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This means that the XM radio can't pick up the repeater signal directly. If you CAN'T find a good signal, here is the trick: Locate the antenna in a likely convenient location (2nd floor, southern wall, etc) where you'd expect the best signal and move & aim the antenna while watching the signal strength. Even a fraction of an inch can be significant. One repeater can drive any number of XM radios, so equiped, within its range (a few rooms).
Slowly reposition the antenna and the metal object. The 900 MHz antenna mounts on the back of the boombox, in a provided slot, held by a screw. Each radio will need its own attached 900 MHz antenna, and will need to be in a dock to use it. It should work with batteries, but at what cost to battery life I don't know. But, like me, you may get away with a simple trick. Use this to move the antenna to likely receiving locations, looking for a convenient place with room nearby and power for the repeater transmitter, where a strong signal is displayed. This could be a problem in an apartment or closely spaced houses if a neighbor has one.
Attach the satellite antenna directly to your XM radio (suitably docked or boomboxed), and select the signal strength display from the radio's menu. Final caviat: older 900 MHz wireless phones will disrupt the repeater signal, even from several rooms away, but only when they are in use (talking/ringing). Then, swap the antenna plug from the radio to the transmitter and as long as you don't disturb the magic setup you should get good reception, which then gets passed through the repeater to your radio(s). It is important to understand that this system repeats the XM digital signal on a different (900 MHz) frequency than that used by the satellites and the urban ground stations mentioned above. So, the repeater doesn't noticably effect the portabality of the boombox, which we move from room to room, plugging into AC power, but not using batteries. If you find such a spot, leave the antenna positioned and swap its cable from the radio to the transmitter. If your preferred location has any signal at all, you may find a precise arrangement that yields a strong signal.
THEN TRY PLACING A METAL PLATE OR PAN, or similar size metal decorative object a few inches away. My son in rural WY needed such a set-up to get reliable reception in the winter. Our trouble was that no CONVENIENT location could be found. XM reception inside buildings can be frustrating - especially for those of us living outside the range of the terrestial repeaters in many large cities.
The ultimate solution is an outside antenna, perhaps with an in-line amplifier, driving this repeater system. This repeater setup gives us mobility in an apartment or modest house (even two stories). A TIP: It can be hard to find a good inside location for the satellite antenna, an issue this repeater fixes, if ANY single good location can be found for the repeater transmitter and its attached satellite antenna. This set includes one such antenna - more can be bought seperately.
I use mine with a Pioneer Inno, mounted on a Delphi SA10221 XM Portable Satellite Radio Boombox. The newer 2.1 GHz and 5.4 GHz phones (and WiFi Internet routers) don't seem to interfere though.
It allows you to place a single antenna for best reception, and rebroadcast thet signal throughout the house. If you're an XM junkie and just have to have your XM where ever you wander in your house, then you need this, and a bunch of home cradles for your reciever of choice. Not sure what the range is, but it worked ok in a small house for a friend.
At 20', it loses one bar of signal strength, compated to if the antenna was hooked directly to the XM radio. The repeater works really well and eliminates the need to run wires from a south-facing window, but the range is not as far as advertised. If I put the receiver in a cabinet 20' from the repeater, it does not work at all.
The Delphi XM repeater works exactly as it should. Install is as simple as plugging it in, and aiming the sat antenna (that you must already have from a home hit).
I needed to buy a repeater. Too bad the xm radio doesn't work in my house. It works.
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