GM's Satellite radio signal quality

Rosco · 05-11-2016, 01:47 PM

I had a Toyota that I installed an aftermarket radio /nav system in 2008. I had Sirius/xm and antenna for it installed. I never had any dead spots with reception. Then I traded it in for a new 2012 Silverado...it had satellite radio as a standard feature. The reception along the same daily commute sucked. It would drop out constantly. Fast forward to 2015 got a new lease, another Silverado...fancy upgraded in dash nav/ touchscreen with satellite radio....same dead spots same shitty reception...wife picked up a 2015 Chevy Equinox same horrible reception, same dead spots. Was complaining to a guy in a vett yesterday that it was my only complaint on GM vehicles...he quickly agreed that he had the same issue with his 100k+ Z06!

And of course my new 2ss has the same problem. So basically an 8 year old aftermarket antenna is still better then GM's 2016 version.

What gives GM? Upgrade your shit! I purposely listen to mp3s to avoid a song dropping out around every other turn when trying to listen to satellite. If I had not used an aftermarket radio I'd think it was just the overall reception in my area. But it's not, it's just low quality antennas, and it sucks!

Rant over!

SS 1LE · 05-11-2016, 02:40 PM

Odd. My wife's 2015 Equinox (and her previous one) gets great SAT reception.

Algeron · 05-11-2016, 02:54 PM

I was constantly have reception issues with my 2011 Camaro vert. As I have not taken the 2016 on a road trip, I cannot compare the performance yet.

ssrs2lt · 05-11-2016, 02:58 PM

I agree at least on my 5th not great..sorry they didn't improve it for the 6th..

Drags1998 · 05-11-2016, 03:15 PM

Its the deal that GM has with XM radio, Ya Know, The 1 that says on the window sticker that you get 1 yr. and you REALLY only get 3 Mon. They have to CUT costs SOMEWHERE!!!!LOL!!!! I have a 15 Silverado and a 15 Equinox and travel from Maine to Vermont and Mass. all the time and have NEVER had a problem with XM reception, Maybe the problem is Your location?? If My new Camaro has the same problems as Yours, I'd be BITCHING TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cellsafemode · 05-11-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drags1998

Its the deal that GM has with XM radio, Ya Know, The 1 that says on the window sticker that you get 1 yr. and you REALLY only get 3 Mon. They have to CUT costs SOMEWHERE!!!!LOL!!!! I have a 15 Silverado and a 15 Equinox and travel from Maine to Vermont and Mass. all the time and have NEVER had a problem with XM reception, Maybe the problem is Your location?? If My new Camaro has the same problems as Yours, I'd be BITCHING TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd have preferred if they cut the costs by having sat radio optional.

Cellphone ? Check.
Various ways to connect to the car's audio? Check.

done. everything else is now bloat, just wasting money.

Modshack · 05-11-2016, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drags1998

Maybe the problem is Your location??

My '15 Colorado, Camaro, CX5 and Beetle have no reception issues...

mrbug111 · 05-11-2016, 03:43 PM

The reception in my 2016 2LT seems to be on par with my 2013 Chrysler 300C.

Hyper16 · 05-11-2016, 06:47 PM

I lose the signal in heavily wooded areas. Happened on my last 4 GM vehicles.

laynlo15 · 05-11-2016, 07:09 PM

2009 Silverado, 13 Malibu turbo, 16 Camaro and all other before that with 0 issues.

Rosco · 05-11-2016, 08:15 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drags1998 View Post
Maybe the problem is Your location??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

My '15 Colorado, Camaro, CX5 and Beetle have no reception issues...

I'd agree, if I did not own an aftermarket pioneer radio with Sat, from 08-12' driving the same commute with zero issues. EVERY GM stock unit on the same roads has multiple dead spots...aftermarket equipment no dead spots. Makes me think it can be fixed with an aftermarket antenna.

I'm glad to hear most have no issues. I know the area is somewhat to blame, but also Know equipment exists that performes fine in the same area.

Baldman · 05-12-2016, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosco

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drags1998 View Post
Maybe the problem is Your location??

I'd agree, if I did not own an aftermarket pioneer radio with Sat, from 08-12' driving the same commute with zero issues. EVERY GM stock unit on the same roads has multiple dead spots...aftermarket equipment no dead spots. Makes me think it can be fixed with an aftermarket antenna.

I'm glad to hear most have no issues. I know the area is somewhat to blame, but also Know equipment exists that performes fine in the same area.

Where was your antenna placed? Was it in the same location as your other vehicles?

Emoto · 05-12-2016, 01:50 PM

Roscoe, if you figure out a way to add an afermarket antenna or something that improves your reception, I hope you will post what you did, so that others might benefit.

I have never had a sat radio before, so I am ignorant about what to expect. I notice with mine that I will get a momentary dropout when I go under a highway overpass. Is that normal, or is that "bad"?

Modshack · 05-12-2016, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoto

I notice with mine that I will get a momentary dropout when I go under a highway overpass. Is that normal, or is that "bad"?

