SIRIUS Sportster 4 Satellite Radio Receiver with Car Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Long story short - Nice radio and programming with horrible FM modulation.Don't buy this unless you're going to wire it directly to your car's antenna or radio.

I bought this device last October to listen to college football games during long road trips.It is my first introduction to satellite radio.I've got mixed feelings about the product.

First of all, the unit was fairly easy to get working.I plugged the power and satellite antenna, turned it on, and selected an open FM station in the unit's setup menu.It's pre-tuned to a test station (national weather).I got a clear signal from the satellite just leaving the antenna resting on the dashboard.I activated it online after a couple of tries (didn't have the unit powered up the first attempt).

However, the FM transmission from the unit to my car stereo was awful, borderline un-useable.Even after choosing a completely clear FM station, turning off the car, waving the unit around until I found a sweet-spot, and crossing my fingers, there was always noticeable and very disruptive static interference.Based on what I've read, apparently the FM transmission strength for this unit way below previous models.I'm told the SP-TK2 model has a much stronger signal.I've not been able to determine whether or not that had anything to do with FCC regulations.

For my vehicle, I've overcame the FM transmitter shortcomings by connecting the unit directly to the Ai-net/Changer input on my Alpine radio and using the AUX function.This step eliminated all of the outside static interference and bypassed FM modulation completely.However, part of my attraction to this unit was the plug and play function.My friends and I have taken several road trips this year and I brought the Sirius unit with me.The cars we used did not have A/V inputs, so we had to make due with the lousy FM transmitter.We were able to fight through the static for the sports and talk radio stations, but music was un-listenable.

The unit itself is ok.It's easy to use and the screen has a lot of info.It keeps track of all the scores in sporting events, show and host for talk stations, and song/artist for music stations.It's awkward to mount though, because all of the wires plug into the back of the dock, not the bottom.You need clearance between the back of the unit and the mounting surface for these wires.My two options were to use an air conditioning vent clip or the windshield suction cup.I chose the vent because I didn't want the unit in the sunlight.At night, the unit is very bright.You can turn down the brightness of the screen, but the buttons are backlit with a piercing blue light that can't be adjusted.The rotary knob is especially bright.It looks like I have a big blue glow stick in my car at night.

The programming is pretty good.Sirius carries every NFL game, and nearly all the college football games, which is exactly what I was looking for.They also play a lot of the NBA and NHL games, but I've not paid much attention to them.They have three comedy stations, and several talk/news (including the BBC) radio and sports radio stations.On the other hand, all of their music stations do not meet my sound quality expectations.I have a decent aftermarket stereo, and the music stations sound worse than local FM.They're not terrible, but the difference between listening to a song on Sirius and on a CD is jarring.That said, they have a fair amount of genres represented.You'll hear songs on Sirius that you'll never hear on your local radio.

I've had limited customer service interaction, but it's been all bad.I chose the three month program to start off with.Sirius doesn't give you a very detailed invoice on the billing screen.It simply shows Subscription charge, Activation Fee, and Taxes.The Subscription charge on the invoice did not match what plan stated it should be, it was about $1 more.The Activation Fee was what I expected.However, Taxes came out to the 15% of the sum of Subscription plus Activation.There's not a state in the US that has a 15% sales tax rate.I called them to find out why it was so high.The lady on the phone had no idea what I was talking about.First she tried to explain why there was a charge for activation.It took quite a few minutes to get it across that my question was about the taxes, not the activation fee.Next, she tried to tell me that the tax rate was based on the Houston rate where she was located.The sales tax in Houston is 8.25%, not 15%.And besides, you are supposed to be taxed based on your local rates, not the location of the service center.After trying to get this point across (another 5 minutes) she went to speak to a manager.She came back and offered me a $15 dollar credit for the activation fee, without ever answering my question.I was tired of the conversation, so I took the credit and hung up.I'll try again to get an answer out of them when my three months are up.

All in all, the unit has sort of worked out for me.It works fine in my car, but travels poorly.I can listen to all the sports I want, but the music sound quality leaves much to be desired.It was easy to hook up, but looks silly just clipped onto my air-vent.If all of the short-comings I've described were addressed I'd be very happy with it.

