Can anyone tell me how satellite radio works in baja and how far down it works. Just installed it in my skiff but have not payed for service yet. It
says it will only work in us?tripledigitken - 1-25-2013 at 11:49 AM
I have Sirius/XM in my car and have had no reception problems in Baja. I have been as far south as Loreto with it.
KenDENNIS - 1-25-2013 at 11:54 AM
It works great here ,but I'm not that far down.Loretana - 1-25-2013 at 12:33 PM
We have a Sirius radio in our Loreto home and love it! We got the best Panasonic receiver on ebay and have excellent reception.
One bit of advice.....get the good antenna.pbods - 1-25-2013 at 12:34 PM
I've got an older Sirius/XM unit in my truck (don't know if age has anything to do with it) and it seems to work great until Ciudad Consititucion.
From there south it generally is spotty reception.Pompano - 1-25-2013 at 12:57 PM
Good idea to have one on your panga, my friend. I have used XM (now Sirius/XM) sat radio since they launched the service in 2001. In my boat I use
the Sky-Fi Home Version boombox w/antenna and cig-lighter plug in power source. Use the Roadie in the pickup.
I've always had good reception from SE Alaska across Canada, all of mainland USA east and west coasts, parts of Carib and Puerto Rico. You can
receive Sirius sat radio in all parts of Mexico, including Baja Norte and Sur. I tried it in Panama last year but like me, it pooped out. (Might
have been the heat!) Come summer, I will be using it on the shores of Hudson Bay, Canada.
Here's a handy map of Sirius/XM sat radio ranges.
p.s. We always made a bet when we would lose the sat signal when passing thru El Rosario area...and those high steep walls. David K - 1-25-2013 at 04:39 PM
We lost the XM signal about 70 miles north of La Paz, on Hwy. 1 (near Santa Rita)... it popped in and out for awhile (like when you drive under
freeway bridges or in forests)... Finally turned it off... I think it worked when we got further east, in La Paz, but we were always with BajaTripper
chatting.. so didn't try it very long. Everywhere else in Baja (north of Santa Rita) we went last July, it was fine!bajajudy - 1-25-2013 at 05:59 PM
We have sirius in our truck and listen to it from San Jose del Cabo to Guerrero Negro....no problema. We also have it in our store...again no problemlarryC - 1-26-2013 at 12:22 PM
I used it all the way to La Paz in October with no problems.David K - 1-26-2013 at 12:27 PM
Weird... maybe a sunspot storm was going on last July that weakened the signal when we were south of Santa Rita? El Comadante Loco - 1-26-2013 at 02:13 PM
I have had the same problem losing reception around Todos Santos, however I wonder if it could be the cheap antenna.. Had no problems after that all
the way back to San Felipe.....oladulce - 1-26-2013 at 03:11 PM
Works fine down to Constitucion and then comes and goes between there and La Paz. Mostly there's no reception on that stretch so I don't try anymore.
Don't know about our antenna quality- it was included with the new truck package.
XM also works fine in the casa, on the coast North of Insurgentes, where we have a no frills car-type antenna threaded up to the roof.SFandH - 1-26-2013 at 03:37 PM
I know Sirius bought XM in 2008 and now it's one company but they are still 2 different satellite systems. It's quite possible one works better than
the other in Baja. It looks like, from the above posts, Sirius works better than XM in Baja. True?
I'm going to buy a satellite radio to listen to in Mulege and San Diego. I'm not sure what kind, Sirius or XM?monoloco - 1-26-2013 at 03:58 PM
Sirius works much better, there are reception problems with XM in BCS.measomsan - 1-26-2013 at 04:22 PM
just drove from Mexicalli to Cabo. off and on coverage...at my house between SJ and Cabo spotty. Out on cape off and onDavid K - 1-26-2013 at 05:35 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
Works fine down to Constitucion and then comes and goes between there and La Paz. Mostly there's no reception on that stretch so I don't try anymore.
Don't know about our antenna quality- it was included with the new truck package.
XM also works fine in the casa, on the coast North of Insurgentes, where we have a no frills car-type antenna threaded up to the roof.
Well good... thanks for this so I don't think it was my system only.
It was XM factory installed.acadist - 1-27-2013 at 07:13 AM
Flew to Cabo with my portable, put it in the rental car and worked great. I can't imagine driving distances without it anymore, think of all the room
I save with no CDs.
BTW, I have always had Sirius.
[Edited on 1-27-2013 by acadist]daveB - 1-27-2013 at 03:23 PM
Our Sirius works fine now in San Felipe and in past years was good as far as we traveled on the mainland, to Colima. It should reach farther than
there and see no reason why it shouldn't be good to Cabo.mulegemichael - 1-27-2013 at 03:43 PM
weve got xm in both our 4runners down there and never a problem except when in steep canyons...all the way to the cape.Lee - 1-27-2013 at 04:26 PM
I have Sirius, not XM, with an external antenna and it works great to Cabo. I'm experimenting with having the antenna inside my vehicle, on the
dash, and it has not loss signal.
I have a buddy who has Sirius/XM that came in the Tundra he bought that's part of the radio. He gets a signal driving North (from Cabo or where
ever) but not driving South (not sure how far down from the US). Signal is so spotty it's not worth listening to.
