I've had so much trouble recently with poor reception that I need to do something. Has anyone else experienced something similar? If so, any fixes?

you may just have a bad antenna.

what car? is it an OEM install or aftermarket?

2007 Tahoe OEM

I've got a 2106 F150 - the satellite reception is not good. Haven't had the chance to take it in and get it looked at yet. Weird as it seems to suck worse in/around Houston. Cuts in/out on the I-10/BWY 8 (West) overpasses among other places. Don't seem to have the issues on the "highway" - road trips outside of Houston.

Compared to my wife's 2010 Edge, my daughter's 2012 Escape and my previous 2007 F150 the reception on the 2016 is not near as good as the others. Cuts in and out quite a bit...

Wondering if the cell phone towers could be having an impact? One place that seems to affect the satellite on all the vehicles is on 290 in/around Jones Road. There is a bigass cell tower on the west side of 290.... curious if that could cause some of the reception issues?.....

OK.... It's lunch and I had some time to search the interweb.... Found one thing in general and another specific to Ford F150/Expedition/Navigator

There were several comments about T-Mobile ugrading their cell towers - several comments from cellular/radio folks that the new frequency has an impact on the reception. Sounds like this will only get worse over time. And seems to follow my pattern of losing signal in "open sky" as well as near visible cell towers.

On the Ford specific - issue there is a new satellite antenna that will fix the reception problem - here's something I grabbed off one of the forums...

SSM 46016 - Effective Aug 19 2016

2016-2017 Expedition And Navigator Built On Or Before 08/12/2016 And 2016 F150 Built On Or Before 08/09/2016 - Sirius Satellite Radio - Audio Cuts Out/No Signal


Some 2016-2017 Expedition and Navigator vehicles built on or before 08/12/2016 and 2016 F150 vehicles built on or before 08/09/2016 equipped with Sirius satellite radio may exhibit an intermittent concern where the audio cuts out and the radio displays a No Signal message while driving in open sky conditions in certain locations in your area. This may be due to interference with cellular phone tower signals. If a vehicle displays this condition near cellular phone towers, replace the audio unit antenna with part number GL1Z-10E893-AC on Expedition/Navigator and HL3Z-10E893-AA for F150.

It's been cutting out a lot for me in 2 different vehicles lately on 635 from Lakewood to las Colinas, which isn't too far from their hq.

I had problems with mine cutting out in Houston a few weeks ago, and it was cutting out in San Antonio this weekend. I use my Sirius intermittently and have not yet noticed a trend. Thanks for the tip.

I commute from Katy to Memorial City and I would also lose signal at the BW interchange and from Highway 6 to Barker Cypress everyday. I called XM and they said it was because my antenna was old (2008 M35) and offered to send me a free radio. Instead I added the internet radio to my wife's account and for $4 a month it works just fine. Best part is I just stream the on demand stuff and don't have to listen to commercials.

. . . ditto on the '07 Tahoe OEM. We have same vehicle, same issue.

bevokilla said:

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I commute from Katy to Memorial City and I would also lose signal at the BW interchange and from Highway 6 to Barker Cypress everyday. I called XM and they said it was because my antenna was old (2008 M35) and offered to send me a free radio. Instead I added the internet radio to my wife's account and for $4 a month it works just fine. Best part is I just stream the on demand stuff and don't have to listen to commercials.

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Lots of people seem to be having reception issues in that area of Houston, myself included. My signal cuts out at the same place every day...coming over the Ad***** reservoir dam southbound on Eldridge and is sketchy until I get a quarter mile or so down the westbound I-10 feeder. It started about the time the new building was finished on the south side of I-10 at Eldridge and I've wondered since then if the positioning of the buildings at that intersection cause the signal to get reflected around and distorted. It's interesting to see others have the same issues in that area.

I've been getting bad reception in multiple places around BCS lately as well.

Its gotta be cell/other wireless related. I have the same problem in both vehicles in several identical spots around Boerne every time.

So is it worth trying to fix? Sounds like there isn't much we can do

I've found the problem really bad in BCS. Mostly near highway 6.

It's very pronouncd in my 2015 Chevy Silverado.

My wife's 2013 Explorer doesn't ever seem to lose signal.

Yeah it's especially bad between university and briarcrest near 6 and then where 2818/60 cross

Watchful Ag said:

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So is it worth trying to fix? Sounds like there isn't much we can do

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If it's really from the cell phone interference then the older hardware doesn't have a chance. It needs higher isolation between frequencies. Satellite signals are a whisper compared to the strength of cell traffic. Maybe the newer hardware has a better band pass filter

So what's the best plan of action ... Go to the nearest Chevy dealership and get them to replace it?

If you mean the entire car, then yes.

robertf03 said:

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If you mean the entire car, then yes.

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Let me guess ... Jeep brah?

Whatever has a newer design radio with better filter. I wouldn't buy either brands, but whatever

My Sirius was out of service for several days a few months ago. Called the Reset hotline at 855 698 3373. Works since then.

Funny you mention this. I used to have it and had very few problems but finally got rid of it because I was tired of calling every year threatening to cancel just to get the best deal. However, they are doing the free trial until the 29th that just started day or so ago. I was listening to it today and had it cutout many times in different areas. Lasted just a second or two but had static much more than in past. Not sure if they have done something to the signal or more interference from towers etc? Quality does not sound as good either now. That could be I just don't remember how it sounded back then or they have changed something.

It's always sounded unbearably sheetty to me. In any vehicle. Way overcompressed.