**Update 12/19/2006**
Warning: The unit is dying on me less than three months after I purchased it.Sometime after around 10 minutes of use, the receiver will become locked into "acquiring signal" mode regardless of actual signal strength.Turning the unit off and then on again fixes it, sometimes.I've researched this issue online and apparently it's becoming a common problem.The recommended fix from Sirius is to either re-activate the receiver on-line or return it for a new unit.If I could, I'd knock another star off this review.

**Second Update**I eventually got SIRIUS to send me a replacement head-unit, free of charge.The second radio works just fine.However, I had to ship the original radio back to the manufacturer.A word of warning: if you ship something to Sirius, keep your tracking number.They tried to tell me that they never received my original radio and charged me for the second.I got on the phone and used the UPS website to tell them who in their warehouse signed for the package.The charge was later reversed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: SIRIUS Sportster 4 Satellite Radio Receiver with Car Kit

Product Description:
Get in the game with the plug-and-play Sirius Sportster 4 satellite radioreceiver, which sports a new slim profile while still maintaining the same great featuresfor which the Sportster series is known. Just like other Sirius-compatible receivers, theSportster 4 offers a large, easy-to-read display, a rotary tuning knob, and accessiblebuttons, but now moves seamlessly into your car, home, or boombox. More significantly,the Sportster 4 maximizes the listening experience of Sirius radio's broad sports lineup,with the ability to decode the incoming Sirius digital-quality signal from more than 120music, news, and sports channels. It's also easily transportable, and thanks to thebundled car kit, lets you listen to your favorite satellite radio programs while driving.
An easy-to-read, six-line display tells you the channel name and number, category, artistname, song title, and time simultaneously. The receiver also lets you program up to 30presets of your favorite streams, as well as search by stream, artist name, song title, orcategory. And with a quick press of the One-Touch Jump button, you can instantlyswitch between the traffic and weather reports for your city or any of the other music,news, or entertainment channels. Other programming details include an S-Seek functionthat stores your favorite artists and songs and alerts you when one is playing on any ofthe music channels, direct station tuning via the numeric buttons, and a channel lockoption. Time functions, meanwhile, include an onscreen clock, alarm, and sleep timer, aswell as a program alert that allows the unit to switch to a preprogrammed stream at aselected time.
The Sportster 4 really earns its stripes, however, with its variety of enhanced featuresdesigned specifically for sports lovers. The Game Alert feature prompts you when yourfavorite NFL or other sports teams are playing on Sirius. The Game Zone lists all of yourfavorite teams in one virtual category and lets you select a different team from each ofthe various sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and college sports. And whatsports fan could do without the Sportster's instant replay function, which lets you pause,rewind, and replay 44 minutes of live radio? As soon as you tune to a channel, thereceiver automatically begins storing the audio for later playback.
The Sportster 4 also includes a built-in FM transmitter that sends Sirius radioprogramming to your vehicle's FM tuner, so you don't have to make a direct connectionto enjoy the full array of channels. Simply set an empty FM frequency on your radio andtune the Sportster 4 to the same frequency. This function also works with other FMtuners, such as the one on your home stereo, but is easily paired with the car thanks tothe bundled vehicle kit, which includes everything you need for listening to Sirius whiledriving. Components include a vehicle docking station, a suction cup mount, a ventmount, a DC power supply that plugs into your car's cigarette lighter, a roof-mountantenna, and mounting hardware.
Sirius satellite radio is a subscription service that provides more than 120 channels ofprogramming, from digital-quality music to news, talk, and sports. It is available only inthe lower 48 states--not in Alaska, Hawaii, or U.S. territories. The Sportster 4, whichmeasures 4.5 by 2.9 by 0.6 inches (W x H x D), is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Sportster 4 satellite radio receiver, wireless remote control, lithium battery, vehicledocking station, roof-mount antenna, suction cup mount, vent mount, cigarette lighterpower adapter, mounting hardware, installation guide, Sirius channel information card,user's manual.

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Sirius SP-TK2 Sportster Replay Satellite Radio with Car Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I won't clutter up this review with pros and cons on Sirius vs. XM satellite radio service. You can sign up for a 3-day trial of each at their respective websites if you need help making that decision. Instead, I'll assume that you've already gone with Sirius and focus on whether or not the Sportster Replay is the right plug-and-play receiver for your needs.

