GDL 49/EchoFlight Reception

I recently installed a Garmin GDL 49 to receive weather reports from
satellite (Echoflight subscription). I was disappointed that we only
were in contact with the satellite for 60% of the time. In particular,
we were not able to get reports just as we needed them...as we were
approaching IFR conditions in Wisconsin (coming from the west). It was
quite frustrating. When it worked, it worked just great. But not
having coverage that much was not good. Does anyone else have
experience with the GDL 49/Echo Flight combination? I am trying to
figure out if the problem is noise being picked up on my antenna do to a
faulty installation, or if the coverage is inherently that poor.

-Sami