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Sirius Patents New Antenna

Via SatRad Tech World and Orbitcast:

Sirius Satellite Radio has patented an antenna that improves both satellite and terrestrial signal reception. This “modular patch antenna” involves three parts:

The first section uses a “metal plated radiating layer” optimized for satellite reception;
The second part is a dielectric layer for optimized for terrestrial reception;
And the third layer is a metal plated ground layer.
The first layer and third layers could be made of any number of metals including Silver, Gold, Copper, Nickel and Aluminum. The second layer would be made out of Teflon, polytetrafluoroethylene (say that 3-times fast), glass, ceramic, aluminum, a polymer, silica, and quartz.

In short, the antenna would be more gooder, and Sirius patented it.

Thanks KTMC!

Posted by BenDee on Saturday, February 10th, 2007 at 3:18 pm.
Filed in Sirius.
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Comments:

  1. Pretty sweet.

    But, it's always easier to say PTFE when dealing with that one polymer you mentioned (I'm a chemist in real life, ha). by Mercer Boy
  2. i hope it works with the stiletto by pbgr9
  3. So I take it only improves terrestrial reception? Doesn't do me any good... by h3x
  4. Quote:
    Originally Posted by h3x View Post
    So I take it only improves terrestrial reception? Doesn't do me any good...
    Did you even read the original post? by DAB
  5. Quote:
    Originally Posted by DAB View Post
    Did you even read the original post?
    No.

    I'm guessing this is a home antenna based on the plate design.. I know it doesn't specify whether its a car or home antenna. by h3x
  6. Quote:
    Originally Posted by DAB View Post
    Did you even read the original post?
    No.

    I'm guessing this is a home antenna based on the plate design? I know it doesn't specify whether its a car or home antenna. by h3x
  7. Quote:
    Originally Posted by h3x View Post
    No.

    I'm guessing this is a home antenna based on the plate design.. I know it doesn't specify whether its a car or home antenna.
    Once again like DAB said, did you even read the original post? by Learjet35A
  8. I tried once to subscribe to Sirius; however, regardless of where I placed the antenna including both in and outside my house, I was unable to maintain a constant signal. It would completely drop out for a period of about five minutes. How the heck is a new antenna going to improve things when their satellite system sucks? My guess is that they need to add more repeaters. In comparison, at least where I live, XM's signal rivals cable in that it almost never drops. by jutzi1
  9. According to the post this will improve both terr and sat signal...and it doesn't specify home/car use...my guess is this this won't be available right away. Also this should work with the Stiletto's car/home docks however better reception while using your SL"on the go" seems a bit much for this product. Maybe the technology could be incorporated into future Stiletto designs.... by siriusurfer
  10. That's why I didn't buy the Stiletto... I have no idea how good of reception it will get up here using those earbud antennas. by h3x
  11. An improved antenna, I'll be interested because at work I have to pick up terrestrial signal and I still get drops out once a while! When will these new antennas be available to the public? by WolfViper
  12. Folks,
    If Sirius has just been award this patent, it would have been filed at least two years ago meaning that there would have been plenty of time for this invention to already be reduced to practice in existing antennas. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for some kind of new antenna breakthrough...
    RKDuke by rkduke
  13. Sirius definitely needs something like this. Bad reception is one of the main problems I hear about Sirius (along with repetitive playlists). Hopefully this product's release won't be too far in the future. by gilmour25
  14. Quote:
    Originally Posted by jutzi1 View Post
    I tried once to subscribe to Sirius; however, regardless of where I placed the antenna including both in and outside my house, I was unable to maintain a constant signal.
    You had some bum equipment. If everybody had your experience Sirius wouldn't have over 5 million subscribers..