INSTALLATION
The Sportster Replay is a plug-and-play receiver, which means that you shouldn't need to modify the existing stereo setup in your car or boat to use it. After plugging in the external antenna and the power cord, 99% of users will be ready to roll. I have read reports of a handful of users having trouble getting an adequate signal with this simple install, but I've not personnally experienced this (see more details under "Performance" below). It took me just under an hour to install mine in an SUV, with most of that time spent trying different methods for how best to hide those two cords throughout my interior. The only tools that I needed were a screwdriver and a butter knife. It's almost disappointing to discover how easy it is to disassemble your car's interior into pieces, but it really helps out here!

The antenna itself is a flat magnet about the size of a fifty-cent piece that attaches to your trunk or roof. The kit provides plenty of length; in fact, some car owners may have to find a place to hide the extra bundle of wire, either in the trunk or under the dash. The power cord plugs into your cigarette lighter or any other 12v socket, which becomes the only visible wiring sticking out of the entire install. It's also a bit on the short side, so you may have to get into a little bit of trickery through the glove box or a heating vent depending on your vehicle. I recommend searching the web for tips that others have to share based on their installation experiences.

While the receiver itself is portable, it docks to a cradle which stays in place in your vehicle and has all of the wiring connections. This design is one of the advantages of the Sportster over the comparable Starmate Sirius receiver. The Starmate plugs all cables directly into the receiver, meaning that you have to fumble around with wires whenever you take it with you or get back into your vehicle. The Sportster on the other hand just lifts right out of the dock with no such hassle. The docking cradle that somes with this kit is capable of lots of twisting and bending, so you'll be able to find the right spot on the windshield or dash (if your dash is very smooth) to affix it with a powerful suction cup.

PERFORMANCE
The Sportster delivers good sound and has good antenna reach as well. Remember that satellite radio is digital, so it differs from traditions signals in a couple of ways. First, all of the channels sound "compressed" because that's what all satellite providers must do to get 100+ channels to fit into one signal. Music sounds comparable to existing FM, not CD quality as some erroneously expect. Talk sounds a bit tinny, almost like a phone conversation, but you get used to it quickly. Second, the antenna is line-of-sight since it needs to maintain a direct path to the satellite signal. This means that you can forget about listening to any satellite radio in parking garages, tunnels and other covered structures. I've read about problems with other receivers being unable to reliably pick up good signals in downtown driving, but the Sportster has been very solid for me.

The Sportster Replay uses a wireless FM transmitter in the dock to substitute the Sirius signal for a particular FM channel of your choosing. This is a big improvement over earlier satellite receivers that had to be hard-wired to your stereo (i.e. professionally-installed) or else connected via a mess of wires going to a cassette adapter. I've read other reviews complaining that the wireless transmitter isn't strong enough, but I've not had any such issue. As a matter of fact, the default FM frequency that the unit ships with is an actual station in my area but the Sportster mowed it down with no difficulty. Only when I turned up the classical stations could I hear any hint of interference, so I easily configured it for a frequency that's pure static in my area and it's been rock-solid and very clean sounding ever since.

USE AND FEATURES
The unit's "Replay" capability is like a very limited Tivo for radio. Once you select a channel, it begins stockpiling that content into its 30-minute memory. You can rewind if you'd like to hear a song again or if you missed something said during the news. You can pause in case you get a phone call or have something else to do, e.g. a toll booth. Once you change stations, that memory is erased and the recording begins again. Recorded content is also lost when you power down the unit. If you are interested in true time-shifting of your Sirius content, look into the pricey S50 receiver, which is basically an mp3 player that not only captures but also stores Sirius content for later listening away from your vehicle.

One simple but very useful feature is the "memo" button, which allows you to tag a particular song and store its info for jotting down later. You can store up to 20 of these song and artist combinations, so you'll know who you liked next time you're shopping for music.

The receiver has 3 banks of 10 presets each. It also allows browsing by channel category (rock vs. country vs. talk, etc.) which is nicely-rendered on the big, easy-to-read display. Contrary to what earlier reviews indicated, it is possible to adjust the brightness and/or contrast; however, blue is the only color choice (sorry, amber fans). Also, the shiny cover over the display can make it difficult to see on sunny days as it reflects everything around it. This kit comes with a remote that is actually very handy unless you have a very long reach or manage to mount the dock on your dashboard.

