Driving down here in Fla and Stern started cutting out and I was hearing Hip Hop Music.. It went for about 3 blocks and then it was fine.. I wonder if someone else had Shady 45 pumping thru the same frquency in traffic.. Unless it was that piece of shit XM. It was pissing me off Big time!!!!!

If you're using the wireless transmitter rather than a direct connection(hardwiring), then the problem is cause by other people using the same FM frequency on their IPOD or satellite radio transmitters. The permanent solution is to hardwire the Sirius radio or use a Wired FM Modulation Relay(assuming you have a satellite radio with an FM out, e.g. Sportster, Starmate, Starbase): Here it is:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7262892&type=product&id=1117177049245

Same thing happened to me this morning while I was listening to Howard.

A work van pulled up behind me and his signal totally overpowered mine. I just turned my Starmate off until he passed me up. He was listening to Guns n Roses on Sirius Buzzsaw. :)

boombox, does that thing mount inside the dash, or does it have to be exposed like an antenna?

How do you hook it up? Do you plug the car's antenna into it and then it into the car radio?

If you're using the wireless transmitter rather than a direct connection(hardwiring), then the problem is cause by other people using the same FM frequency on their IPOD or satellite radio transmitters. The permanent solution is to hardwire the Sirius radio or use a Wired FM Modulation Relay(assuming you have a satellite radio with an FM out, e.g. Sportster, Starmate, Starbase): Here it is:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7262892&type=product&id=1117177049245

Where exactly does that plug into?

The FM modulation relay is essentially an automatic switch that senses when you have turned on the Sportster or Starmate receivers(via the FM-Out). When it senses a signal coming from the FM-Out from either of these receivers, it disconnects your car's antenna from the car stereo(headunit) and passes the FM-Out from the Sirius receiver directly to the car stereo's antenna input, giving you perfect, interference-free reception.

To connect it you need to be able to access your car stereo's antenna connection in the back of the headunit. The relay connects between your Sirius receiver and the headunit's antenna input, then your car's antenna plugs into the relay. Essentially, the relay will automatically choose between the Sirius signal or your car's FM/AM antenna, depending on whether your Sirius receiver is ON or OFF. You can hide the relay anywhere you want. You can also pay radio installers to install it for you. Some charge about $50 for installation(relay included).

As more and more drivers install satellite radios and/or IPODs with wireless transmitters, this will become a bigger problem. This interference issue is starting to be so common, that the FCC is getting a lot of complaints from small low-power FM stations(specially those broadcasting on 88.1MHz). They'll eventually have to intervene.

Anyhow, I recommend EVERYONE in a mid to large city to install one of these things. It will solve a lot of reception/interference problems. Good luck!

NOTE: This relay won't solve a Sirius reception problem caused by improper installation or location of the Sirius antenna. You still need to install/locate your Sirius antenna outside, on top of the car for BEST reception (some people get away with placing the antenna inside the car, causing drop-outs sometimes).

Thanks for the info. I'll be picking one of these up this weekend.

I have a lexus 06 gx 470 with that eclipse navigation but its not Sirius ready.. Freakin Nissan Armadas are hooked up and ready to go.. Its not a big deal having it hardwired cuz you still need to have the unit out.. it would be nice if it was built into the nav screen.

Well, I just picked up one of those relays from Best Buy today.

I'm heading out to install it now.

Well, I just picked up one of those relays from Best Buy today.

I'm heading out to install it now.

Good job! Let us know if it helped.

Holy cow. It works great. I had ZERO interference last night as I drove around the New Orleans area.

I can't believe I just found out about this thing. This should be included with every Starmate receiver.

Everyone who is reading this thread should immediately go to Best Buy and buy a Sirius FM Modulation Relay.

Best $20 ever spent.

It's easy to install too. The hardest part is getting your radio out of the dash.

Holy cow. It works great. I had ZERO interference last night as I drove around the New Orleans area.

I can't believe I just found out about this thing. This should be included with every Starmate receiver.

Everyone who is reading this thread should immediately go to Best Buy and buy a Sirius FM Modulation Relay.

Best $20 ever spent.

It's easy to install too. The hardest part is getting your radio out of the dash.

Glad I could help!

I agree. It should be a requirement with every Sirius radio installation. Many of the reception problems people are reporting are not reception problems at all, they're interference problems caused by local FM stations drowning the Sirius built-in transmitter signal.

For everyone having reception problems: If you've connected the antenna correctly(i.e. outside, on top of your car, with a 360 degree unobstructed path to the skies), and you're still having reception problems, try installing one of these or hardwiring your radio. You may be in a city with congested FM airwaves which are drowning(competing) with the Sirius built-in FM transmitter.

Thanks again for the heads up.

Driving down here in Fla and Stern started cutting out and I was hearing Hip Hop Music.. It went for about 3 blocks and then it was fine.. I wonder if someone else had Shady 45 pumping thru the same frquency in traffic.. Unless it was that piece of shit XM. It was pissing me off Big time!!!!!

i wonder if that was the pirate radio station that i swear was in the news. i seem to remember a story about it saying that it was fucking with someones communications..i almost wanna say airlines or the airport....but my mind aint so good anymore