Has anyone thought of or tried using two/three shark-fin antenna(s) to improve Sirius/xm reception?

Other than looking silly, it doesn't make much sense because the Sirius/XM antenna is in the base, not the stubby/whip antenna for radio. A sharkfin serves to connect to the stubby/whip part and merely sits over the existing Sirius/XM antenna base.

 

I am planning to just swap it to a standard XM antenna as that has reported to have good results. The way it works now is just kinda embarrassing

 

First thought when reading this is that it would look like a French tickler (with several shark fins)...........

 

Duh???.... NO! It's just don't work that way!
XM down link frequencies are 2320.0-2332.5 MHz. there is also a terrestrial repeater in around the 70 most major cities that also retransmit on "S" 12.5 MHz Band! What you need is a really good antenna. You are in New York so since the satellites are at 115° WL & 85° WL the states have good coverage, you being more north of the equator will receive slightly less signal than I do living in Los Angeles, a bit further south, but closer to the Clark Belt!
There are several good aftermarket antennas. I have one from Sony. It's about the size of a small 2" puck with a magnetic bottom. Most XM / Sirius Antennas have built in down converters built in so if the antennas electronics are toast, time for a new antenna. Before you tear the car apart, pop the new antenna on the roof, and just plug it in. See how well it works first, then tear your car apart. you want to mount it externally. If the Toyota factory XM antenna is what you are replacing, you may just need a new OEM antenna. You can put it in yourself, but it is a P.I A.!! I think they located the XM unit in the same place as in the Gen II, under the rear passenger seat! Note that this pod also contains the cars FM antenna as well. Gen II had a separate XM antenna! I think Gen III's are all in one unit!

Good Luck, let us know what you come up with!

 

I'll just wait for laser com to come to XM Serius, then i'll upgrade.

DBCassidy

 

XM is same unit in both Gens! Theory of operation is the same for both Gens. You have an antenna / down converter issue. It adds up to it's gonna cost you.

Wait a minute, you run a Cellphone booster system in your car?
Try turning it off and see what effect it has on XM.That could overload the front end of the XM receiver! That could be part of the problem!
If you out in the hills of PA, you should have a good view of the eastern satellite! It sounds like you are only receiving the terrestrial link, and at the frequencies they run, they are not meant to cover all the countryside, just the cities that need it.
You got a friend with a Prius and XM that wants to make a road trip, see how his car reacts, if it works fine, you need to spend some money!

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