I recently had a JVC-KDHR1 (HD built in & XM ready) and XM tuner installed by Circuit City. Previously I had the XM Roady which I plugged into the cigarette lighter - it sounded terrible - I could be driving down NY Ave past the big satellite at "XM world HQ" and have bad static. Now as advertised my current configuration offers "CD quality" XM - but (a big but) that's when it's not cutting out. It's constantly cutting completely out and says "Loading" or "No Signal."

An interesting (and frustrating) thing I've noticed is if I keep in on one XM music channel things are mostly good (from the sense of not cutting out) but if (how dare me) I change channels, I get "loading" or "no signal" and a long period of silence (we're talking like 5 minutes not 5 seconds) before the coverage is restored. Does anybody know what's going on there? I tend to think it's not something the installer did incorrectly -- if something were connected wrong or loose there'd be no signal ever at all, I would think.

Any suggestions?

 

I have been using XM in multiple vehicles for years. Most of my usage has been via "FM" broadcast from my XM receiver to my car's radio. Most often this has been satisfactory for my "old" ears. Occasionally I do pick up some static and either switch XM channels or resort to CD or regular broadcast FM.

IMO the problems you are having may be your antenna placement. You said, "I could be driving down NY Ave past the big satellite at "XM world HQ" and have bad static." The XM broadcast to your receiver is up in the sky not in a building. Tall buildings, tunnels and mountainous terrain can affect your ability to receive clear signals.

I would go back to the Circuit City that did your install and explain the problem to them. Have them check and calibrate the antenna. They may have incorrectly placed or oriented it.

 

Sounds to me like you may have a defective head unit if it only cuts out when you change channels. If it cuts out all the time then your antenna is probably not mounted correctly.

The antenna needs to have a flat area of about 6 inches around all sides (if i remember correctly) and an unobscured view of the sky. Major metropolitan areas like DC also have a terrestrial broadcast to supplement the satellite signal so your XM coverage in DC should be very good.

Either way, I would say that you should go back to circuit city and ask them to fix it.

 

I bet they used an FM mod to connect you unit. The other thing it could be is the antenna could be in the wrong area. You want to make sure that it's on the rear end of the car on the outside too. That's key.

My experience with Circuit City is they're a bunch of monkeys. Usually they don't seem to know what they're doing. My suggestion would be take it to a Tweeter is one is around your area. Tell them that you want you XM hardwired into you radio. They'll add a direct FM mod that will connect straight to your cars factory antenna jack. It's the best and only way to do it and it's only about $25 or so.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

 

A bad JVC adapter (ordered from Crutchfield) was the culprit. Once that was switched out (twice!!) it's working (knock on wood/so far). They blamed JVC for the whole affair (that the head units & adapters don't communicate with each other optimally). Of course the question is if JVC equipment is that bad why do they sell it? To their credit, they did keep trying until everything was resolved to my satisfaction.