BMW SA655 Manual

TIS Service Bulletin
SI B65 19 15
Audio, Navigation, Monitors, Alarms, SRS

XM SATELLITE RADIO RECEPTION

New information provided by this revision is preceded by this symbol
This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B65 19 15 dated July 2016.
Whats new:
• Information section
• Reception Complaint reporting.
MODEL
ALL with SA655 Satellite Radio

SITUATION

Due to changes by SiriusXM Satellite Radio broadcasting you may experience Satellite Radio cutouts in
different geographic locations since spring 2016. After a few seconds of reception loss 'No Signal' may be
displayed in the Control Display (CID).

CAUSE

As of April 2016 Sirius equipped head units receive their broadcast signal from the XM Satellites constellation.

INFORMATION

Currently Satellite Radio is provided by SiriusXM for BMW customers. SiriusXM is the only company currently
broadcasting Satellite Radio in North America. Satellite radio was broadcast from two different sets of Satellites
using different earth orbits. XM uses geosynchronous (GEO) satellites located roughly above the equator. This
means that the satellite signal to some parts of the United States can come in at an angle as low as 32 degrees
to the horizon. This is different than Sirius Satellites in a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) which came in to the
vehicle at a higher angle to the horizon. As of April 2016 Sirius equipped head units moved to the XM Satellites
constellation and now show the same location based cutouts.
SiriusXM is currently updating the repeater network to cover areas of low reception, but the general
disadvantage of geostationary satellites can't be compensated completely. Buildings, hills, trees, highway
sound blocking walls or any other obstacles might block the satellite signal coming from the south at a 32
https://www.bmwtis.net/tiscode/cgi-bin/bulletin.aspx?sie_path=/tsb/bulletins/htm_store/485...
December 2018
Technical Service
.
Sirius Satellites used up to April 2016
XM Satellites used from April 2016
Page 1 of 2
1/7/2019