Sirius Micro-Dot antennas failing

[vaham]

Has anyone else experienced problems with the Micro-Dot magnetic antennas?
I have just replaced one that has been on the car about two years, and the antenna on the other car is beginning to fail as well. Both are being replaced with the older model black, solid antennas, with I had used on another car with no problems.

 

[SSF]

I've actually had the opposite experience as you - with my micro dot antenna getting a much better signal then the older block antenna. Maybe you bought one from a bad batch? Depending on the retailer you purchased it from you may be able to swap it out for a new one.

 

[Blitz71]

I've had two micro dots go out. One on my vehicle and one on my wifes. They're known to do that. The casing isn't sealed very good and it gets a lot of moisture inside over time.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

This issue was well documented at SBS. The Sirius antennas are crap. You can use an XM car antenna. They are much more sturdy and work just as well.

 

[MM]

I had one on my car for a few years from a s50. It finally went and I cracked it open and it was rusty as hell on the inside. It was the one with the gold dot in the center.

 

[hexagram]

This issue was well documented at SBS. The Sirius antennas are crap. You can use an XM car antenna. They are much more sturdy and work just as well.

Really? I had no idea you could use an XM car antenna for a SIRIUS radio.

Which one is the very best? I'm gonna need top-of-the-line since I live all the way up in Alaska.

 

[MM]

Really? I had no idea you could use an XM car antenna for a SIRIUS radio.

Which one is the very best? I'm gonna need top-of-the-line since I live all the way up in Alaska.

I can confirm this. I used an XM antenna from my Roady XT with my Stiletto 100 for a little while.

 

[mynameisjamie]

I wonder if we could get a copy of that thread. I'll ask Taylor if we do because it was ridiculous how poorly some of those responded to weather and what not. In short, it seemed water/moisture was getting inside the antennas and rusting them out after a very short time. If you have a dot micro and all of a sudden things aren't working, it's probably the antenna.

 

[HecticArt]

(Knock on wood. . . )
I've been using the same dot I got with my SL50 3 years ago (or so).

It's still doing well. I tuck it in the trunk when I go through the car wash though.

I'd like to get a nicer looking one, at some point, but they don't seem to sell the ones that come on new cars. That's too bad.

 

[JoeTan]

My original Sportster home antenna has been going strong for 4years now. Replaced 2 dot antennas after a year for major rot and rust. So far so good on the replacements 2 years later.

 

[hexagram]

I see there are various kinds of XM antennas. Could someone tell me which one is the very best antenna? Like I said, I live way up North and I need top of the line.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I see there are various kinds of XM antennas. Could someone tell me which one is the very best antenna? Like I said, I live way up North and I need top of the line.

I just bought them from xmfanstore. I can't tell the difference between the ones that come from my radios. Here is the one I used: XMFanStore SKYFi2/MYFi Replacement Mini-Micro Antenna

I also should point out that all my use of XM antennas have been done a bit farther south. I assume it won't make much difference at your lattitude but it is something to consider.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I tried an XM antenna once and it didn't work. It was also a little bigger and it bent the prongs inside the connector so I had a loose fitting antenna until I finally bought a new base for it. I wonder what was different about the one I tried vs the ones that have been working for some of you. Oh well, buyer beware.

As for the microdot antennas, I've probably had 6 fail over the years. Some in as little as 6 months. For some reason though, the ones that came with the SL100 docks have been working now since I got them. It's been well over a year too. I'm knocking wood as I type this...

 

[johninbricknj]

I had one on my car for a few years from a s50. It finally went and I cracked it open and it was rusty as hell on the inside. It was the one with the gold dot in the center.

On that rusty note, I picked up a replacement mico-dot at Best buy a year and a half ago for the girl friends car, it started crapping out a couple months ago usually when wet out so I ordered a new one different style from TSS.
I saved it and cracked it open just now and took some pics just for you guys:wave:

 

[DAB]

On that rusty note, I picked up a replacement mico-dot at Best buy a year and a half ago for the girl friends car, it started crapping out a couple months ago usually when wet out so I ordered a new one different style from TSS.
I saved it and cracked it open just now and took some pics just for you guys:wave:

Wow no wonder these things have such a high failure rate.

Some of you may remember this has always been one of my pet peeves with Sirius antenna in that the high volume of antenna failures causes so, so many problems for subscribers.

Clearly these things aren't even sealed well enough to keep the elements out of them to prevent the rusting out.

I've caught a lot of flack over the years, but I've said it many times that the bulk of reception problems that most subscribers have are crappy antennas and over the years that has been proven to be the absolute truth.

 

[SubSonic]

It's hit or miss with me. The original antenna that came with my Sporster 4 is still on the first vehicle I put it on, and it continues to work fine. However, I went through 2 antennas on the 2nd vehicle I installed this tuner in - 1 antenna came with the additional car dock kit (died in about 6 months) and its replacement died after about a year.

I just put an SVCDOC kit in my new 4Runner (run through a TOYSC1 to my nav system) and noticed the antenna was different (not the small black puck - this one is even smaller, and is silverish) so here's hoping it is an updated model and lives for quite a while. The little rubber feet on it may help, it doesn't all seem to sit right on the metal now and gives water room to dry/move and not just allow the antenna to sit in puddles of water for however long at the time. Who knows?

 

[limegrass69]

On that rusty note, I picked up a replacement mico-dot at Best buy a year and a half ago for the girl friends car, it started crapping out a couple months ago usually when wet out so I ordered a new one different style from TSS.
I saved it and cracked it open just now and took some pics just for you guys:wave:

YIKES!!!!!:shock:
No wonder why there have been so many problems. And Sirius had you believing it was us dumb subscribers all along.

 

[TSS Taylor]

Wow no wonder these things have such a high failure rate.

Some of you may remember this has always been one of my pet peeves with Sirius antenna in that the high volume of antenna failures causes so, so many problems for subscribers.

Clearly these things aren't even sealed well enough to keep the elements out of them to prevent the rusting out.

I've caught a lot of flack over the years, but I've said it many times that the bulk of reception problems that most subscribers have are crappy antennas and over the years that has been proven to be the absolute truth.

Yep, it's the fact that the antenna isn't sealed as well as it should be. The non Dot Micro Antennas might not pick up quite as good of a signal, but they do last a lot longer from what we've learned.

Here are two that last longer than the Dot Micros.
Directed Electronics Replacement Car Antenna
SIRIUS Square Car Antenna

 

[johninbricknj]

Yep, it's the fact that the antenna isn't sealed as well as it should be. The non Dot Micro Antennas might not pick up quite as good of a signal, but they do last a lot longer from what we've learned.

Here are two that last longer than the Dot Micros.
Directed Electronics Replacement Car Antenna
SIRIUS Square Car Antenna

Got the Directed Electronics Replacement Car Antenna from you and it's working great.
That was the second Dot antenna I cracked open and the first one was even worst then that one
When in doubt, replace the antenna first.

 

[dawgstar50]

Would it do any good to seal the seams on the dot with silicone before putting it on the vehicle?