Howdy all. I'm sure most all Countryman's come with the same antenna, regardless if you get the XM, or higher end computer system (i did not, but have XM)......
Has anyone had issues with their XM while going through tree studded roads? Some roads around here, the reception IS HORRIBLE...come on, what is so hard for putting a better antenna in the car? Anyway.....point is, I will be working on a project that includes a high-gain S-Band antenna, and was wondering if there is a way, if I get an extra antenna, to put it on the car, and wire it into the stock system? Not sure if what is on the back is simply an antenna, or the common Amp+Antenna package all integrated into one. Yeah, I will have a large fin on my CM, but damnit, I will be able to listen to my music!!!

 

You're going to run into the same problem anytime you have an obstacle blocking line of sight to the satellite. You'd be better off running XM on your phone if you have cell coverage.

 

Nay mate, if the antenna has higher gain, that little bit that comes through the trees will be received, a bit better at least. In the end, it's just an experiment, AND would give my car one hell of a look I don't have XM coverage on my phone, nor a good data plan, NOR and Iphone. Normally I run techno off a USB drive when i drive, but my wife hates it, so we have to listen to normal music

 

This strikes me as an on-going degradation of service. Way back when I started with Sirius, I could park my car in a concrete bunker and still get signal. Over the years it's slowly gone down hill. And while I think alot of it is SiriusXM, it also has to do with equipment. My last car - a BMW got excellent reception - except in about a half-dozen spots on my regular routes. I knew when it was going to quit and for how long. The CM, on the other hand, has only one dead spot locally - a relatively short concrete over pass. I'll also float a theory that it has to do with the built in time delay. They've either shortened it or eliminated it, which would account for many dead spots. Whatever, here in my area, it's not bad enough to get upset with, yet. However, don't even get me started on HD radio.

 

Well that isn't good.....and sad. While I don't care about keeping XM, the wife loves it, and we might renew when the free subscription runs out. However, it bothers me as much as static in normal radio reception. It's also a lease, so I rather not take apart the antenna module unless I KNOW I can put it back together, and it's worth taking apart.
Hmmmmm...

 

All my references are for Sirius. We've got it in enough cars that we get a Xmas card from them, or should. What should be the worst is my 2004 Thunderbird where the antenna is in the trunk (fiberglass lid). Even on that one I've had no real aggrevation - until I reinstalled the luggage rack and erred on the alignment. I'll be correcting it eventually.

 

We have heavy tree coverage on certain roads in our area, and we do lose the signal occasionally, but it's tolerable. Far better than the trunk mount on our Mercedes SLK which has always been horrible. It was dealer installed and I think they somehow botched the antenna installation, although what's odd is that they replaced the receiver just before the car went out of warranty, and we had much better reception, but that lasted only a few weeks...I don't get it.