I bought a new Audi a few months ago, which includes a Sirius subscription. I have store-bought XM radio on three other cars within my family, with no problem. However, the Sirius reception on my Audi is terrible for local driving, with dropouts (and the message "Linking") over and over again. Every tree, every wire, anything and everything seems to interfere, and I cannot enjoy the service that I had looked forward to. The dealer says there is nothing I can do about it, that it has to do with the Sirius satellite reception. Sirius, of course, suggests that the dealer can do something with the antenna. Someone else said that maybe the tuner needs replacement. Sirius just sent me a "new signal" (whatever that means) as a result of my latest inquiry, which has done nothing for me.

Have others had the same experience, and are there any suggestions?

For now, I can only hope that the Sirius/XM merger does some good.

All responses will be appreciated.

 

not sure what car it is, but I have a B7 S4 with Sirius and the reception is excellent except SUPER dense treed neighbourhoods like SouthEast Oakville where it cuts out, and even then only occasionally.

Your antenna sounds defective...do you have Sat Nav? Is it pretty solid? or do you have trouble with it as well? I reckon its the same little sharkfin antenna for both Sat Nav and Sat Radio. There's an Audi tech on here who posted a 'Send me your questions' forum. Try to find that.

I have to say my Sirius gives me nowhere near the level of trouble you're having. I see the 'LINKING' thing only when I'm in an underground garage. Otherwise, just those little skips for 1/2 a second when under bridges at low speeds. On the highway, I'm usually going too fast for it to skip under a bridge.

 

I have a 2004 Audi Allroad an I had the same problem with the radio displaying linking. Before that problem, everytime I hit a bump the sirius satillite radio would cut out for a second. I pulled the radio, no problems. Then I looked at the reciever in the back on the drivers side and the antenna had pulled out of the back of the tuner. The tuner had also fallen from the velcro that was holding it up. I pluged it back in and the problem was solved.

 

I have a 2006 A6 where the satellite radio worked fine, then I took it to the dealer to fix the push button start and ever since then the satellite radio reads "linking" and it only works once in a while. Where is the internal antenna mentioned above? Could a wire have been knocked out? Any help greatly appreciated.

 

I have the same trouble but I think it's Sirius' issue. 2 friends have had the same problem in 2 different models of Mercedes. But it only happens in certain areas of town-not necessarily near tall buildings or other obstructions. I had XM in a Nissan with no problem at all.

 

Well i drive Toyota and i did not find such problem any time.. Some time it happens the garage people do not do proper service and says every thing is all right..

 

Hi. I have a new 2011 A3 with the exact same problem. Did you ever find a solution? Thanks.