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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 F10 Technical Topics Navigation, iDrive, Audio, Video, Bluetooth, Phone, Coding satellite radio reception
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      08-01-2010, 06:10 PM   #1
ilsb
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satellite radio reception

Does anyone else have issues with frequent "acquiring signal" with Sirius sat radio. Sirius says it is a BMW issue and dealer is not aware of any issues. Only started in last 2 days.

Last edited by ilsb; 08-02-2010 at 04:55 PM..
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      08-02-2010, 04:55 PM   #2
MikeTerp
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Nope, mine works fine. Now, there are occasions when I am going under overpasses or underneath lots of trees where the radio will lose lock on the satellite, but for the vast majority of times I have no problems. If this continues, have your dealer check the leads from the sharkfin antenna to your radio as part of the diagnosis. You are not so far north that you should have any significant issues with low elevation angles to the satellite over the equator.
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      08-02-2010, 05:33 PM   #3
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I haven't had any unexpected issues with my Sirius radio reception. Sure, driving underneath a bridge will cause it to drop signal. But other than that, it has been solid. There were supposedly issues on the 3-series models during the last year that were causing problems with Sirius. Maybe someone is confused about that. I haven't heard about any issues on the 5-series so far, and mine has been fine.
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      08-02-2010, 08:04 PM   #4
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Mine is solid as well no dropped signals except underpasses etc
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      08-03-2010, 07:03 AM   #5
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Thanks for the comments. Looks like I could have an issue with the car. Was fine for the first week then all of a sudden am getting frequent (every 10 seconds) acquiring signal message. Going to have dealer check it out.
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      08-03-2010, 10:30 AM   #6
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I get very good reception about 98% of the time.Occasionally,when driving on the Mass Pike west of Worcester (for example) I get brief dropoffs when going past those rock "cliffs" you see.I've always assumed that it was because the "cliffs" block the antenna's view of the southern horizon which is essential for satellite radio.Anything that blocks that view...hills/mountains/cliffs,tall buildings,etc...can cause dropoffs.
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      08-03-2010, 10:57 AM   #7
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Have not had any trouble with mine
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      08-03-2010, 07:27 PM   #8
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No problems for me.
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      08-04-2010, 08:57 PM   #9
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Hey ilsb,
Greetings from FH. I mostly listen to library on my iPhone with the connector, but when my wife took my car with my daughters they were all over the radio function... They told me that I have a stupid car that can't get a good radio signal... they didn't really get that satellite was satellite, since we never had that before.
I have tried it over past week and have gotten alot of dead moments ( just a brief pause, not "Acquiring signal"), but you know that there has been an increase in cloud cover recently...
I have always steered away from satellite anything, for fear of losing signal during clouds or weather. There are some "hills" in Feeding Hills so I am not sure if they impede the signal...
Ill be interested in what NC tells you, as I would bring it in if turns out to be anything substantive...
SD
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      08-05-2010, 08:34 PM   #10
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Hi SD535,

Sat radio was working fine for first week. Last Saturday noticed lots of drop out around O'Briens corner and Sarat Ford area down to Agawam center. Never got this before. I am taking it in to Gingras in WS next week to have them check it. It appears to be a loss of sensitivity. In my 08 never got the drop outs I am getting now.Could be a Satellite thing but I doubt it. Let me know if you get drop outs from Sarat Ford to center of Agawam next time you take that path please. I am curious as to how your sat radio performs in that area. You can email me at ils@ilsmail.com if you wish.

Thanks
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      08-05-2010, 09:13 PM   #11
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Seems a couple of folks in Mass are having issues. Sirius uses ground based repeaters to avoid drop out in major population areas. Perhaps they are having some issue with that system in the area. I get the very occasional drop out in my 2008 550 but have not been listening to Sirius recently. I'll try it out tomorrow and see if there are any issues.
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      08-09-2010, 12:11 PM   #12
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Well, magically my Sat radio is now perfect. Obviously, Sirius had a problem that they were not admitting. After one week I went from frequent acquiring signal to NO drop outs at all starting Saturday. They obviously fixed their problem (or maybe they launched a bunch of satellites).
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      08-09-2010, 08:57 PM   #13
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I also read about intense magnetic storms last week due to solar activity. (There was a chance of seeing an aurora as far south as the northern US states.) I *think* that also affects satellites (hence problems with both satellite radio as well as GPS).
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