Satellite radio issues

[aldive]

I have an Alpine CDA-9883 head unit ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1711856#post1711856 ) and the Sirius/Alpine package ( http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1726623#post1726623 ).

This combination has performed flawlessly until recently. The satellite radio sometimes ( totally random ) does not function. By this I mean the HU displays but there is no sound.

I have checked all the obvious things such as the antenna connection, the power and leads to the HU and all appear normal.

Any suggestions on how to resolve this?

Thanks ....

 

[Dannyboy]

does this flash an "antenna not detected" display.

Does your head unit show the name of the song or just the station when the problem occurs?

I had an issue where my antenna line was damaged (the cable is a small coax) and it was shorting out, causing the fuse to pop on my sirius module. This was also causing some very strange behavior on my head unit and I had to reset that from time to time.

A new antenna and it was good to go. Also FYI if you need an antenna, they are $10 on ebay vs. $35-40 for one at the store. And Alpine's customer service on their 800 number is top notch as well.

 

[calisoundmix]

same thing happened to mine a few months back, where the antenna came out from the rear hatch it had developed a tear in the outer jacket (after 4 years of perfect service i can't complain) swapped a new antenna in and glitch-free reception once again.

by the way make sure you get a magnetic antenna mount, the adhesive low profile ones look cool but have horrible reception short of soldering them to your roof.

 

[aldive]

does this flash an "antenna not detected" display.

The HU has tha ability to display ANTENNA, but mine has never done it.

My HU displays LOADING when the problem occurs. According to Alpine owners manual this display means "radio is aquiringaudio or programming information.".

Does your head unit show the name of the song or just the station when the problem occurs?

It displays the artist as well as the song title.

I shall get a new antenna and see what happens.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks for the input ....

 

[kelly2]

i'm going with product flaw. i had an Alpine 9856 that would do the same thing. used the terk xm tuner and a terk alpine adapter. if just turned the truck off then back on it would play fine. if left alone, it would sit there the whole time and never play

 

[Dannyboy]

If you are getting the song name, then I believe that antenna is transmitting info.

A short in the antenna may be happening, but I cannot tell with what you are saying. Now if the antenna shorts out and you lose signal I would try this test. Once signal is lost, change station, what happens? Does the title of the song on the new station appear...if yes, then I would say it is not antenna related, if no, then I assume the antenna has a short and lost ability to transmit. When my antenna failed, I got nothing at all.

It doesn't look like I mentioned it in my first post, but I use an Alpine in dash touch screen with a similar sirius interface. I have also had the antenna go bad on my stilleto hand held unit. The alpine said "aquiring" where the stilleto said "antenna not detected"

I also just purchased 2 antennas from this seller, got them within 48 hours of payment. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=180239156486

 

[aldive]

If you are getting the song name, then I believe that antenna is transmitting info.

Now that you mention it, I get no song data when the problem is occuring. It just displays LOADING.

I need to find an antenna locally asap since I am leaving for Atlanta on Friday. Any ideas where to get one?

 

[Dannyboy]

any car stereo shop, Best Buy,circuit city, radio shack

Just for that reason I bought 2 on ebay last time. It's not like they go out often, but when you can buy 3 on ebay for the price of 1 I stocked up and wired an antenna in my Explorer and another in my lady's car.


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...rius&lp=18&type=product&cp=1&id=1183160137460


The coax is very difficult to repair and doesn't look to pretty, but that is an option as well in a pinch if you can find the seperation.

 

[aldive]

I picked up a new antenna at Circuit City last night. Unfortunately, it was not the problem.

After doing a little research on the net, I found several references to problems similar to mine.

The resolution was to replace the satellite tuner.

Unfortunately I was not able to get a new one locally, therefore, this morning I am driving S to Port Charlotte to pick one up at their Circuit City ( about 45 miles away ).

Fingers crossed that this will resolve the problem.

 

[kythri]

I've got an Alpine CDA-9857 with the original Alpine TUA-T020XM in my Explorer, and a CDA-9885 with the Terk XM Direct 2pc package in my Crown Victoria.

I occasionally get the "LOADING..." on either deck, and my fix is to simply pop the faceplate for about 60 seconds, and plug it back in, and it seems to clear it out.

I also will get the functioning display and artist/track information, but with no sound. Changing the channel up or down, then back to what I wanted to listen to has always fixed this.

Curious if either of these have or would have fixed your issue.

It doesn't happen all that often, so I've always considered it a glitch. I have to reboot my cablemodem, my cable box (my Dish receiver in the past), etc. Figured it's just one more of those things...

 

[aldive]

I swapped out the satellite tuner ( a less than 5 minute job using double sided trim tape ) and activated the radio by calling Sirius.

Works perfectly.

I got the new tuner and an antenna for the same price as the antenna alone.

Only problem was in the activation process. I had to speak with someone from Bangladesh; what a difficult thing communication with a non English speaker is ).

I would have activated the new unit via the website but in their infinite wisdom, Sirius does not have a way to cancel one radio and add another one. To accomplish this, you need to speak to a person, albeit a non English speaker.

 

[aldive]

Still working perfectly.

Long road trip set for tomorrow. Will put it to the test.

 

[aldive]

Tuner failed completely today.

It had been working on and off for about a week.

Got to find another one tomorrow.

 

[aldive]

New tuner installed today. All is well.