05-27-2020, 09:15 PM | #1 |
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Frequent Satellite Radio Drops...
Anybody else having frequent drops in Satellite Radio Reception? I’ve found mind to be awful. Hoping there is a fix….hearing every other word of Howard Stern just isn't enough...
Found this on a very old post from ‘redhot47fla’ “Separately, I am a fan of (and former consultant for) XM satellite radio. (To me, it always will be just "XM".) Anyway, I am noticing many more dropouts in sat-radio reception in the M850 than I've ever experienced with any other BMW model or any other car from any manufacturer. I stumbled upon a schematic that seemed to show that the sat-radio antenna is buried in the M850's rear driver-side fender, since there is no shark fin antenna on this model. That almost certainly is the source of the reception issue. Anyone else noticing the same?” |
05-28-2020, 07:01 AM | #2 |
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Yep, that’s me. I traded that M850 coupe for my current M850 ‘vert and the same issue occurs.
It’s not a constant problem for me - sat-radio reception is fine most of the time here. But I find that the XM antenna - buried inside the M850 - is less able to overcome overhanging trees and similar obstructions than it is on other vehicles. I imagine that the problem occurs much more frequently for you in the New York metropolitan area than for me in a semi-rural area. Given the various challenges of producing satellite radio transmission and reception - and the tiny margins of error - I can’t imagine what they were thinking when they decided on that placement of the antenna.
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05-28-2020, 07:25 AM | #3 | |
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05-28-2020, 07:30 AM | #4 |
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I'm at a loss. There may be a way to amplify the antenna signal - perhaps a top-notch auto sound tech can install something between the antenna and the head unit?
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05-28-2020, 08:15 AM | #5 | |
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05-28-2020, 09:48 AM | #6 |
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FWIW, in the olden days of satellite radio (the early-mid 2000s), signal amplifiers did exist, though generally for home units. If you find someone who can do this for you, please let me know. Many thanks.
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05-28-2020, 09:49 AM | #7 |
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05-28-2020, 01:54 PM | #8 |
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Actually, that's a good idea. There might be a diminution of sound quality, but even at its best, sat-radio isn't famous for its bit rate and sound quality. That said, acquiring the stream signal should resolve the dropout issue.
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05-29-2020, 11:14 AM | #9 |
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Is it the shark fin.
I also have the same issue. Additionally my connected drive does not.
I can see the antenna on the rear windshield. Was the shark fin also an XM antenna? I always blame my dropped calls on apple and verizon. |
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05-29-2020, 12:14 PM | #10 | |
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The now-common shark fin antenna on many vehicles are almost universally related to satellite radio reception, though I suppose that some may also have some cell phone or embedded OEM utility. I’m unaware of how the 850 GC acquires its satellite signal, but no antennae are embedded to my knowledge in the rear windshields of the 850 coupe or, obviously, the convertible.
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05-30-2020, 10:07 PM | #11 | |
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In other words I do not think an amplifier within the car to "boost" the signal from the antenna will help as at least in my experience the primary dropouts I get is when in my garage. For example if I park the car with SiriusXM as the source it's all fine as I press the start button to kill the engine, exit the car, etc. However, the next time I start up the car as I wait for the first kick down of the cold start RPMs (there are actually two but I'll never engage reverse until at least the first one is in play) I'll get drop outs from the SiriusXM station. Sad to hear that it is actually dropping out from trees as that just means a piss poor antenna location design. The shark fin on my wife's X5 worked much better in all situations (including inside the garage) prior to dropping the SiriusXM subscription for it (she only listens to a local FM station). |
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05-30-2020, 10:08 PM | #12 |
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Pretty sure the antenna in the rear windshield is AM/FM only.
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05-30-2020, 10:15 PM | #13 |
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They all include GPS as well now and at least on my wife's X5 it has a cellular antenna as well so if you hook up an iOS phone to a specific adapter within the console you get the outside antenna for your cellular service. However, since we are both Android based it is useless.
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05-30-2020, 10:29 PM | #14 |
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I assume the rear window grid fabric includes an AM/FM antenna as on my outgoing Lexus the antenna fabric in the rear window served dual purpose along with heated defrost. Perhaps the M850i's fabric is defrost only.
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05-31-2020, 07:26 AM | #15 | |
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An antenna amplifier theoretically could help you maintain a signal in more marginal conditions, such as passing under a row of trees (the dropout problem intensifies if the leaves are wet) or as you're driving through a canyon of tall buildings. In the end, the positioning of the sat-radio antenna inside the M850 and apparently buried near the rear driver-side wheel certainly seems like a questionable choice.
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05-31-2020, 08:58 PM | #16 | |
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06-01-2020, 08:33 AM | #17 |
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I think it's been said, but I listen to SirusXM in the cars. I've never noticed any problems with drop out or drop off signal in my 2019 M850i. However, I live near DC and only drive less than 2000 miles on the convertible.
That said, and I think you mentioned it, but you can always use Apple car play to stream it to the car. Either the $10/mo ATT Wi-Fi or with your phone's cell service. |
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06-19-2021, 03:25 PM | #18 | |
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06-19-2021, 07:46 PM | #19 |
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I don’t really use Sirius/XM, but you can DL the app, then use CarPlay. Using phone data should be more reliable.
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06-19-2021, 08:39 PM | #20 |
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Very true and I've done the same but via Android Auto. Both Car Play and Android Auto use the internal WiFi for the streaming to give the greatest bandwidth possible vs Bluetooth but from my experience the "app" is more compressed (it's using data aka the Internet) than the true direct Sirius/XM to a radio receiver via Satellite. Either way to your point the mobile app will not have the drop outs but the audio quality does take a bit of a hit. For most that won't matter but for audiophiles like myself it is noticeable.
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06-19-2021, 08:41 PM | #21 | |
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06-19-2021, 09:05 PM | #22 | |
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