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Date:         Tue, 15 Mar 2005 20:12:26 -0500
Reply-To:     caverat <caverat@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         caverat <caverat@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: A little traveling music ... Siriusly
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


My father was complaining that at times during his travels there is some reception interference with local radio stations on the same frequency as his Sirius tuner.  This is normal and the primary reason while the wireless Sirius FM-transmitter tuners have multiple frequencies to select from.  However, in his case the issue was that while he was changing his Sirius radio to one of the different frequency options in order to find a "clean" local frequency, he was not changing the car's FM radio to receive on that same frequency.  When he started doing this, his issues went away.  


The docking station is a wireless FM transmitter and the Sirius unit must be tuned into the same frequency as the car's FM radio.  You can totally eliminate any possibility of interference by using one of the FM modulation kits that are also available.  The Plug and Play models are pretty much all wireless now but have hardwired options available.  If the docking station is going to stay in that car, then a hardwired option will give the best results.  However, the wireless option works well also but may need to be adjusted if you are in a new area that has a local station on the same frequency.  The ideal on lowering the car's antenna is a good one that will also help.


The FM transmitter is pretty powerful.  If you have one, turn it on and then get in another car close to yours and tune it into the same frequency.  You will hear it clear in the other car.  I did a test in a park with some friends and we had one wireless tuner that was broadcasting to four other nearby cars that were tuned to the same frequency.  We got in one car and drove away and was able to go 50 or so yards before we lost the signal.  The signal is powerful enough to overcome minor local interference but not powerful enough to overcome a high powered nearby FM station's transmitter on the same frequency.  If you have ten powerful local stations on the same frequencies that the tuner can transmit on, then you may need to consider the hardwired option.  


caverat


89 westy
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