    Yes, there are some indoor problems if no land based repeaters are present, but that's the nature of satellite reception. by jwt873
  15. Quote:
    Originally Posted by rkduke View Post
    Folks,
    If Sirius has just been award this patent, it would have been filed at least two years ago meaning that there would have been plenty of time for this invention to already be reduced to practice in existing antennas. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for some kind of new antenna breakthrough...
    RKDuke
    So are you saying the technology doesn't work or that it will be a very long time before we see it at the retail level? In your opinion... by siriusurfer
  16. Quote:
    Originally Posted by rkduke View Post
    Folks,
    If Sirius has just been award this patent, it would have been filed at least two years ago meaning that there would have been plenty of time for this invention to already be reduced to practice in existing antennas. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for some kind of new antenna breakthrough...
    RKDuke
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by siriusurfer View Post
    So are you saying the technology doesn't work or that it will be a very long time before we see it at the retail level? In your opinion...
    I think he's saying that if Sirius was recently awarded this patent, then they probably applied for the patent over 2 years ago, which means they've probably been building antennas with this technology the entire time (with the patent pending). So don't expect this to lead to any improvements.

    P.S.to Ryan and the admins...the multi-quote is great!

    Duke, correct me if I'm misrepresenting your position. by RoadRunner
  17. Hey,

    What do you guys suppose the chances are that this new antenna will work with existing docks? Any Idea if it will require a new type of connection method?

    Cheers
    Miz by Miz
  18. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Miz View Post
    Hey,

    What do you guys suppose the chances are that this new antenna will work with existing docks? Any Idea if it will require a new type of connection method?

    Cheers
    Miz
    This new antenna is designed to focus on satellite and terrestrial signals a little bit better instead of modify how it gets it, so I don't think we'll be looking to change. Cable TV would be SOL if they had to do that. by realwx
  19. I'm in, give me 3! by jmcn72
  20. i don't think you put out something untill you get the patents , if you did some one could steal your product. but if you ask for a patent 2 year ago means they have the pruduct ready to go by now and just waited for the patent to be given to them and now can start selling them. by pbgr9
  21. Quote:
    Originally Posted by jwt873 View Post
    You had some bum equipment. If everybody had your experience Sirius wouldn't have over 5 million subscribers..

    Yes, there are some indoor problems if no land based repeaters are present, but that's the nature of satellite reception.

    Thats over 6 Million!!! by AZJoe
  22. Quote:
    Originally Posted by pbgr9 View Post
    i don't think you put out something untill you get the patents , if you did some one could steal your product. but if you ask for a patent 2 year ago means they have the pruduct ready to go by now and just waited for the patent to be given to them and now can start selling them.
    Then why is it marked "patent pending" on some products that we purchase? by siriusurfer
  23. Quote:
    Originally Posted by pbgr9 View Post
    i don't think you put out something untill you get the patents , if you did some one could steal your product. but if you ask for a patent 2 year ago means they have the pruduct ready to go by now and just waited for the patent to be given to them and now can start selling them.
    This is incorrect. Once the patent is filed, your rights are protected (assuming the patent issues). There is no reasons to wait until a patent issues before bringing a product to market. That is exactly why we see many products labeled with "patent pending".

    Bottom line - my view is that if this technology works, it is already implemented in the antennas that Sirius is shipping today.

    RKDuke by rkduke
  24. i would be interested on a release date im assuming 4q 07
    and around the current pricing as docks etc or maybe a little more by KTMC
  25. The patent office is very slow. I just had a patent issued January 9, 2007 that I submitted on September 24, 2001. This is typical. Inventors rights are protected upon submission and we have been using the technology behind this invention since it was submitted.

    I would expect that all of Sirius' antennas have used the referenced technology for some time. I would expect it is utilized in the current generation of small antennas and perhaps all antennas since day 1. by JohnBrowningFan
  26. I've just had an experience which makes me think Sirius did implement an improved antenna technology in the last year. I recently purchased a Stiletto to replace my S50 (what a piece of junk the S50 was!).

    Anyways, I kept my old S50 antenna connected to the Stiletto and it's home dock. After a week of this I was getting occasional drop out so I replaced the s50 antenna with the one that came with the Stiletto. The result was that my reception improved markedly and there are no longer any drop outs.

    RKDuke by rkduke
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