Looking at the animated version of this graphic too long may make you ill, but it does nicely illustrate the very different schemes that Sirius and XM chose in their efforts to blanket North America in audio and data, including, of course, our recent obsession…live marine weather. Both schemes seem to work fine around the U.S., especially on boats with their naturally wide open sky views, but how far offshore, north, and south can you receive Sirius or XM? A lot of cruisers would like to know, but the company Web sites seem vague on the subject. For one thing, I don’t think they themselves are positive about their footprint edges, and don’t want to over promise. Another issue is that XM and Sirius may broadcast into countries where they are not licensed to, and where someone thinks they should be. You may recall a long period when Canadians could only subscribe to satellite radio using U.S. addresses, even though most could get it fine. XM and Sirius were not bragging about their Canadian coverage then! Both Audio services are now licensed in Canada but, head’s up, Sirius Weather isn’t yet. Which brings us to some legalese in the Raymarine Sirius literature suggesting that your expensive weather receiver might not work if you go outside U.S. territorial waters. Not true; I checked! And judging from the unofficial footprint map kicking around the Internet (right, and slightly bigger here), Sirius will deliver fine service in Canada, out past Bermuda, down to around Antigua, across to maybe the Canal, and actually further into Alaska than shown (so I’ve heard). I understand that XM is similar except that it doesn’t reach as far south, which seems confirmed by the unofficial XM footprint map below, created by WxWorx, the company that’s developed a PC hardware/software system for XM Weather. They’d like to hear more reports from XM users on the edge, and I’d like to hear from anyone who knows more about how far either service reaches. Thanks.
PS, 7/28: We’ve been kindly sent links to a good collection of footprint maps and to a related forum discussion in which one poster describes getting XM in the Azores using a dinky home antenna (though it was before some changes in XM’s satellites).
Posted by Ben on July 26, 2006 3:08 PM
Comments
With some antenna doodling we received Sirius in English Harbour, Freeman Bay Antigua last Fall... in fact all the way down from LI via Bermuda.
Jef
sv Shiva
Contest 36s
Posted by: DefJef at July 26, 2006 3:57 PM
Thanks, Jef. I remember that I've heard other sailors describe similar range, so I changed my description. But what do you mean by antenna 'doodling'?
The antenna we used was the supplied wire attached to the little radio. To get reception in the iffy areas we had to "find" (doodling) the sweet spot on deck, dodger, boom etc.. which I suppose gave the antenna a clear view at the satellite. In strong areas the antenna did fine down below in the cabin... no doodling necessary.
Jef
sv Shiva
Contest 36s
Posted by: DefJef at July 27, 2006 6:35 AM
We ran Sirius using the larger Shakespeare Mushroom antenna mounted on the stern pulpit.
We just got back from north of the 50th paralell in on the BC coast. Great reception, even against the big "rock cliffs" of Desolation Sound. Not exactly "way out there" but we were happy to have Sirius. It has been one of the best buys we ever made. I never listen to terrestial radio anymore.
It would be nice if Sirius had the weather data that XM does.
I am, however, biased against XM because of their affiliation with Clear Channel Communcations (a "moral communications conglomerate"). I will never subscribe to XM.
Thanks, Robert. Sirius recently introduced marine weather data, on Raymarine E-Series, and coming soon to PCs (I'm told). Try the link at the top of this entry.
PS I like the name "Learning Curve"; if you ever go aground, please send Panbo a picture!
When you are writing for the magazine you might now be able to express preference, and I don't know if that changes on your blog, but do you have a feeling either way for weather Sirius or XM provides a better service? Does Sirius offer weather overlay?
Brandon, Sirius on the Raymarine overlays on a simple outline map, not the regular chart (a good idea I think). The Sirius and XM products are much, much more alike than they are different. Plus they're both evolving. Someday I'll do an entry on product shoot outs, but basically I distrust them and am usually reluctant to declare a "best" product (for who?).
1. What antenna are you using? Many people report increased coverage if they will swap out the supplied shakespeare antenna with a TERK Sir6 antenna. This is an outdoor antenna, cost about $58 on Amazon. The increased coverage is due in part to the 50 Ohm rating.
2. Are the weather data/images available? The scenario is that you have Sirius satellite coverage, but no weather data is being displayed where you are located.
Just because you can get coverage in Panama (some people have reported they can get Sirius radio coverage onboard cruise ships as they go through the canal) does not mean you will have the radar weather images. I have been unable to determine for sure what data or scope of images are being sent out. It is possible that the data/images just cover the US and the upper half of Mexico. It appears that anything south of Cuba (lower half of Mexico) is not supplied with the related/available weather data. I would like verification of this from someone who has installed the unit. We will be leaving Mazatlan, Mexico this fall for the canal, but it appears the Raymarine system would not be of help to us.
Just to let everyone know.....XM does not work in Puerto Rico as of yet. I have a factory installed system in my grand prix and shipped it here from the U.S. no good
Posted by: Billy at October 5, 2007 12:49 AM
Billy, You might try Digital Antenna's newish XM antenna; I've heard good things about it:
Does anybody know if Sirius weather will show radar images for Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Let's say I'm an American who will be visiting Canadian Waters this summer, not a Canadian asking this question ;)
Posted by: Cameron at May 11, 2008 10:02 PM
XM WxWorx does well in the Exumas with nearly as strong a signal as in Florida, although the farther out you get the more sensitive the antenna is to anything shading it from the satellite. A reasonably small mast in the way is enough to knock out the radio signal from both satellites as the boat swings but since the data is stored it isn’t a problem for WxWorx. I had problems with the Terk antenna and the Digital Antenna replacement that they now use does well.
NEXRAD radar coverage includes most of Grand Bahama and Andros Islands but that’s about as far east as it goes – just a couple hundred miles off the US coast. I’ve not paid any attention to the Canadian weather coverage but know it’s there as a Transport Canada splash screen is a bit of a start-up annoyance.
I’ve found that the surface wind predictions from the “Surface” depiction are usually more accurate than NOAA forecasts although they only go out 36 hours. Wave info usually shows a little worse than actual and it takes a pretty good sized landmass before a diminished sea state in the lee is recognized.
Looking at the animated version of this graphic too long may make you ill, but it does nicely illustrate the very different schemes that Sirius and XM chose in their efforts to blanket North America in audio and data, including, of course, our recent obsession…live marine weather. Both schemes seem to work fine around the U.S., especially on boats with their naturally wide open sky views, but how far offshore, north, and south can you receive Sirius or XM? A lot of cruisers would like to know, but the company Web sites seem vague on the subject. For one thing, I don’t think they themselves are positive about their footprint edges, and don’t want to over promise. 
go outside U.S. territorial waters. Not true; I checked! 
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