Sirius channel switch lag
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, CA, USA
Tesla
Sirius channel switch lag
When I switch the channels on Sirius radio, there seems to be a long delay before the next station would start playing, which making channel surfing almost painful. It reminds me of the first digital cable box that we had which was almost useless. The XM/Sirius radio in our other car is lightening fast compared to this.
Are you guys also experiencing this? Is this "normal?"
Are you guys also experiencing this? Is this "normal?"
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 12
From: Connecticut
2018 BMW 540d
When I switch the channels on Sirius radio, there seems to be a long delay before the next station would start playing, which making channel surfing almost painful. It reminds me of the first digital cable box that we had which was almost useless. The XM/Sirius radio in our other car is lightening fast compared to this.
Are you guys also experiencing this? Is this "normal?"
Are you guys also experiencing this? Is this "normal?"
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 561
Likes: 2
From: New Mexico
2014 E350, 2012 SL550
The delay in satellite station changing is probably due to "buffering". The music is not played in "real time" but, rather, some duration of the signal is stored internally in the radio before being played. If this wasn't done, the playback would be rife with dropouts every time the signal was momentarily blocked by things like trees, overpasses, etc.
The difference in radios might be based on the duration of the buffering. If it was 1sec of data, then channel changes would be quick, but dropouts would be frequent. If another radio buffered 3sec, then channel changes would be slow, but dropouts would be less frequent.
Regards,
Don
The difference in radios might be based on the duration of the buffering. If it was 1sec of data, then channel changes would be quick, but dropouts would be frequent. If another radio buffered 3sec, then channel changes would be slow, but dropouts would be less frequent.
Regards,
Don
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 88
Likes: 3
From: So.Cal., US
2011 E550
The delay in satellite station changing is probably due to "buffering". The music is not played in "real time" but, rather, some duration of the signal is stored internally in the radio before being played. If this wasn't done, the playback would be rife with dropouts every time the signal was momentarily blocked by things like trees, overpasses, etc.
The difference in radios might be based on the duration of the buffering. If it was 1sec of data, then channel changes would be quick, but dropouts would be frequent. If another radio buffered 3sec, then channel changes would be slow, but dropouts would be less frequent.
Regards,
Don
The difference in radios might be based on the duration of the buffering. If it was 1sec of data, then channel changes would be quick, but dropouts would be frequent. If another radio buffered 3sec, then channel changes would be slow, but dropouts would be less frequent.
Regards,
Don
BTW, if the Sirius signal was instantly turned on (from being off), it would take about 0.1sec (100ms) to reach us. However, since it's constantly transmitting all channels, the distance and delay of travel doesn't factor into the noted delay.
That being said and FWIW, whatever you do listen to will always be at least 100ms old (plus the buffer delay).
For reference, I'd say that the delay I experience when changing channels is in the 1 to 2 second realm.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, CA, USA
Tesla
While the above points are valid, we have 3 XM/Sirius in cars of different make, and they switch as fast as the FM stations. Which leads me to believe this is not a normal behavior of the satellite stream, but more of COMMAND's implementation.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 561
Likes: 2
From: New Mexico
2014 E350, 2012 SL550
I don't mean to trivialize your complaint, it's just that I think most of us live with it without even noticing.
Regards,
Don
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 815
Likes: 2
From: Fla. Snowbird.
Porsche 911 Turbo S 2014! E63S 14, Audi S8 13, CLS63 12, E550 12, C63 09, all tuned
Karl901
Sirius is joke. Programming is terrible. They play the same music loop on every channel every day for months.
