XM Satellite Radio Reception (M65 01 16)

XM SATELLITE RADIO RECEPTION

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

SERVICE INFORMATION

New information provided by this revision is preceded by this symbol .

This Service Information bulletin replaces SI B65 01 16 dated February 2016 

What's New: 

• Situation section
• Cause section
• Information section
• Reception Complaint reporting.

MODEL

SITUATION

SiriusXM Radio reception may drop out in certain geographic locations

CAUSE

These vehicles have an XM Satellite Radio chip installed. Since April 2016 these radios receive their Satellite Radio signal from XM satellites, which was different than previous vehicles using Sirius chip equipped head units.

INFORMATION

Currently Satellite Radio is provided by SiriusXM for MINI customers. Previously Satellite radio was broadcast from two different sets of Satellites using different earth orbits. XM using geosynchronous (GEO) satellites located roughly above the equator. This means that the satellite signal to some parts of the United States can come in at an angle as low as 32 degrees to the horizon. This was different than Sirius Satellites in a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) which used to come in to the vehicle at a higher angle to the horizon. As of April 2016 Sirius equipped head units moved to the XM Satellites constellation and show the same location based cutouts.

SiriusXM is currently updating the repeater network to cover areas of low reception, but the general disadvantage of geostationary satellites can't be compensated completely. Buildings, hills, trees, highway sound blocking walls or any other obstacles might block the satellite signal coming from the south at a 32 degree elevation angle and might cause audio dropouts in absence of terrestrial repeaters. Reception quality decreases the further north you travel, as the angle of the incoming signal gets flatter. Adverse weather conditions will affect reception. Sirius XM will increase the amount of Sirius and XM repeaters gradually to improve situation in metropolitan areas.

When investigating Satellite Radio cutouts or a temporary loss of reception:

• Please compare to a similarly equipped vehicle.
• Replace no parts

Customers should direct all reception complaints to Sirius Product Support at 866-463-5326. 

Their working hours are

08.00 AM - 10.00 PM EST Monday - Friday

08.00 AM - 08.00 PM EST on Saturday - Sunday

Customers must provide:

• the exact location (street address or Latitude/Longitude) of dropout
• weather conditions
• time of day the drop occurred.

The only possible change in the customers reception would come IF Sirius/XM installs ground based repeaters in the problem area.

Customers also have the option of listening to SiriusXM via an app on their phones. The SiriusXM Internet Radio app is available for download from iTunes and Google play.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Not applicable

Posted: Wednesday, December 12, 2018