds like a bad connection in either the radio or the antenna. More like the antenna if it's saying aquiring signal. That's the one fear that I have with my Sirius radio. Something failing. I have two antennas, one mounted in my car and one that I take along with me to work where ever that may be. The antenna wire is such a thin gauge, as careful as I'am with it I'm suprised that I have not had any problems yet. Not to mention the antenna and power connection to the radio. I wish someone would start selling the fittings for the antenna wire so when the inevitable happens it would just be a quick fix instead of having to buy a whole new antenna.

 

[AZJoe]

> > RE radiodxrichmond;s post above. If an antenna can
> survive
> > all those physical challenges, it's good to go for
> anything.
> >
> I've been getting frustrated with Sirius Radio lately. I
> don't know if it's a problem with satellite communication or
> my unit, but I can't get a signal on my unit, both at home
> or in the car. It worked great on day one, but the second
> day, it hasn't worked that great since then. I am always
> getting the Acquiring signal message. For it to not work in
> the car in the farmlands tells me either problems with the
> antenna or the unit. Driving through farmlands shouldn't
> give me that message. I may return my unit and get another
> one. If I still have problems, I'm going to return it for
> my money back & cancel Sirius. I am not going to be paying
> for a subscription to Sirius if I can't listen to the
> service.
>

If no one else is having the reception problems that you are, you can fairly be sure it isnt Sirius, its your antenna or equipment. It amazes ,e when people the boards complain they cant get a signal, and then quit the service, when millions of others are getting it. Don't put up with crappy equipment failure, but dont blame the service and give up, there is an easier way to get results.

 

[rdcuff]

> Sounds like a bad connection in either the radio or the
> antenna. More like the antenna if it's saying aquiring
> signal. That's the one fear that I have with my Sirius
> radio. Something failing. I have two antennas, one mounted
> in my car and one that I take along with me to work where
> ever that may be. The antenna wire is such a thin gauge, as
> careful as I'am with it I'm suprised that I have not had any
> problems yet. Not to mention the antenna and power
> connection to the radio. I wish someone would start selling
> the fittings for the antenna wire so when the inevitable
> happens it would just be a quick fix instead of having to
> buy a whole new antenna.
>

You didn't mention which unit this is. I am having this problem with a Sany CRSR-10, and it's either the antenna-side of the connection that's gone bad, or the radio-side, which itself is something that can be separately replaced.

I need to take a few minutes and check things out on my home antenna...to see if I need a new antenna, or a new connector module.

I believe the Sanyo comes with a one-year warranty...has that expired yet?

Richard / Allentown

 

[dave73]

I have the Sanyo CRSR-10 model I got from Wal-mart. I found the problem was the receiver with mine. My receiver only gave me the Acquiring signal message. I got a new one (same model) and so far, no problems. I eventually will get a different brand Sirius radio and change my membership to that, or just use the other model in the car and keep the Sanyo model for home.