ACCESSORIES
The Sportster is an established model for Sirius, and as a result, there are already many handy accessories available for it. You can immediately purchase a home kit that plugs into your stereo or PC, a boombox for mobile play, or additional car docks if you plan on sharing one receiver across multiple vehicles. This line of accessories is tops among the Sirius receivers because the others are either more limited (the Starmate) or way more expensive (the S50), making the Sportster the best value for a wide range of applications.

CONCLUSION
The Sportster Replay is a dependable Sirius receiver that picks up good signal reception and then blasts it wirelessly to your existing FM tuner. Installation is a no-brainer, mainly just tucking wires under your vehicle's carpet and weatherstripping. It's easy to use with a big, bright display and remote control. There are many available accessories for it, making it a good value if you want to use it in multiple locations. It's the ideal first receiver when you jump into the satellite radio arena.

If you definitely know that you're committed to Sirius and you want true time-shifting of content in an mp3 player, get out your wallet and take a look at the S50. Or, if you absolutely must have a more stylish-looking receiver, consider the Starmate, but you're really getting a lot less convenience for a little bit of savings vs. the Sportster.

PROS
* True plug-and-play makes both installation and everyday use very easy
* Unit is simple to use thanks to the included remote and big, easy-to-read display
* Full line of available accessories make the receiver usable in a multitude of places

CONS
* Rather big and plain, it's not the most stylish-looking unit out there (hello, S50)
* Replay functionality has rather limited usefulness since unit can't be powered on-the-go

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sirius SP-TK2 Sportster Replay Satellite Radio with Car Kit

Product Description:
With the Sirius SP-TK2 Sportster Replay Satellite Radio with Car Kit, you'll never miss another play from scrimmage again. The ultimate plug-and-play satellite radio, the Sirius SP-TK2 lets you take all 120-plus Sirius stations with you wherever you go. For football enthusiasts, this means that you can do all your shopping while the big game is on and still catch all the gridiron action.
With the Sirius SP-TK2, you get a radio with a built-in FM transmitter and enough internal memory to store the last 44 minutes of Sirius content. The radio features a six-line display, 30 channel presets, a 20-song memory that alerts you when one of your targeted songs is playing on Sirius, and a Sportster Replay's Game Alert function to let you know when your favorite NFL team is about to take the field. Because Sirius broadcasts every NFL game all season long, the SP-TK2 will quickly become indispensable. A "game zone" feature lists updates of your favorite teams' scores on-screen, and a convenient "jump button" gives you one-touch access to traffic and weather reports for your city or your favorite Sirius channel.
The included with the car kit is a vehicle docking station with a suction mount, remote control, DC power adapter, and a roof-mount antenna with a magnetic base and a 20.5-inch cable. A wireless FM transmitter sends your satellite programming to your car's FM receiver so that you can listen to Sirius programming through you car stereo. In other words, this radio and car kit give you everything you need to keep connected to the full range of Sirius satellite programming any time of day or night.

A Sirius subscription, sold separately, is required to access Sirius satellite programming.

What's in the Box
SP-R2 Sirius satellite radio receiver, remote control, CR2025 battery, SP-C2 mobile docking cradle, suction cup mount, car power adapter, antenna, FM transmitter antenna, installation kit, installation manual, and user's guide.

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Sirius Stiletto SL10 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Yes, you could buy this radio and attempt to run around with it wearing the uncomfortable, oversized antenna headphones and spend your day repeatedly tilting your head at weird, painful angles trying in vain to hold onto an elusive live signal, thus frustrating yourself silly in the process.... or.....you could (unfortunately) change your expectations just a bit, accept this radio for what it is actually able to consistently deliver on-- and ENJOY the heck out if!! Here is how:

1. Buy the MANDATORY home dock with the superior antenna, automatic charging of battery when the unit is docked, and remote control.

2. Program the radio to record up to 10 hours of your favorite channels, in 60-minute blocks (or whatever duration you prefer; I record a fresh 9 hours of content overnight while I am asleep, from about 6 different channels.) You do this while the unit is sitting in the home dock, making use of the continuous power supply and greatly improved antenna reception.

3. Wake up to 10 hours (or whatever you have chosen to record) of fresh, remixed content.Plug in a REGULAR pair of headphones-- whatever kind you like-- and enjoy!

