Antenna Differences on XM & Sirius

[christophertowle]

I have a question for the crowd:

Is there a difference between the antenna used on XM vs. Sirius?

What is known:

The connectors are both an SMB connection
The antenna has a 50 ohm impedance.
The bandwidth of both is the same

Currently I have an antenna designed for an XM radio on a Sirius tuner and I keep getting ‘antenna error’.

My question is that I have bought the XM universal tuner and adapter to mate with my Kenwood 7015. I have a problem in that I can now only plug either the XM box OR the changer into the head unit.

All components are installed already and I am down to working on the dash only.

After some research I learn that the Kenwood makes a Sirius tuner that allows you to daisy chain the changer off of the Sirius tuner, thus keeping both pieces.

I have added the Sirius tuner, while keeping the XM antenna. I want to know if anyone has any experience doing this or if my problem lies in the antenna.

I can certainly go buy another antenna if I have to, but I will have to dismantle the truck again to get it installed!

Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Chris

[Diamond Dog]

you need the Sirius antenna for Sirius and the XM one for XM. Luckily, Sirius has the micro antenna now so it is small like the XM one

[jake696]

I have found the XM and SIRIUS antenae to be interchangeable. On our last hunting trip, my buddy brought his hand-held XM unit and we used my SIRIUS roof mounted antenna to improve his reception...it worked great!

Sometimes, the XM's antenna wire has an extra shielded plastic thingy on the end...but the connector is the same.

[EnolaGaia]

XM and Sirius antennas are not totally incompatible... However, manufacturers and vendors are loathe to suggest, much less claim, you can use one for the other's service.

Some antenna listings do, however, state you can receive the other service using them - albeit it at a reduced or weakened signal strength.

I've also heard anecdotal stories like the one above - indicating one service's antenna works (to some extent; as good as anything) for the other.

I think it's something of a situation- / antenna-specific thing, and there's no universal answer....

[denverbikeguy]

The two services use frequencies 12MHz off from each other, all in the 2.3GHz band. I doubt the antennas are tuned down to that level of accuracy, so theoretically one should work for the other. The two services do use different types of satellites however, and different types of orbits for them. I don't know if that would have an impact, but it's something to consider.