The Mini's satellite radio is my first experience with satellite radio. Is it common for just the slighest tree cover to cut the signal out? Is this a trait of the Mini's radio or is it typical for all sat. radios? Why don't they buffer the audio like a CD player? Would seem like a buffer would really help out when driving through areas of trees.

 

The problem with a "buffer" is that there'd be no way for it to catch up, because the signal is continuously streaming, one-way, from the satellite (i.e. no way for the receiver to request that data be re-sent, or sent faster... like a PC can). I believe that some receivers do have a small buffer, but once it runs out, your sound will cut out until it can fill the buffer again... so all the buffer really does is give you fewer cutouts, but longer ones when it does happen. At least that's my understanding on it, I'm not an expert.

All satellite radio systems will have this problem, it's not unique to MINI or SIRIUS.

However, in larger metropolitan areas, with lots of things blocking the signal, the satellite providers sometimes install "repeaters" at ground level, that will bounce the signal sideways. These allows you to keep receiving the signal even when under a tree, bridge, etc. That's why you'll find that some areas will do it and others won't.

 

I have only had my new MINI for a few days. I got the factory installed SIRIUS because in my old car I had a portable SIRIUS and really enjoyed it. All Satellite radios will have some cut-outs, but so far I have a lot less of them in my MINI. It used to happed whenever I went under a bridge, overpass, etc. and now it doesn't.

 

Just hooked my Sportster 5 and utilized the antenna pre-installed in the mini. Reception is at 3 bars constantly. First time Sirius here but so far so good.

 

XM has more terrestrial repeaters - ergo less dropouts.

XM Radio has two satellites that are in geostationary orbit located above the equator. Geostationary orbit means that the satellites are moving at the same speed as the earth turns, making it able to be in the same position as the earth at all times.

 

I understand how the satellites work. I just thought it was odd just a few tree branches can cause it to drop out for split seconds.

Most handheld GPS' with current chipsets can get locks inside buildings and in other places with no view of the sky. A simple tree branch while traveling at 60 mph and Sirius cuts out? Come on. Not even close to full loss of the sky view for just a split second. Some buffering would be a plus. If you live in wide open spaces it's consistent. Not ideal for a car that's for sure, not for the roads I like. I can see an advantage if there are no radio stations in the area.

 

My R56 factory Sirius does the same thing, as did the XM/Blitzsafe setup I had in my '03. My wife's Delphi XM does it too. It appears to be south or south-west tree cover that does it (from my area), and up to an elevation of about 70 degrees or so. I'm still not 100% positive on this because there have been a few occasions where a dropout has occured with no southerly tree cover. Being an engineer, I've turned it into a puzzle that I WILL crack.

Personally, it's a minor annoyance, not quite as bad as FM fade or AM drift and noise.

 

My 2003 Cooper at the factory HK satellite radio and I never had the cut-out experience... Well unless I was stopped directly under an overpass... But never driving under one or bridges or trees. I have a 2007 Cooper now and went the aftermarket route with it's own antenna. Once again, never a cut out issue. Maybe we just have plenty of clear skies here in Arizona but I've been extremely happy for years now.

 

Sirius seems to cut out a LOT more than either the XM I had in my previous Mini or the XM I have in my Land Crusher. IMHO, it seems to be that the Mini radio has no (or little) buffering.

 

I took an all day drive last weekend, about 6-7 hours. Used the satellite radio the whole time. It did ok and only cut out a few times. I think I've just gotten use to how it works and doesn't work. Doesn't bother me much.

 

I had a portable in my Honda that my son now drives and it was awful from the start. Took it back to Circuit City 2 or 3 times and there always seemed like there was an excuse. The polar ice caps melting, etc. I would go a certain direction on the freeway and it would cut out for minutes. This was obviously a hardware/connection problem from the start. When I got my MCS a little over a year ago, Sirius was not out yet. I have since put a portable stalleto 2 in and it is fantastic compared to my other radio. It has a separate antenna mounted just behind the car antenna. It goes out briefly under bridges and is the nature of the technology. A few trees up above seems like something is wrong if everything is working like it should. Good luck.

 

You must not be driving in as hilly and tree-canopied an area as I do.

 

Hopper is exactly right. You learn to live and adjust to its minor short comings. The payoff is well worth it. Just remember, Howard Stern is gone in 2.5 years.

 

Went up and over 3 or 4 mountain ranges but no real tree canopies. Unless you're in the open, satellite radio isn't too good.

I don't really understand why Howard would make a difference. You just don't tune to stations you don't like.

 

He may be referring to bandwidth. Howard 100 & 101 get a lot more bandwidth than other stations. When XM started out, they had about 100 channels. Over the years, they've added more and more channels while sacrificing sound quality on other channels. Sirius is basically the same way.

 

I think that a characteristic of Sirius in general and not just the radio in the MINI Some XM radios I've had in the past seem to have a 4 second (or so) buffer.

 

I've got Sirius installed in my new 09 MINI JCW - I do know that it seems to take a little longer than my XM radio would to recover from dropouts. Satellites are one factor as the coverage or the Sirius terrestial repeaters.

MINI relevant fact - channel 11 contains BBC Radio 1!

 

I get it. That's why some channels sound better than others. Howard should be on the super compressed channels.

 

Hey! Congrats on your new JCW!

 

Can you use the Out Motoring stubby antenna with Sirius, and do you think it would make reception worse?

 

Yes, I'm sure you can and I'm sure it won't affect Sirius reception. The Sirius antenna is actually the base that the whip antenna screws into. The whip or stubby antenna will be used for AM/FM, and not for Satellite.