Sirius vs. XM

[5280quattro]

Hey, brand new member here, and this is my first post! I recently picked up a B7 A4, and I just installed a factory Sirius module to get satellite radio. My grievance is with how sloooooow the Sirius receiver is to change stations. It seems like there is a ~3 second lag before a new station is picked up. I have a factory XM receiver in another car, and the XM seems to switch stations much quicker (seems like < 1 second).

My question is this: Is this difference in delay due to the actual Sirius vs. XM technologies? Or is this just the way the factory Audi satellite receivers are, regardless of which brand (Sirius/XM) receiver is installed?

If a factory XM receiver will make station changes quicker, then I will swap in a heartbeat. But if the delay is the same, then I will just stick with the Sirius.

Thanks.

[Stubek]

XM and Sirius are the same company. it is just the particular receiver. Neither company makes its own hardware, it is down to the hardware and the software in the product.

[5280quattro]

Yes, they are the same company in corporate governance and administration, but both services still maintain their own fleet of satellites that transmit using unique signals and coding. So the technology between the two is different. Delphi makes both the XM and Sirius OEM Audi receivers. It is possible that one of the technologies provides for faster channel changes, which is what I am getting at. (Or, it is also possible that the Delphi hardware is equally slow between the two receivers)

Perhaps I should ask a more direct question: Could anyone with factory XM radio in their Audi advise on how long the delay is when changing stations?

[Stubek]

I can't compare factory units, but my factory Sirius in my B8 switches a lot faster than my aftermarket XM I had in my B6, but that was also a unit I bought in 2004, so it could be old.

I think my current unit is almost instant.

[VroomVroom]

Both OEM units in my '06 (the car came with a Sirius unit, I swapped it out for XM) worked flawlessly, with instantaneous channel changes.

[5280quattro]

Both OEM units in my '06 (the car came with a Sirius unit, I swapped it out for XM) worked flawlessly, with instantaneous channel changes.

Thank you. Do you happen to know what revision letter your modules were? (The Sirius and the XM?)

[VroomVroom]

Thank you. Do you happen to know what revision letter your modules were? (The Sirius and the XM?)
No such luck, I'm afraid. That car is gone, and my current '08 doesn't have a satellite receiver. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[4SHRNGS]

I just picked up a B7 2008 A4 3.2 in January. Ordered a Sirius Satellite module from Hugh at EuropaParts.com for $50. DEAL. Install took me <5 minutes. Working like a dream. Channels change immediately without delay. The car I traded was a Honda with Navigation and XM. Works just as well. Meanwhile, we traded a 2008 Acura TL for a 2012 VW Tiguan SEL in December and the OEM Sirius Satellite Hardware in the VW SUCKS!!! There is no cache memory and the signal cuts out constantly. Wherever VW is sourcing the Satellite Radio tech, they screwed up and should fix ASAP!!