Just purchased my 2008 CPO ML350 from a dealer in white plains NY, and since day one, and every single day, I've had a intermittent acquiring signal problem. Called sirius and complained, but insisted that everything's ok on their end, and suggested that I take it back to the dealer. Got the truck back from the dealer yesterday, stated that they checked and tested antenna, receiver ETC, and that they could not duplicate my complaint. But yet, not even a mile from the dealer I get that dreaded "Acquiring Signal" problem again, and several times during my 11mile trip home.

Thanks for your response

MAKE the Service Director ride with you until the problem repeats.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

thanks ... going to do that monday.

If you're going through tunnels, under or beside large trees, through underpasses, or in the canyons of a big city with skyscrapers, this will be normal. The antenna needs line of sight to the satellite. In some large cities, SIRIUS broadcasts locally.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Well, took the truck to the dealer last wednesday ... took a quick spin with the with the tech ... got acquiring signal three times within a mile from the dealer. He tried to explain it away saying that this happens from time to time in all the classes, and even happens in his own car. I explained to him that it never happened in the loaner I got from them a few weeks ago, the rental I got from Avis, a friends toyota, with Sirius satellite installed by Best Buy. I even suggested swapping out the antenna and the receiver, and see what happens, said "it's not that simple" Anyway, I couldn't leave the truck because something came up, so I made another appointment for next week. At least they can't say they couldn't verify my complaint.

If your truck were in my shop I'd simply install another SDAR receiver ( only takes 15 minutes) and drive it on the same route where the problem occurs. If the problem is still there it's most likely a faulty antenna. I've seen a few SDAR equipped vehicles with antenna cable issues, but it's pretty rare.

This "diagnostic approach" is quick and conclusive. I've used it many times.

well, dealer changed the receiver yesterday, picked up the truck today, but still getting the Acquiring Signal. But before I took it to the dealer to get it changed, I had it on a jazz station for two days straight, and didn’t get Acquiring Signal at all. Now that I have a new receiver, I still get Acquiring Signal on my preset stations, but the jazz station will play without any interruption.

I just had a new E-Coupe in the shop last week with the same issue you're having. As I said in my previous post, I just popped a new receiver in and took it for a ride. I lost the signal while driving in a clear area, so I replaced the antenna. Problem solved. Not exactly a high-tech approach, but it works.

You can go technical on them: Really? You checked the antenna? What's the gain? What equipment did you use to test it? What are the specs?

Sometimes simply plugging and unplugging the device will firmly seat the connectors and fix the problem.

Do you notice the signal dropping more as you travel east along heavily treed east/west roads? The graze angle for the satellites can be low enough and the signal sensitive enough that being in the north lane provides enough increased signal due to less attenuation. Yes - eight to ten feet can make a difference.

Going "technical" won't solve the problem. MB dealers aren't equipped or trained to measure/calculate antenna gain. The only equipment needed is an ohmmeter, to test the co-axial cable between the SDAR receiver and the antenna. Also, there's no antenna specs listed in any of the literature available to MB dealers.

As far as the signal strength decreasing? SDAR doesn't have a signal strength indicator visible to the driver (like the CTEL system), so it's not possible to see when the signal is lost.

I see your point about "line-of-sight" issues, but the NY/NJ/CT area is loaded with terrestrial repeater stations, so I doubt that's the problem.

If the SDAR receiver didn't resolve the issue, the dealer should replace the antenna.