Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Argon kills XM Signal
#131881 03/15/06 04:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,039
Tharkun Offline OP
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,039
The Polk XRT12 is being moved from the bedroom system to the HT system. Well working on the cabinets today I decided to set the XM radio up by running if through the Sony HD. I found a problem with the argon-gas which all of the solarium glass is filled with, the XM signal does not seem to like it at all.

Since I will be starting on a complete re-wiring of the HT system later this week, I ordered a 50' cable from Polk and will be installing the antena on the exterior of the south wall, this will give me 100% of the sigal reception and solve the glass problem. Just another small project to what seems at endless list at this point.

So anyone that has thermal windows with argon, you may encounter the same issue.

Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131882 03/15/06 04:30 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
I don't think it's physically possible (in the physics sense of the word) for a gas to interfere with an electromagnetic signal. It might be the solarium framing doing it.

Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131883 03/15/06 04:36 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
Ditto.


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131884 03/15/06 04:37 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,039
Tharkun Offline OP
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,039
I found it hard to belive, but the solaium is all wood, and after trying the XM antenna on about 40 pieces of glass, kinda ruled out another reason. So take my expierment for whatever it's worth.

Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131885 03/15/06 04:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
I don't know, I'm still waiting for ET to respond to my ElectroMagnetic message I sent to him in the Orion Nebula.


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131886 03/15/06 04:44 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
lol

Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131887 03/15/06 04:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
This came from XMFan.com, it appears windows with certain types of coatings will not allow XM to pass.

"However, there are some cases where you can get your portable to recieve reception inside the house. The XM satellites use a powerful signal that can blast through snow, rain, and even wood. However, this signal isn't the alpha and the omega, so it can't get through metal, concrete, flesh, etc. You won't be recieving direct satellite signal in a warehouse, your basement, or any building made of steel. Even if you are near a south facing window, many windows and their coatings (tinting, UV coating, etc) will completely block a satellite signal. You probably won't be getting it in your gym, office, or home UNLESS you have a terrestrial repeater nearby. However, if you are in a building with a wooden roof, you may be able to pull in a signal."


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131888 03/15/06 05:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
Also, I don't own any XM stuff yet, but being that it is satellite based, don't you have to have a view of the southern sky for the most part?


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131889 03/15/06 05:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,039
Tharkun Offline OP
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,039
The solarium is on the south side of the house, and yes, XM recommends a southern direction for the antenna. In the testing we done, we can move it from the solarium glass to a regular window about 2' away and have the four full bars.

Another test we decided to try was opening one of awning windows in the solarium, with the window open about 12", held the antenna on the exterior side of the glass....full four bar reception, when the antenna was moved to the interior side of the glass, nada, zilch, no signal at all. The only differance from the regular themal window with low E glass where the antenna has full reception and the solarium glass where it has no reception is the argon gas. So if it is not the gas then perhpas I have a poltergeist in the solarium.


Re: Argon kills XM Signal
#131890 03/15/06 05:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
Dennis, though there has been speculation on the XM forum that argon gas may cause the problem, as you can see from Randy's post, if your windows are tinted to protect against glare, the tinting is often a thin coating of metal, which could well be the cause of the signal loss. Regardless, you aren't the only one that has had this problem.


Jack

"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,940
Posts442,457
Members15,616
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 386 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4