Mark S. Holden wrote:

Peter Maus wrote:
snip



Depending on the market, you may have local terrestrial repeaters
to fill in weak spots where satellite isn't visible to the receiver.
We have them in Chicago, so I rarely see dropouts even with
underpasses, and similar obstacles. Over the weekend I was on the road
where terrestrial repeaters were not available. Dropouts were moe
common than in the city.



Hi Peter

Nice to see you.


Thanks. And you.




None of the areas I'm likely to spend much time in are apt to have
repeaters.

I haven't been able to find a signal strength map, but some areas get a
strong enough signal from the satellites to punch through a canopy of
trees. Rockland County NY is an example. Great place for HF too.

I'm somewhat surprised I haven't seen ads for "high performance" XM
antennas to reduce dropouts.


They'd have to be larger. And more unsightly. Remember were
talking about a culture here that, in the main, prizes cosmetics
above everything else.

I've even heard complaints that the satellite antennae on cars
are too big, and too unsightly.