Customer Reviews

Delphi XM Signal Repeater

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

XM reception inside buildings can be frustrating - especially for those of us living outside the range of the terrestial repeaters in many large cities. This repeater setup gives us mobility in an apartment or modest house (even two stories).

It is important to understand that this system repeats the XM digital signal on a different (900 MHz) frequency than that used by the satellites and the urban ground stations mentioned above. This means that the XM radio can't pick up the repeater signal directly. Each radio will need its own attached 900 MHz antenna, and will need to be in a dock to use it. This set includes one such antenna - more can be bought seperately. One repeater can drive any number of XM radios, so equiped, within its range (a few rooms).

I use mine with a Pioneer Inno, mounted on a Delphi SA10221 XM Portable Satellite Radio Boombox. The 900 MHz antenna mounts on the back of the boombox, in a provided slot, held by a screw. So, the repeater doesn't noticably effect the portabality of the boombox, which we move from room to room, plugging into AC power, but not using batteries. It should work with batteries, but at what cost to battery life I don't know.

A TIP: It can be hard to find a good inside location for the satellite antenna, an issue this repeater fixes, if ANY single good location can be found for the repeater transmitter and its attached satellite antenna. Our trouble was that no CONVENIENT location could be found. The ultimate solution is an outside antenna, perhaps with an in-line amplifier, driving this repeater system. My son in rural WY needed such a set-up to get reliable reception in the winter. But, like me, you may get away with a simple trick.

Attach the satellite antenna directly to your XM radio (suitably docked or boomboxed), and select the signal strength display from the radio's menu. Use this to move the antenna to likely receiving locations, looking for a convenient place with room nearby and power for the repeater transmitter, where a strong signal is displayed. If you find such a spot, leave the antenna positioned and swap its cable from the radio to the transmitter. If you CAN'T find a good signal, here is the trick: Locate the antenna in a likely convenient location (2nd floor, southern wall, etc) where you'd expect the best signal and move & aim the antenna while watching the signal strength. THEN TRY PLACING A METAL PLATE OR PAN, or similar size metal decorative object a few inches away. Slowly reposition the antenna and the metal object. Even a fraction of an inch can be significant. If your preferred location has any signal at all, you may find a precise arrangement that yields a strong signal. Then, swap the antenna plug from the radio to the transmitter and as long as you don't disturb the magic setup you should get good reception, which then gets passed through the repeater to your radio(s).

Final caviat: older 900 MHz wireless phones will disrupt the repeater signal, even from several rooms away, but only when they are in use (talking/ringing). This could be a problem in an apartment or closely spaced houses if a neighbor has one. The newer 2.1 GHz and 5.4 GHz phones (and WiFi Internet routers) don't seem to interfere though.

This product is amazing and I am glad that I added it to my family of XM products. I live in a rural area so XM has been an important part of my life, and the repeater gives me the freedom to broadcast the signal to the detached garage, workshop, barn or to rooms in my home without having to lug around the radio, power and antenna. I love the convenience of the unit and it's receiving range. XM has been one of the best electronic purchases that I have made in the past few years.

The Delphi SA10116 Indoor XM signal repeater enables me to place the antenna on my
lanai and wirelessly transmits the signal to my stereo set located in my living room. We have the choice of all those excellent music and talk programs, with excellent reception.

I had tried other methods but this is the first device I have used that will send the xm signal from 1 end of the house to the other. Amazon's sale price was a bonus.

I bought this directly from the manufacturer as soon as it came out (and paid more than the Amazon price), but it is definitely worth the money. I can only get XM reception in one room of my home with the XM antenna precariously positioned on top of a curtain rod. It was very frustrating to have to deal with that (I almost sent it back and cancelled service), but this repeater takes care of the problem! I can now use the MyFi as it was intended to be used--as a portable device--in every room of my home. The only drawback is that the device is a little unwieldy at times because you have to keep the MyFi in its dock when you bring it to another room and you have the repeater antenna attached to that dock. It can be a little awkward lugging all that hardware around. If you are going to simply place it on a table in another room to listen, that is fine, but if you want to hold it in your hands, i.e., on your deck or patio, it can be awkward to have all that equipment attached to it. Another minor drawback is that the device can get very hot (the repeater itself, not the antenna) and also it doesn't appear to have an on/off switch, so it's "on" all the time. I don't know how many watts it draws, but that might be a problem for some people. Other than that, it is absolutely wonderful if you have a problem getting an XM signal in your home.

Easy set up, worked great right out of the box. Much better solution than drilling holes to run wires. I do wish it had a reception level meter on it, though. Without one it's necessary to set up the receiver next to the repeater when positioning the primary antenna.

We signed onto XM recently because the receiver was loaded in a new car---classical FM in our area is mostly pop-schlock and the XM classical channels are very good. So then we bought a small XM receiver for home, where it was to be used mostly in a north-facing basement room. Reception failed. This device saved the day. Put it upstairs in a south-facing room, and it transmits flawlessly all over the house. Highly reoommended.

The product works great. Unfortunately, I was wanting a repeater that would allow me to use my XM Inno. The Inno has to be in the cradle and then the repeater antennae is attached accordingly. The mobility that I wanted (to just walk around my home with my Inno and get a great signal) is not possible with this device. It is unfortunate that the promotional information from Delphi did not tell me that this was going to be the case.

Saved me the trouble of snaking antenna cable across my house. Works perfectly. Full signal strength, no interference from/with other wireless devices. Granted, it's only transmitting a total of 15ft, but it solved the problem in my case. FYI: The existing antenna for my Delphi unit does NOT work thru double-pane thermal low-E glass. I had to mount it outside to get any signal.

I pre-wired an XM antenna on a second floor window sill, running the cable (with the aid of an extension cable) down to a media closet in the basement in a new construction house, only to find out the the XM signal won't go thru a low-e glazed window after moving in. (XM claims they never heard of such a problem) I bought the repeater and have the new antenna in my bath vanity (that's right - not even in a window) and now transmit the signal wirelessly to my reciever in a media closet. I find it hard to believe that I receive the signal thru siding, 6 inches of insulation, 1/2" of drywall, and 3/8" of plywood but yet I can't get the signal thru 2 panes of low-e glass! But, now with the repeater it works great! It sure beats trying to fish a new cable thru the walls and down to the basement. I highly recommend it!