The exterior antennas have a reputation of failing after awhile.David K - 1-27-2013 at 07:36 PM
Well, at least two of us XM users had issues only in the Constitucion to La Paz section... and I can narrow it to Santa Rita towards La Paz (under 100
miles) were the signal popped in and out until we turned it off. La Paz to Cabo might be fine as I didn't try it as we had company in the Tacoma.
How about others specifically try their Satellite radio south of Santa Rita and north of La Paz in this region to see if yours also is weak? The rest
of Baja (north of Santa Rita... everywhere else) has been perfect! If you don't know Santa Rita, it is the place where the highway makes the first
curve south Ciudad Constitucion after running straight for nearly forever!
liknbaja127 - 1-27-2013 at 07:43 PM
Have sirius in my truck and prerunner get great resep. Cabo, La Paz, all the way up!BajaOkie - 1-29-2013 at 11:16 AM
Also have Sirius - drove to Cabo in December and no "dead" areas. I utilize exterior antenna's for both vehicle and casa, right now three bars in
Mulege.daveB - 1-29-2013 at 04:44 PM
Our first antennae were on the roof, now need only to place a newer one on the dash. Better reception than on the roof with an improved design.daveB - 1-29-2013 at 04:52 PM
As noted, XM and sirius began as rival companies, with XM becoming bigger. Believe they had separate satellites. After merging some years ago, XM
seems to be more limited in coverage, both in the north and in the far south. If you have a choice, Sirius should be better. To be honest, we have
only used Sirius- what we mention here about the difference between the two, therefore, is only heresay.Marinero - 1-29-2013 at 05:07 PM
I have had a Siriius in my truck for years. Never had a reception problem all the way down to East Cape and around. If you are not hard wired to
your radio, sometimes a local FM station interfers with the signal, so just change your FM transmit station. I use a roof antenna and it is usually
somewhat behind a rooftop carrier.nobaddays - 1-29-2013 at 08:43 PM
The GM XM drops off around La Paz. Some channels like Howard Stern come in and out in Cabo but most dont work. Use Sirus.El Jefe - 1-30-2013 at 10:39 AM
Well, I would have to agree with the above posts. We started out with XM years ago and still have it. Ours always starts to cut out south of El Cien
just north of La Paz. Not much good south of that. It works poorly in the car down here on the south east cape and in Los Cabos. But we have found
that it works just fine in the house on the stationary set up. Otherwise I would not have renewed the service.
Glad to know Sirius works better down here. Looks like when our contract is up I will get serious with Sirius.Jim/Liisa - 1-30-2013 at 11:07 AM
I'ts sad you have to pay for air space, such as tv, now radio. So no more regular radio in all the new cars now? What's next!!!David K - 1-30-2013 at 11:35 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Jim/Liisa
I'ts sad you have to pay for air space, such as tv, now radio. So no more regular radio in all the new cars now? What's next!!!
No, there is 'regular radio'... a satellite radio is an option to have clear sound and many commercial-free stations, nearly everywhere most people
operate their car, purchased in the U.S.willardguy - 1-30-2013 at 12:25 PM
id rather listen to commercials than the endless chatter of mark goodwin, martha quinn, dusty street, and the rest of the mtv retiree's. not to
mention the repetitious playlist!
[Edited on 1-30-2013 by willardguy]El Jefe - 1-30-2013 at 01:36 PM
!
And what about Meg Griffin talking to her stupid little dog on the air? Just shut up and play the music!!oladulce - 1-31-2013 at 10:55 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
id rather listen to commercials than the endless chatter of mark goodwin, martha quinn, dusty street, and the rest of the mtv retiree's. not to
mention the repetitious playlist!
That, and I can only listen to so much Margaritaville and am not interested in Celtic Rock on the Spectrum, are the reasons I recently switched over
to Outlaw Country channel. And I am NOT a big fan of mainstream country music. DJ Elizabeth Cook cracks me up and at least the music if different.
Good to know that our reception problems may be the XM equipment and I'll look for Sirius stuff next time we have an option.daveB - 1-31-2013 at 04:08 PM
Regular radios are fine when down in Mexico IF you are fluent in espaniol or really dig the music. I chose Sirius because they used to have hockey
games broadcast, but then they switched the games over to XM without asking me. Sirius still has news reports from CBC, too bad they're out of Toronto
where they've never heard of the west coast.
Sirius radio
pangamadness - 10-30-2013 at 08:53 AM
Sirius works great at the East Cape & all the way down. That's in the truck, the boat stayed home.Lee - 10-30-2013 at 10:23 AM
I've had Sirius for 9 years and it works throughout Baja. I've tried FM transmitter, FM adaptor, and settled on a new radio (not Sirius capable)
but with an AUX connection in the back that I run a 3.5mm cable from to the Sirius cradle. It's the best connection for me. A friend has Sirius
built-in to his radio (came in his new Tundra) and when driving South in Baja, reception is spotty and cuts out alot. However, driving North (say
from Cabo), reception is good.
My exterior Sirius antenna (round with the magnet) use to go out every 2-3 years so last year I velcro'd the antenna to my dash and covered it with a
baseball cap. Works well and out of the sun with no reception problems.
