Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

Jim B

Jan 15, 2007, 7:51 AM

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XM Radio in Mexico

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Can one receive XM Satellite radio in Mexico(Puerto Vallarta)? If not any idea how far south before the signal disappears.

juditha16

Jan 15, 2007, 8:43 AM

Post #2 of 15 (7712 views)

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Re: [Jim B] XM Radio in Mexico

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We receive a clear signal on our XM radio here in Morelia.
Judith

Brian

Jan 15, 2007, 8:50 AM

Post #3 of 15 (7709 views)

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Re: [Jim B] XM Radio in Mexico

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If you plan to use an XMradio unit in your car, it is very important that you have the installer locate the antenna on the roof or trunk rather than the dashboard of the auto. Some guys at BestBuy and CircuitCity cut corners on the installation. Dash mounting is OK in Mid-USA but once further south of the border, the roof of the car can block the signal at certain angles making reception subject to occasional dropouts. I have gotten excellent reception in San Miguel de Allende with both the car and boombox antennae. Only dropouts were occassional in downtown when tall buildings blocked the signal.

saludos
Brian

(This post was edited by Brian on Jan 15, 2007, 11:34 AM)

Jim B

Jan 15, 2007, 10:05 AM

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Re: [Brian] XM Radio in Mexico

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I do have it roof mounted.

johanson / Moderator

Jan 15, 2007, 10:06 AM

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Re: [Jim B] XM Radio in Mexico

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Although the XM satellites are located above the equator and the closer one gets to the equator the closer he is to the satellites, their signal footprint is focused over the US and the farther south you go, the weaker the signal. Now there are high gain and lower gain antennas. Those little magnetic antennas about the size of a quarter that stick to the top of the roof are great, up north but by the time you reach Guadalajara for example, they are kind of iffy.

Several of my friends and I have had to convert to the larger antennas of the type found on the boom boxes. With this larger antenna, I get two to three signal bars of strength under ideal conditions.

sfmacaws

Jan 15, 2007, 10:35 AM

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Re: [johanson] XM Radio in Mexico

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That's odd Pete. We have one of those 2"square magnetic antennas on the jeep and another on the RV and we get good xm signal here in the Yucatan. In fact, we got a good signal in Guatemala too. We have driven the whole Republic and the signal fades sometimes in the mountains when something is blocking you but there is only one area that we consistently have signal fade in and out. That area is from Villahermosa to Chetumal. It works in spots through there but it skips a lot. Not sure why as it is flat as a pancake and there are no mountains.

Our XM worked on the west coast as well and it worked in GDL and Ajijic. My experience with sats that are centered over the caribbean - most of them aimed for the US are - is that the signal fades more the farther west you go not necessarily the farther south. That said, our friends in the Baja have no problem with XM.

If you have a problem in PV, I'd look for a large building or something to the south/east for the answer.

In the US, XM signals are boosted by ground towers which helps a lot in cities with dense, high buildings. They don't have that in Mexico so you will find more instances when something physical will block your signal. Not usually a problem in a car but could be one in a house.

We originally bought a marine xm antenna to use in our condo but realized we didn't need it and gave it to our friends for their boat. Those are generally larger and better sealed so should get better reception, if you have a problem I'd suggest getting one.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

johanson / Moderator

Jan 15, 2007, 11:37 AM

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Re: [sfmacaws] XM Radio in Mexico

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I think we are saying the same thing, Jonna. The latest magnetic antenna I have seen for the top of the car is a lot less than 2 inches by 2 inches. It is, as I recollect somewhere between the size of a quarter and a fifty cent piece. And I know three folks, myself included that have had problems around Guad and Ajijic with this small antenna

Yet some folks I talk to say they don't have troubles. Could it be that there are two sizes of magnetic antennas for the top of the car? My boombox antenna which is maybe 2.5 by 2.5 inches works just great.

The measurements I am giving here are approximate, because I am in sunny Seattle for a few more days and my XM equipment is in Mexico. Oh, it may be sunny here, which doesn't happen all that often, but it is only 33 F out and cold as heck, so I can hardly wait to get back

Jim B

Jan 15, 2007, 12:05 PM

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Re: [johanson] XM Radio in Mexico

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Part of the reason I posted this was I'm going to be in Puerto Vallarta for two months and I'm thinking of buying the Belkin Boombox that I can drop my Roady2 XM into for XM satellite reception. I didn't want to buy one unless I could receive the satellite signal. I believe the Belkin comes with a build in antenna and also a home antenna. Also we will be staying in a condo that is elevated above the bay.

johanson / Moderator

Jan 15, 2007, 12:25 PM

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Re: [Jim B] XM Radio in Mexico

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Remember that the satellites are located to the SW and SE of you there and that the elevation above the horizon is about 60 degrees. (85 and 115 degrees W)

So just make sure your unit on the beach has a window where you can point your antenna in the general direction of these birds. And yes, my antenna on my boom box works just great bringing in the signal

Teo

Jan 20, 2007, 1:53 PM

Post #10 of 15 (7623 views)

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Re: [Jim B] XM Radio in Mexico

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I'm sitting in our Centro PV apartment at his moment and receive XM just fine. You'll need a south-facing exposure to get an adequate signal. Usually one to two bars....

