sgolko

I'm driving a 2011 IS 350 AWD with ML package, which comes with XM satellite radio for the first 6 months (or some period of time).
Just got back from my first long road trip through the mountains, where I got to really test out the sat radio due to lack of radio stations, and am quite dissapointed.
The trip was from Calgary to Penticton and back (for anyone who is from western Canada) which is about 1400 km round trip, mostly driving through the mountains or along glacial valleys.
Pretty much as soon as I got into the mountains I started to lose sat reception. I expect that I will lose it going through tunnels, under bridges, and maybe even when at the bottom of a steep valley, but most of the roads are wide open above me. Even driving along the Okanogan valley (nice wide shallow valley) I had spotty reception. Now that I am back in Calgary, I still have spotty reception, losing it in some parking lots, as I drive behind 1 story buildings, etc.
Anyone else have the same type of reception issues with their sat radio? I would think that coverage should be a whole lot better than I am getting, otherwise I really don't see the point of having it.

Thinktwice

With satellite radio it really just depends where you live. I live in NJ and get crappy reception at times as well. When I go into NYC sometimes reception is bad due to the tall buildings. I'm not 100% sure exactly where the SIRIUS/XM satellites are positioned, but I believe the southern US states get the best reception.