Perfectly normal. You need a clear view of the Satellite. The same thing will happen in heavily wooded or hilly areas as well as in the cities where there are tall buildings and the signal may be blocked.

The Satellite is in a geosyncronus orbit in the sky above northern Minnesota

05-11-2016, 01:47 PM	#1
Rosco Drives: 2016 2SS Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Carmel NY Posts: 12	GM's Satellite radio signal quality I had a Toyota that I installed an aftermarket radio /nav system in 2008. I had Sirius/xm and antenna for it installed. I never had any dead spots with reception. Then I traded it in for a new 2012 Silverado...it had satellite radio as a standard feature. The reception along the same daily commute sucked. It would drop out constantly. Fast forward to 2015 got a new lease, another Silverado...fancy upgraded in dash nav/ touchscreen with satellite radio....same dead spots same shitty reception...wife picked up a 2015 Chevy Equinox same horrible reception, same dead spots. Was complaining to a guy in a vett yesterday that it was my only complaint on GM vehicles...he quickly agreed that he had the same issue with his 100k+ Z06! And of course my new 2ss has the same problem. So basically an 8 year old aftermarket antenna is still better then GM's 2016 version. What gives GM? Upgrade your shit! I purposely listen to mp3s to avoid a song dropping out around every other turn when trying to listen to satellite. If I had not used an aftermarket radio I'd think it was just the overall reception in my area. But it's not, it's just low quality antennas, and it sucks! Rant over!

05-11-2016, 02:54 PM	#3
Algeron Drives: 2023 ZL1 Convertible, 1998 Z28 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 915 View My Garage	I was constantly have reception issues with my 2011 Camaro vert. As I have not taken the 2016 on a road trip, I cannot compare the performance yet. __________________ 2023 Rapid Blue ZL1 Convertible

05-11-2016, 02:58 PM	#4
ssrs2lt Drives: too many Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: oh va pa ma tx Posts: 3,046	I agree at least on my 5th not great..sorry they didn't improve it for the 6th.. __________________

05-11-2016, 06:47 PM	#9
Hyper16 A Heartbeat Away......... Drives: Not As Fast As I Would Like To Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,379	I lose the signal in heavily wooded areas. Happened on my last 4 GM vehicles. __________________ ,,,,,,, 2016 Hyper Blue Metallic 2SS \| A8 \| MRC \| Sunroof \| Nav \| Mishimoto Catch Can \| GM CAI \| Hurst Shifter \| Borla S-Type Exhaust \| Body Color Splash Guards \| 1LE Splitter \| GM Dark Tail Lights \| ZL1 Third Brake Light \| Custom Fuel Door, Badges & Bowties \| Oracle Side Markers \| Blacked Out Stuff \| Opti-Coat Pro+ The problem with this world is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be penalties for stupidity, but why don't we just take the warning labels off everything and let the problem solve itself.

05-11-2016, 07:09 PM	#10
laynlo15 Drives: 2022 Lt1 A10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: clark, mo Posts: 8,860	2009 Silverado, 13 Malibu turbo, 16 Camaro and all other before that with 0 issues. __________________ 2022 Lt1 6.2 A10, Maggie 2300, THPSI Port Inj/10 rib, Rotofab, E, Nickey, SCOL, Griptech, RC Bandits, Hoosiers/MT 9.80@142.96 1.44 60ft, 6.34@112 707/669 RWHP/TRQ. 16SS Maggie 2650 9.41@147 1.35 60ft, 5.99@119. 16 C7 A8 10.90@128 Bolt on stuff

05-11-2016, 02:40 PM	#2
SS 1LE マスタング = 遅い Drives: 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 7,061	Odd. My wife's 2015 Equinox (and her previous one) gets great SAT reception.

05-11-2016, 03:15 PM	#5
Drags1998 Drives: 15 SilveradoLTZ,162SSVert BlazerRS Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Minot,Maine Posts: 644	Its the deal that GM has with XM radio, Ya Know, The 1 that says on the window sticker that you get 1 yr. and you REALLY only get 3 Mon. They have to CUT costs SOMEWHERE!!!!LOL!!!! I have a 15 Silverado and a 15 Equinox and travel from Maine to Vermont and Mass. all the time and have NEVER had a problem with XM reception, Maybe the problem is Your location?? If My new Camaro has the same problems as Yours, I'd be BITCHING TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05-11-2016, 03:43 PM	#8
mrbug111 Drives: 2016 Turbo Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Virginia Posts: 31	The reception in my 2016 2LT seems to be on par with my 2013 Chrysler 300C.

05-12-2016, 01:50 PM	#13
Emoto Sure, why not? Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS, Jeep JKU Rubicon Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SE Mass Posts: 1,538	Roscoe, if you figure out a way to add an afermarket antenna or something that improves your reception, I hope you will post what you did, so that others might benefit. I have never had a sat radio before, so I am ignorant about what to expect. I notice with mine that I will get a momentary dropout when I go under a highway overpass. Is that normal, or is that "bad"? __________________ This is that witty and clever statement that makes you chuckle.

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