Ohio Rob

I leased a new E-350 on July 31. The only problem I'm having is with satellite radio reception. About one or two times per day the screen will say "searching for signal (or possibly acquiring signal)." I'm always in wide open spaces with no obstacles. Sometimes I get no music and other times I only get only one station while the message is on the screen. 90% of the time the sat radio works fine, but these blackouts are becoming annoying. Anyone familiar with this problem and specific details to tell the MB service department?

Other than this one problem, this car is incredible!

mbnj

Bring it back fast. No reason if there are no obstructions. Your car is brand new so let MB worry about it. It is annoying enough that I lose it from trees, leaves, embankments, etc.

konigstiger

I would suggest to any owners experiencing SDARS problems that you mention DTB P-B-82.60/426b which will establish a EDAC (Enhanced Diagnostic Assistance Center) case. It is important that cases be generated nationwide in order to expeditiously resolve these issues.

For any owners wanting a copy of the DTB to present to their SA please PM your email address.

DWP

Check out the orbital paths of the Sirius satellites in relation to the ground:

http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdi...sp?satid=26390
http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdi...sp?satid=26483
http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdi...sp?satid=26626

The "Ground Track" map shows the current position of the satellite. Sirius claims that, since the satellite tracks move "faster" in relation to the earth when they are over the Southern Hemisphere, two of the three satellites are over the Northern Hemisphere at any given time. Maybe so. I don't know from orbital mechanics. I do know that the XM satellites are in geosynchronous orbits over the equator, and I don't have the problems with XM reception in my car that people are always reporting with their Sirius reception.

emilner

I have found my receiver looks for a signal 15-30 times per hour. I am not exagerating...

konigstiger

Have any SDARS inspection and/or repair attempts been made by the dealer to date?

starbrite

I'm in the same town as emilner and he speaks the truth. Sirius sucks IMO.
Reception makes me want to open a vein.

Edit : and yes, all attempted repairs including new antenna.

Barry45RPM

Starbrite's in a very shaded road area, his signal drops out... its not the same problem. We're talking about perfrect reception with a "Searching For Signal" Screen showing on the Comand, not a channel name/number.

starbrite

Sorry Barry, someone says Sirius and I get the overwhelming urge to vent !

Ohio Rob

Wow! Thanks to all for the information on this problem. My goal is to supply MB Service with some compass heading (no pun intended) toward
a resolution. When I get mysterious car issues with past vehicles, I try to get a repair campaign number from owners with similar problems. It cuts down on shop time or having the service writer give you the "what the hell are you talking about" look.

Once again thank you all for your help and response. You guys are great!

konigstiger

Excellent strategy, check your Private Messages (PM).

Yacht Master

Unfortunately this reception problem is common, do a search and you will find many threads. Part of the problem is MB has no control over Sirius and the propagation of their signal. When the radio says "searching for signal" I believe that means the radio is working.

Barry45RPM

Again... NOT his problem. His radio is playing perfectly, and the "Searching for Signal" msg is on the comand screen only...indefinitely. The DIC displays the proper channel.

It is not a reception problem. Its an erroneous display sent to the Comand Screen only. The Sat radio is playing what its supposed to. If it were a reception problem, there would be no music and the DIC would say "NO Signal".

DWP

When you get only one channel, is it by chance Channel 184? That's the one Sirius channel that's available on Sirius radios that aren't activated/registered with Sirius. I don't have Sirius, but I assume that Channel 184 has no music. If you are getting only Channel 184 at times, that would tell me that something is intermittently interfering with the registration/activation setting of your radio. That probably wouldn't be a reception problem. It's likely to be a problem for the dealer, not Sirius, since I don't think that Sirius would change the radio's status from registered to unregistered and back again. All this assumes that the one channel you get at times is 184. If not, disregard.

Barry45RPM

Its absolutely, positively a problem with the SDARS installed into the car. Not Sirius. Its a line of code somewhere, probably. Remember that the DIC display ALWAYS displays the proper info, even when the Comand is not. MBUSA is looking into it real hard.

I had the same problem in the Comand/Sat set up thruout the entire time I owned my 2004, & I have it in this 2007 too.

inactiveuser1019

Last weekend, I had this problem in my 2008 C300: The radio would play normally on the Sirius channel I had previously selected, but it would not indicate the song's title (title area was blank) and would not accept to change channels.

Is this a problem with my radio receiver?

Pierre