2010 Prius - Satellite Radio Signal Weak

[macdonald]

Originally Posted by SCJoe

Start at the beginning. Make sure there's a signal present for your car to pick up.

I'd start by checking XM user forums or local forums/blogs/web sites, or asking around in town to see if other people in your area are having the same problem.

You mentioned your friend with a Hyundai has the same XM problem -- maybe it's just a geographic thing and it happens to everyone in the area.

I bought my Prius in late August. One day soon after the purchase, my XM radio would not produce any sound but the text was present on the screen. I turned the volume up but still could not get sound. Then the next time I drove it, it worked fine. Since then, I've had no problems with the radio. The problem occurred only that one time. Trees were not an issue, although I sometimes lose the signal briefly when passing some trees near the highway.

[Bobsprius]

Macdonald,

I have not yet had it happen to my New Prius but did have the same situation happen in my Honda Civic so what I found was to turn off the radio and wait a few seconds and turn back on and it was resolved. Waiting did nothing to get the signal back. Hope that helps.

[cychosis]

Just to add more data. On a recent trip from Portland, OR to the Redwoods in CA, the XM reception was quite frankly awful. On highway 199, which granted has a lot of trees, it was completely unusable.

But even on at least a dozen short stretches of I-5 between Grants Pass and Eugene, I got nothing but static.

I love the service, and really would be interested in purchasing when my trial is up -- but reception really needs addressing (whether it's the antenna, the buffer, or both).

Guess I'll contact Toyota (not the dealer) about it.

Ron

[georgekessel]

In Phoenix with a Prius III I've never had an issue yet with sat reception.

However in Vancouver with a Prius III it's really awful, cuts out every time you drive past tall buildings - which is a lot.

We have another car with built-in Sirius in Vancouver that never cuts out in normal driving.

[Salsawonder]

I was out in the Arizona desert and did not have any trouble with mine. Sounds like it is easily blocked by buildings and mountains. It ok for the most part but if they do end up wanting more than I paid for this 1st subscription I would not bother. INvest in iPod and downloads

[raidbuck]

Originally Posted by Salsawonder

I was out in the Arizona desert and did not have any trouble with mine. Sounds like it is easily blocked by buildings and mountains. It ok for the most part but if they do end up wanting more than I paid for this 1st subscription I would not bother. INvest in iPod and downloads

I don't agree with "invest in iPODs and downloads". While I know you are thinking about music, there is so much more from satellite radio than commercial-free music. Massive sports (I have "best of Sirius" on a lifetime subscription), news, weather, traffic etc. My signal does go out for a second or two in a few spots, it is not a problem, just an issue with the technology, which is only 8 years old.

Rich N.

[wvgasguy]

Originally Posted by raidbuck

I don't agree with "invest in iPODs and downloads". While I know you are thinking about music, there is so much more from satellite radio than commercial-free music. Massive sports (I have "best of Sirius" on a lifetime subscription), news, weather, traffic etc. My signal does go out for a second or two in a few spots, it is not a problem, just an issue with the technology, which is only 8 years old.

Rich N.

Depends on what you listen to. My XM cut out in a lot of places where the Sirus does not. I could live with that. But the difference in quality of the XM compared to my iPod Touch with bluetooth is not even worty of comparison. The XM in my area didn't sound any better than a 1960's AM portable radio. However the bluetooth in my iPod is incredible (or at least as good as I'll ever get out of the Prius radio, which is itself a marginally acceptable unit). I decided to invest in purchasing in music I can take with me when I travel rather than putting all that money into a car specific unit.

[bkilian]

Originally Posted by georgekessel

In Phoenix with a Prius III I've never had an issue yet with sat reception.

However in Vancouver with a Prius III it's really awful, cuts out every time you drive past tall buildings - which is a lot.

We have another car with built-in Sirius in Vancouver that never cuts out in normal driving.

Well, that's due to the way Sirius and XM place their satellites.

XM satellites are placed in geosynchronous orbit, 22000 miles above the equator, this means that for areas like Seattle (where I live) and Vancouver, anything higher than about 30 degrees south of you will cut you off from their satellite. Tall trees, buildings etc.

Sirius, on the other hand, uses an elliptical orbit that passes over the 45 degree mark, which for Seattle and Vancouver would be essentially overhead. So for Sirius, bridges will cut off signal, and also the signal will vary depending on the current position of the satellites.

For higher latitudes, Sirius is a better option. Nearer the equator, XM is the better option.

This is the main reason I'm not subscribing to the XM in my Prius. I've had Sirius for years, and the difference in reception is unbearable.

[georgekessel]

That begs the question - how to convert the Prius from XM to Sirius while keeping all functions within the standard console?

[etobia]

Originally Posted by Paradox

I had Sirius installed in my 2006 (I did it myself, it was a plug and play radio). All it had was one of the new thin magnetic round antennas mounted on the roof. That antenna pulled in great signals compared to my 2010 built in antenna... I would only lose the signal on my 2006 when in a tunnel or in traffic and under an overpass. Now my 2010 cuts out if I'm just under a road of trees! I wonder if this is something that may have a simple fix down the road... I want to keep the XM but if I cannot get the $77 a year deal I don't know if I will.

I KEEP TRYING TO TELL TOYOTA THAT THERE IS A SIGNAL/ANTENNA PROBLEM WITH MY GEN III (MOONROOF MODEL) PRIUS. I HAD A $30 PORTABLE SIRIUS RADIO THAT I JUST STUCK ON MY ROOF AND PUT THE RADIO INSIDE MY CAR AND I HAD EXCEPTION RECEPTION! now i get: HIT A ONE WHEEL BUMP WITH A CLEAR SKY AND LOSE RECEPTION; STRANGE INTERMITTENT SIGNALS: (SOME PLACES YOU WOULD EXPECT TO GET SIGNAL AND SUDDENLY DON'T GET IT...OR IT COMES ON...GOES OFF.... COMES ON and this is when you are STANDING AT A STREET LIGHT!!)

I have had XM reset my signal. I have had Toyota check it (drove it around the parking lot and said the signal was great) They will not do a deep investigation of the issue without seeing some kind of signal, but I don't know what they mean. they just pass it off to be an XM problem. PLEASE HELP ME!!!