We have a Tao XM2go and use the standard home kit for reception. Have used it here for several years, no problema!

Also we drive most of the way to/from the States listening with the car kit, antenna centered on top of our Ford Escape, and get generally very good reception except around Mazatlan and under bridges and dense trees south of Maz.

XM: can't live without it!

Teo

johanson / Moderator

Jan 20, 2007, 2:44 PM

Post #11 of 15 (7617 views)

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Re: [Teo] XM Radio in Mexico

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Hey Teo, how big is the satellite antenna that your are using? My boom-box antenna is 2.75 by 3.25 inches and I can get up to 3 bars when pointing directly at one of the two south facing XM satellites. The little magnetic unit which was closer to the size of a 50 cent piece (although it is not round) that I had attached on my car faded out on me.

So I guess my question is what are the sizes of the two antennas you are using?

And I must add. I really enjoy listening to my XM radio. I enjoy being able to listen to PBS radio, often coming from the LA PBS radio station.

Another source of PBS is the KPBX FM radio station from Spokane, WA offered on channel 833 on the Canadian Star Choice small dish system

Teo

Jan 21, 2007, 8:51 AM

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Re: [johanson] XM Radio in Mexico

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Hola Pete,

My home kit antenna measures the same as yours and looks like this:

I usually get 2 bars when listening from Puerto Vallarta.

The car kit antenna looks like this:

about the size of a 50 cent piece, attaches easily by built-in magnet to the outside roof of our vehicle and provides a surprisingly strong signal while driving even deep into Mexico. I've heard of others having trouble with the wire crimping and the antenna becoming non-operational. But I've had mine for about 2 years and no problems so far.

I like XMPR, channel 133, for a different kind of NPR. Bob Edwards is the primary host and a very knowledgeable interviewer no matter who he has as a guest. I also love the variety of music from the myriad of XM stations and no comercials. It's radio the way radio should be....

Teo

johanson / Moderator

Jan 21, 2007, 11:29 AM

Post #13 of 15 (7575 views)

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Re: [Teo] XM Radio in Mexico

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Yes Teo, both your home antenna and magnetic car antenna look exactly the same as the ones I use. With the larger home antenna placed out of doors and pointed directly at where I imagine the satellite is, I can get 2 and often 3 bars along the shores of Lake Chapala. I'm told that if I shot the antenna through glass that the signal strength would be slightly less, but I am not sure.

(An interesting note in Seattle I could get a Star Choice signal strength of 90 on my Star Choice 60E dish and receiver when the dish was outside, when I mounted it inside pointed through the double glazed windows the signal strength dropped to the 70s, and once I dropped the curtains the strength dropped down to the 50s)

My little car antenna was just too small and often the signal strength was not enough and I know of two others who have had the same problem. Maybe just like Satellite TV where two supposedly identical setups can give very different signal strength readings, the same thing happens with XM, I just don't know. I ended up mounting the larger antenna on my car roof with masking tape when wanting to listen to XM radio lakeside while driving.

(This post was edited by johanson on Jan 21, 2007, 1:28 PM)

sfmacaws

Jan 21, 2007, 12:16 PM

Post #14 of 15 (7565 views)

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Re: [johanson] XM Radio in Mexico

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OK Pete, I took a look at the car antenna on the Jeep and it is the second one shown above. Actually, we've moved it now to the mexican truck and the cord just goes through the door and gets shut with it. It works fine down here in the flat, flat Yucatan. I'm thinking that you are shooting so low from over there on the west coast that the mountains may be getting in the way? As I said before, I've found more difficulty getting internet, tv and xm via satellite from the west coast than from as far south as Guatemala.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

johanson / Moderator

Jan 21, 2007, 2:12 PM

Post #15 of 15 (7558 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] XM Radio in Mexico

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I'm not sure what to think. I know a Star Choice satellite dealer friend who can get a whole shipment of electronics, all rated the same and he can interchange the electronics or LNB at the front of the satellite dish for example and get quite different results than from the previous and supposedly equal LNB. That might explain why some folks with same XM equipment as I have, get better results than I or several of my friends have.

What I like about this forum is, that we can compare notes and all can learn from the experiences of others. And yes some satellite footprints show a stronger signal in your area than at the same level of Mexico on the West Coast. But that doesn't explain why Teo is doing better than me. I'm jealous Teo Smile