In other words, just think of it as a radio version of a Tivo (or other brand of DVR).I am already used to using Tivo and not watching television "live" anymore-- so applying the same concept to satellite radio wasn't very difficult.I really wish I could say that you can be mobile all day with this radio picking up live signals with no problems from the antenna headphones, but the stark REALITY is that your "live" listening will possibly have to be relegated to when you are plugged into either a car or home dock; otherwise, you are just going to have to start enjoying making up to 10 hours of recordings (while docked) and then listening to them during your mobile times.Not hard to do!(Buying a second 'home dock' for the office will give you even more flexibility).Another benefit of recordings is that you can skip through the recorded songs (yes, song breaks are included in the recordings) very easily; quickly finding the songs that you may want to "dub" onto something else.(The home docks come with the outputs and cables that you will need to connect to other devices for dubbing.)

Good Luck!!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sirius Stiletto SL10 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver

Product Description:
SIRIUS SL10PK1 SIRIUS(TM) STILETTO SL10 Live, portable reception of Sirius(TM) programming;Stores up to 10 hours of live Sirius(TM) programming;Automatically records Sirius(TM) Satellite Radio with commercial-free music; 1-touch recording of up to 10 hours of live, individual songs from Sirius(TM) Satellite Radios commercial-free music;Schedules & records up to 6-hour blocks of music programming, talk or news from Sirius(TM) broadcasts;Song/Artist Seek alerts user when favorite songs or artists are playing on any Sirius(TM) music channel;Exclusive Aurora user interface provides easy access to Sirius(TM) radio;Pause, rewind & replay 44 minutes of live radio;Enhanced media dial with 6-way navigation control puts everything at the users fingertips;GameAlert prompts user when favorite games are broadcast & alerts when the scores change" SIRIUS(TM) STILETTO SL10

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Sirius S50 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver with Car Pack Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've waited for three months for the S50 to come out.I finally found one and had it installed professionally in my car.I love what the S50 can do, and I'm overall very pleased, but I have some problems with the S50.First the good stuff.It's a great design with an awesome LCD display.The station, artist and song are always visible.None of the scrolling stuff.The base has a rotating know to change channels, replay songs, press to record a song you like while it's playing and a host of other options.Very cool.The removable lightweight unit is about the size of 2/3 of a deck of playing cards.With this unit, you can remove it from your car, plug in the headphones and play your downloaded MP3's and recorded content from sirius.The rechargeable battery is supposed to last around six hours.I haven't drained it yet.It recharges automatically when plugged into the base unit.Additionally, it will automatically download music from your three most listened to stations...ingenius.Also, if you like a song you're listening to, you simply press the rotating knob, and the song is recorded for you onto the portable unit...awesome!Additionally, if you like a song you just heard, you can click the knob, and it plays again.You can then skip ahead to the current song playing or keep listening.You can also pause the broadcast and unpause without a hitch.As you turn the knob to change channels, a voice tells you what channel you're selecting which is a cool feature if you want to keep watching the road.

I love the selection of music that is available for my taste (alternative stuff).Some stations are lame, the all Elvis channel or all Bruce Springstine channel for example, but that's a matter of taste.Besides, there's plenty to choose from no matter what your taste in music.

And now, the bad stuff.1) I was disappointed with the sound quality.I would describe the quality as somewhere between good FM radio and AM.Voices often sound like they're speaking or singing through a tin can.I thought it may have been the FM broadcaster in the unit, but when I play MP3's in the car through the unit, they sound great, so I guess it's not enough band width in the broadcasts.2) The portable unit does not have an equalizer option.You can't adjust the bass or treble which even the cheapest MP3 players have.That was poor oversight on their part.3) My biggest gripe is that the removable unit will sometimes vibrate loose, causing a loss in the transmission.This is very annoying, but I'm getting used to tapping my unit from time to time to prevent it.I think part of the problem there is that my unit was installed so that it lies in a flat position.I may have to get that changed, despite the fact that I love the way it's positioned right now.Sirius should have designed it so that the unit locks in.However, when you lose the signal (not from the unit vibrating loose), the voice asks if you'd like to switch to downloaded content which can be done very easily.
UPDATE:I had the unit re-installed so that it's not flat, no problem now with the unit slipping out.

Moreover, I'm very pleased with the S50.If you're aware of sound quality issue I'd definitely recommend the unit.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sirius S50 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver with Car Pack

Product Description:
If you're serious about keeping your music with you at all times, the Sirius S50 Satellite Radio Receiver and MP3/WMA Player System Pack may be just what you're looking for. Small enough for your shirt pocket, and loaded with all the accessories you need to play it over your car stereo, the Sirius S50 offers an intoxicating blend of satellite radio and digital music capabilities that are certain to transform your portable listening experience.


