Sirius XM’s New Satellite Up And Running
While official word has not yet been released, we have the understanding that Sirius XM’s new satellite is up and operational. The new satellite was launched at the end of the second quarter and has been undergoing various tests prior to the company accepting delivery and pumping content through to subscribers.
This latest satellite was contracted by Sirius Satellite radio prior to the merger. Unlike the other satellites in the Sirius constellation, this satellite sits in a fixed geostationary orbit. This satellite is more powerful than the higher orbiting satellites utilized by Sirius in the past. Subscribers to the Sirius feed may notice changes in reception in areas where they were getting “drop-outs” in the past.
If you are a Sirius subscriber, we here at SiriusBuzz would be interested in knowing if anyone notices any differences in their reception of the Sirius signal.
Position – Long Sirius XM Radio
Anyone know if this satellite capable of sending signals to both XM and Sirius radios (for future services)?
It’s funny that you write about that, I just notice that signal was much better in the places where I had lots off drop signals. I was thinking that something is difrent, good news for subscriabers and investors.
Tyler
To your knowledge . . . are there ANY final installments of ANY kind to be paid once Sirius XM assumes complete control of the sat??
They would have a final payment upon acceptance of the satellite.
ok. fine . . I don’t disagree
now . . would you care to take a stab at how much that final “acceptance payment” might be based on how prior purchase structures were negotiated??
and . . might that payment already have been accounted-for/expensed at the time it may have been placed in an escrow account (or bonded for) but not yet “released” if in fact that is how the payments are structured . .
basically . . will any expensing of this final “acceptance payment” show up in the Q3 operating statements??
Usually when I pulled my car into the garage I would lose all service and the music would stop. I noticed maybe two days ago that I now have service in my garage which is pretty nice.
For the last 4 or 5 days, I have had no drop outs – in the house – which is unprecedented. I have always has at least several drop outs per day in the past – necessitating adjustment of the antenna each time. This has been a pain in the ass having to re-orientate the freaking antenna, so hopefully the signal will stay consistently available. I suspect the new satellite is responsible for the improvment.
Why is it that we don’t hear things like this from Sirius/XM? Is SiriusBuzz the PR dept?
driving along the West Side Highway at about 7 AM between 125thSt and 96th St the reception is bad
My home radio boom box is coming in better after putting it near the window. not sure if it is from the new satellite but it is clearer.
Richard
>>>This satellite is more powerful than the higher orbiting satellites utilized by Sirius in the past.
Had to think about that for a moment Tyler — but this is correct. While perigee is only about 24,000Km, the apogee is about 47,000Km.
When Siirus’ HEO satellites are at their perigee point, they are technically over the southern hemisphere; but when at the apogee point, it is over the northern hemisphere… so technically at that point (when it is in operation) it is well above the 5 XM and Sirius GEO satellites — which are constantly at about 35,000Km.
———
If it doesn’t bring service to Hawaii or additional areas then it’s a waste of time!!! You need more subscribers!
At work use the antenna extender though I would have a signal drop out after 1130 am to about 2:00pm . The windows at my office building are coated so that would also keep me from getting a good Terestrial reading.
Since about mid-last week I’ve been able to get the signal all day , no drop outs and another person in my office on the east side of the office was able to use the same setup and now gets a signal as well.
My signal in my office in Austin, TX is far better. I’m pleased. dwc
Nope. As soon as we pull our vechiles into the garage, our reception on our Sirius radio still goes dead. We still have difficult time getting any reception in our home.
Does this improve sound quality? I thought the sound quality was a bit better Monday evening (Aug.31st) on my drive home, less cutoff of high notes, more dynamic range and clearer background instruments/sounds. Overall better quality sound.
I was wonderng that as well. Maybe my ears are playing tricks on me, or I just WANT the sound quality to be improved.
Funny thing, I have actually noticed more service dropouts than usual within the last few weeks on my Iphone in Boston. It could be problems with the application.
