Sirius/XM Radio modules?

[Redrooster]

Does anyone know if it is possible to change an XM Radio to a Sirius by just changing out the Module?
I have a 2006 VW Jetta and because of poor XM reception I found out through a forum that you could just change out the module located in the trunk area
to a Sirius one which I did. Only took me 10 minutes.

 

[Jimmy07]

Does anyone know if it is possible to change an XM Radio to a Sirius by just changing out the Module?
I have a 2006 VW Jetta and because of poor XM reception I found out through a forum that you could just change out the module located in the trunk area
to a Sirius one which I did. Only took me 10 minutes.

Are you asking in general, or specifically for a 2019+ Ram? In general, yes, if you have an xm receiver with an xm subscription, you can swap it out for a Sirius receiver and get a Sirius subscription package. FCA uses SiriusXM hardware built into the uconnect radios, so they are using all 5 satellites (2 for XM, and 3 for Sirius), and the subscription package reflects that.

 

[Redrooster]

I am asking specifically for my 2019 yes. So if I understand you reply, Some hardware can be changed without having to get a whole new radio?

 

[Jimmy07]

I am asking specifically for my 2019 yes. So if I understand you reply, Some hardware can be changed without having to get a whole new radio?

No. At least not for the radios that FCA uses (Ram). There’s no such hardware for our radios to use either/or service, and I’m not quite sure why one would want to take remove a tuner that uses both sets of satellites, and use a tuner that is limited to either XM satellites only and their stations, or Sirius satellites only and their stations.

 

[MikeXM]

So if they have both on-board, could it be they actually scan signals and randomly lock to a XM satellite signal while they could have used a Sirius one that would be better overall (not cutting so often)?
It could also explain why sometimes it works great, sometimes it is awful. It depends on which it locks to?

 

[Jimmy07]

So if they have both on-board, could it be they actually scan signals and randomly lock to a XM satellite signal while they could have used a Sirius one that would be better overall (not cutting so often)?
It could also explain why sometimes it works great, sometimes it is awful. It depends on which it locks to?

No. It depends what station package you are using. The XM satellites can only transmit stations assigned to it, and Sirius satellites can only transmit stations assigned to it. They are still separate entities, but the satellite radio tuners built today are built to use both. They still keep separate XM and Sirius subscription packages offered for those that are still using old tuners designed for one or the other.
As far as signal quality from one vehicle brand to the next while listening to the same station, there are literally dozens of variables as to why, and it’s not the service itself. You’ve got different antennas between vehicles, mounting location, equipment on the vehicle that causes EMI, etc etc.

 

[MikeXM]

No. It depends what station package you are using. The XM satellites can only transmit stations assigned to it, and Sirius satellites can only transmit stations assigned to it. They are still separate entities, but the satellite radio tuners built today are built to use both. They still keep separate XM and Sirius subscription packages offered for those that are still using old tuners designed for one or the other.
As far as signal quality from one vehicle brand to the next while listening to the same station, there are literally dozens of variables as to why, and it’s not the service itself. You’ve got different antennas between vehicles, mounting location, equipment on the vehicle that causes EMI, etc etc.

Okay... does that mean that if I know what stations are using what satellite group (XM or Sirius) we can actually verify if cuts are different from one or the other? We all assume the lower XM satellites have more cuts because terrain, and Sirius is less likely to cut because it is more overhead...

Example... On my route to work, my main station always cut at the same area (large trees). If I select another channel known to be on the other group of satellite, I could validate if the cuts will occurs at the same place.

You have that list available?

Interesting...

 

[Redrooster]

No. At least not for the radios that FCA uses (Ram). There’s no such hardware for our radios to use either/or service, and I’m not quite sure why one would want to take remove a tuner that uses both sets of satellites, and use a tuner that is limited to either XM satellites only and their stations, or Sirius satellites only and their stations.

From what I know Sirius sats are higher in the sky so less chance of reception problems caused by trees beside the roadway. That is why I want to use those sat. verses XM ones. I am having a little trouble wrapping my head around this. You said, " I’m not quite sure why one would want to take remove a tuner that uses both sets of satellites".
I called Sirius/XM again and asked if they could change my sub to Sirius as they are the ones that told me I had an XM radio but they said no. I called my dealer to ask if there was some hardware that could be changed in order to make it a Sirius radio and after they researched it they called me back and said no.