SIRIUS vs Xm antennas... the same..?

**kiltjim** · 09-02-2005, 09:33 AM

I thought there was some diference in the voltages. Like a Sirius system is 6v, and XM is 12v. That might be why you are expereiencing drop out. But I don't have anything to back this up.

**frodobaggins** · 09-02-2005, 12:29 PM

No, its the way the antennas are designed. (I looked it up)

**Tim97rs** · 09-02-2005, 12:38 PM

sirius has 3 satelites in a higher orbit that beam the signals down at about 45* and 90* angles, while XM is in a lower orbit, has only 2 satelites and beams the signals down at a 30-45 degree angle...
thats the difference in the antennas... they're designed to pick up thier respective signals from a specific anlge if i understood it correctly.

**kiltjim** · 09-02-2005, 10:31 PM

But what is the difference between the antennas? If they are designed to pick up at different angles, they would be required to be setup at that given angle. The mobile antennas would work equally as well for both systems, because they are moving.

**fromplanetbob** · 09-03-2005, 05:48 PM

They are not really designed to pick up different angles of satellite signal. SIRIUS and XM Operate on different frequencies and while they are close enough together in the spectrum that you can use a SIRIUS or XM antenna for either service, the correct antenna for the radio will pick up better reception because it's tuned in. It's like those old tvs with the fine tuning adjustment.

But yes, you can use the antennas from either service on either radio, just expect some degraded signal which means more drop outs.

**Jahntassa** · 09-04-2005, 05:05 PM

planetbob is correct. I have a sirius antenna hooked up to my XM in the car, and it cuts out more often than the XM antenna did, but it works. So it 'works', just not as well.