2016 Cx-5 XM Cuts out

[bhaasie]

Purchased a 2016 with Tech and IActive and am having issues with XM reception. Cuts out unless direct exposure to southern sky. Driving down highway go under bridge at 50mph and it cuts out. It's like the radio has no buffer.

What can I do to get this fixed?

 

[MikeM.]

The XM radio in my F-150 doesn't work while driving on a highway through forests or even in a narrow valley surrounded by mountains.

This happens every time they give me a free two week subscription to try it out. No way I'm gonna pay for that!

 

[andyg]

Purchased a 2016 with Tech and IActive and am having issues with XM reception. Cuts out unless direct exposure to southern sky. Driving down highway go under bridge at 50mph and it cuts out. It's like the radio has no buffer.

What can I do to get this fixed?

The first obvious solution would be to make an appointment with the dealer to have it checked, make sure there are no issues with the components, and the software is up to date.

 

[bhaasie]

I called the dealer and made an appointment. Dropped off this morning. I'll see what they say.

 

[inlinev]

This all sounds about normal to me. XM signals are easily interrupted by obstacles due to the band it uses. You generally need a clear view of the sky to pick it up.

 

[bhaasie]

You could be right, I'm comparing to my 2014 cx5 that had Sirius. That never cutout. Is Sirius that different than XM?

One specific area is my driveway. Could listen to Sirrius all day, now this vehicle has XM and I can't listen at all. Couldn't even get the activation signal. Had to drive up toad to get a clear signal.

 

[Srad600]

Same issues with mine. I just filled out a survey for Mazda and that was one of my complaints. No way am I paying for Sat radio that gets worse reception that standard (free) radio. I'm curious to know what your dealer says/does and if anything changes.

 

[Martyd]

My guess. Mazda said to engineering make an antenna that looks good. Engineering said it won't work well. Looks won out. I don't have satellite radio in my 2015 but sure wish I had a whip for FM. Still wonder where the FM antenna is.

 

[madar]

Normal. It's a satellite signal, if anything blocks the satellite it will cut out, same thing happened on my Hyundai.

 

[thedaddyb]

Part of it is the the design of the tuner and how much buffering it handles. It needs to see a clear non-obstructed constant signal for ideal operation. But some units have it better than others. I've had a factory subaru unit that was decent. My wife's vw and my Audi are pretty lousy at dropping signal pretty easily.

Crazy enough an el-cheapo universal unit that I used to use in my beater car was the best. Would only drop signals when going in tunnels. Overpasses wouldn't mess it up. Even if standing still in traffic for a while under one.

 

[yrwei52]

My guess. Mazda said to engineering make an antenna that looks good. Engineering said it won't work well. Looks won out. I don't have satellite radio in my 2015 but sure wish I had a whip for FM. Still wonder where the FM antenna is.

Crazy enough an el-cheapo universal unit that I used to use in my beater car was the best. Would only drop signals when going in tunnels. Overpasses wouldn't mess it up. Even if standing still in traffic for a while under one.

May be your el-cheapo universal unit simply had a better antenna... (whistle)

 

[bhaasie]

Thanks all for the input I picked it up from the dealer. They said everything checks out. I lose the signal in the same spots every time so maybe I am out of range of the ground repeater and lose the sat signal for a few seconds.... I came from a 2014 with Sirius and it never cut out where I live. But XM appears to be different. Guess I just have to live with it....

 

[Srad600]

That's a bummer, I'll have mine checked at some point as well, but no way am I keeping the XM past the free subscription if this is the best it can do. I've listened to Sat radio in a number of other cars (rentals) and some of them never seemed to lose the signal, while others were constantly loosing it.

 

[GP 2004]

I don't have satellite radio in my 2015 but sure wish I had a whip for FM. Still wonder where the FM antenna is.

I believe the antenna is printed on the rear window at the same times as the defogger grid.

 

[GAXIBM]

I think in how to there is an entry about adding a satellite receiver that shows the antenna wiring. I thought the original was in the shark fin...

 

[Tom 6-6]

Have xm in my Honda Accord and it would cut out the same place everytime (between two hills). Sirius in the CX5 DOES NOT cut out at the same place. I do believe the shark fin is for the Surius.