Your iPhone is not using the satellite feed.
I noticed I’m still losing signal when I shut mine off?
I don’t have an iPhone. Maybe my reception would be better if iBought one?
I STILL GET POOR RECEPTION
I hope this brings in extra bandwith to bring back The BEAT and some other channels lost in the terrible merger.
My antenna sitting on my windowsill is picking up a MUCH better signal as of last week. I think it’s true – FM5 is online.
I live in socal los angeles riverside county no change!! Alot of tech for nothing. I’m really a little disappointed in this. I would tell new subs wait til the new satellite. You’ll see the difference. Nothing!! thank you
FM5 has been officially broadcasting since Aug 25th @ 2:04pm. Was supposed to be a PR release by the company by now, guess they forgot.
I have noticed ZERO drop outs, at my house, which is a first. Thank God. The drop outs drove me nuts. Now I’m sane. A friend of mine cancelled his subscription because of drop outs, so now I’ll tell him it might be safe to return.
YES! I have been waiting years for this. My office window faces west and I would get maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours of Sirius radio. As of this week, I get Sirius ALL DAY LONG with the antenna facing west. I am VERY PLEASED!
Sorry, I should have said the antenna is facing EAST, not WEST.
I have an OEM Sirius radio in my car. Reception in the Washington, DC area is terrible. I have noticed no improvement recently. My daughter also has a Sirius OEM radio in her car and she too has terrible reception. My car is new and I am in the trial period. There is no way that I would activate this radio. For comparison, I previously used an XM Inno and got solid reception almost everywhere I went.
That said, I am fairly sure that my experiences have little to do with the satellites. XM has this city well covered with repeaters.
btw, will someone please explain to me how this new satellite fits in with the previous ones? Did they go down to only one of the three previous satellites active at any given time?
thanks
A big improvement. I live in an apt facing SE and only had 6 hours of reception/day when the orbiting sat went far enough S that I could receive it. Starting last night around 10pm I’ve had steady reception for 24 hours.
I can tell the differnce in SW Ohio. I have a Sportster 4 that I plug into a Sirius “boombox” to listen indoors. I would normally have 2 out of 3 bars on my signal and would occasionally have to readjust the antenna. This week I have 3 bars at all times, no matter where in the house I am. Love it. My wife and I fall asleep at night listening to the radio, so it’s great not having to move the antenna around.
In Philadelphia, I noticed when I was on Vine Street going under an overpass, which is like a small, 1/4 mile tunnel, it did not drop the signal. I was waiting for it to drop but never did.
Then again, I can drive by a tree lines road, just on one side and it drops momentarily. So who knows.
I always had to move my antenna a couple times a day in the house to maintain reception. Now my signal strength meter shows almost full strength all the time, no matter what direction i point it. Sirus has done good.
In fact I got reception on my Stilletto in a part of my apartment that I never could before.
At first I was disappointed with the new satellite then I realized I needed to fix the direction of my antenna. I think the aim point might be a little farther north for those living in Indiana to get a max signal from FM-5. After a little work I found a great place for the antenna and now I’m getting very few blips in the signal.
Thank You Sirius! Been looking forward to this one for a while.
No diferrence for me outside anntenna west norhth west from boston..7 bars lit solid. Is there a difference in pointig the attenna ?
Wow…hooked up my old Audiovox boombox. My apartment has no line of sight to the “sweet spot” (over MN, supposedly) so I’ve always had to tape the antenna to a six-foot cardboard tube and hang it out my window with a counterweight to get reception.
Now I have the antenna sitting on my windowsill pointed roughly north (in Central PA) and NOT A SINGLE DROPOUT ALL DAY. Locked on two bars, with an occasional jump to three earlier this afternoon. Reminds me of when I lived in Pittsburgh, under the shadow of a terrestrial repeater! Finally I can listen to Sirius without hanging makeshift hardware six feet out my window! I’m thrilled!
If the new Sirius FM 5 is on line reception in southern Nevada
has degraded at my home. The antenna has a view from the north to the east. It seems a satellite is shut down and reception is lost for 1/2 hour our so around every 8 hrs.
My home blocks eastern and southern satellite reception.
In the past reception was never lost.
Rulon….
I have heard a similar complaint from someone in Colorado. I think what is happening is that Sirius XM is turning off the higly eliptical satellites earlier than they used to. Those in the west seem to have similar issues that you are experiencing.
Your best action would be to call the company, get a manager, and ask them to take note of your location. If enough people from a similar geographic region are having the issue, the company should take the steps needed.
Log in to Nasa Science Clik on digital radio and you will see the track.. make an icon so you may see where the satellite is whenever you want.. It will show the sattelites in a gigure 8 orbit while the XM is rotating the earth in a fixed straight motion orbiting the earth.Sirus ! is at the lower tip of South America and #2 and #3 are due north. It is 2:47 PM in Boston, signal reading is a solid 7 on an outside anntenna.
For 3 weeks now, I have been experiencing 60-90 minute dropouts occuring like clockwork at 1:04 PM and 9:10 PM Eastern time. My antenna orientation has been in the same position for 3 1/2 years and has operated flawlessly. I live in north Atlanta, GA. Is anyone experiencing the same problem? I have called Sirius Tech Support 5-6 times and cannot get a straight answer.Thanks.
I checked the times today on dropout in Mesquite Nevada. My home antenna has worked well for several years located on the north side of my home.Here is this mornings times:
9/09/2009 lost signal at 10:04 AM PT
9/09/2009 fade in and out starts at 10:15 AM PT
9/09/2009 lost signal around 10:20 PT
9/09/2009 full audio returns at 10:25 PT
I expect around 8 hours from 10:04 AM another dropout
event will take place as sirius 1 2 and 3 are south of the equator for 8 hours and north of the equator for 16 hours.
Perhaps others can post drop out times.
I have Sirius Conductor for my home and, with the antenna in the Window facing NW, usually got only 3 of 9 bars, and occasionally 6 bars, with drop outs at infrequent (yet inconvenient) intervals. I just moved the antenna slightly towards SW (towards Texas) and now get at least 6 bars and sometimes a full 9 bars, with no dropouts to report yet. I see that the new satellite is not only more powerful, but is able to direct even stronger signals to the major population centers on the East and West coast. Kudos to Sirius.
I used to get 3 bars on the antenna signal strength; now I consistently get at least 6, and sometimes more. My reception used to suck – now I have no complaints (at least for the past 2 1/2 weeks). This satellite has made a big difference… or… a miracle has occured!
BIG IMPROVEMENT. G-R-E-A-T
Since last week (9 Sep, 2009), there has been a major improvement in my home reception (using an indoor antenna) of Sirius Radio. I hope this is permanent.
—– KC
For the past year, I had attached my indoor antenna to a snow rake pole in order to get it up by a sky-lite window in the ceiling – about 12 feet high. Had to do this because I’m surrounded by woods, and reception at every window was impossible. Now, all I have to do is place the antenna on the floor in the same room; it doesn’t even have to be directly under the ceiling window – works practically anywhere in the room!
What a relief to not have to constantly redirect the antenna. I hope this isn’t a temporary situation, because the way it was…. was driving me nuts.
I had the dealer install Sirius in my new car in July, ’08. As a subscriber and as an investor I was extremely umhappy with the number of dropouts I was getting not only in expected areas around heavy foliage, but even in a “clear” area. I live in Nassau County, NY, a close in suburb of NYC. I wondered if XM was as bad as this, with their geosynchronous satellites.
I also thought that, although I hadn’t heard much chatter on it, that this had to be affecting the take-up rate.
Anyway new satellite, no dropouts. I wonder if this is a signal that when Sirius and XM finally integrate their delivery that XM’s satellite scheme will be the one chosen.