Use the optional home dock to route Sirius radio to your home stereo. View larger.

Load up tunes from your computer via bundled software. View larger.

Your satellite programming. Your MP3/WMA digital music files. Take them all on the go with the S50. For starters, when the Sirius S50 is set up in your car, or in the optional home docking station (sold separately), it's ready to capture more than 120 channels of Sirius satellite radio programming. But don't feel intimidated by the scale of all that programming; the Sirius S50 has several automatic and one-touch features that will help you get the most out of your satellite-radio experience in no time flat. Game alerts automatically prompt you when your favorite teams are playing, and a sports ticker gives you up-to-the-minute scores throughout the day. The unit's 30 channel presets offer one-touch navigation to your favorite Sirius stations as well as to Sirius traffic and weather reports.
The Sirius S50 also boasts an internal memory that can store up to 50 hours of digital content, either from your favorite satellite programming. With a simple push of the unit's easy-to-spot heart-shaped "love" button, you can save the Sirius program you're listening to for future playback.
So when it's time to work out, or when the beach is calling, just slip on the earphones and enjoy the commercial-free programming and music files of your choice. (A belt clip for the player is included in the kit.) Note that while live satellite radio content is available when you're in your car or at home--using either the included car cradle or the optional home cradle--it is not available when the S50 is in portable mode.
You'll also get the accessories you'll need to play the Sirius S50 over your car stereo -- a cradle that allows the unit to receive live Sirius broadcasts, a car mount, a DC power adapter, a remote control, and a roof-mount antenna. The car cradle's media dial makes it super easy for you to surf through 120 channels of Sirius programming, and a voice-assisted navigation announces the name of the channel you've just tuned into, so you can find your favorite channels without taking your eyes off the road. The unit's built-in wireless FM transmitter "broadcasts" the sound over an unused frequency on any FM stereo, so there's no complicated installation process. And if your in-dash stereo has an auxiliary input, you can connect the Sirius S50 directly to it for even better sound.
The unit's bright 176 x 220 TFT color display makes it easy to read programming data and sports scores. And at a mere 1.9 x .9 x 3.9 inches (WxHxD), and with rechargeable batteries that will give you six hours of play per charge, the Sirius S50 is ready to go wherever you take it.

Note: Sirius Satellite radio programs require a subscription that's sold separately.

What's in the Box
S50 satellite radio, AC adapter, cigarette lighter power adapter, car antenna, car mount, earbuds, remote control, USB cable, belt clip, and PC software.

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Pioneer GEX-XMP3 Portable XM Satellite Radio Receiver w/ Home Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought an Xmp3 player from Amazon about a week ago. I have to write that it became almost difficult to buy one because I read all manner of both rave and poor reviews. In the end I took a leap of faith and bought one despite identifying with some poor reviewers. The principle poor I read here was absolutely wrong and I want to address that here because the leap of faith I took was in deciding that the poor review was written by someone who likely didn't know how to operate the device.

The poor review stated that you had to view all the channels and could not save favorites so that you could easily go to the channels you like easily. Frankly I couldn't believe that, bought one anyway, and found the feature the review stated was not there in all of 5 seconds. And I am first-time XM device owner and subscriber.

So I want to accomplish two things in this small review. I want to say if you are too stupid to use the device, don't bother writing a review about it. You scare me and anyone else looking for credible information on a device. I just can't stand it when write bad reviews with less then all the facts. This rotten reviewer could have spent a few seconds with the device without even reading the manual and found the settings. It's right on the menu and so I am lead to believe this person has some ax to grind because no one is that stupid to miss the feature.

I do have some complaints, but for the most part, anyone would like this device.

The xmp3 has a very simple menu system on the device itself. You start off by being able to see all channels in a long list or seeing them by group. Once you find a channel you like, click options, then click Add to Favorites. It's so simple I don't know how one bad reviewer missed it. There is a paper channel guide sitting on top of the manual too. So if you just want to type in a channel, like 129, just press the keypad button and type it in. So in just 2 steps you are into whatever channel you want. I know CNN is 122, so I can go to my favorites, or just punch it in. I can't see how to make that any easier.

Someone here mentioned signal problems. I very much want to cover this because that also scared me. I live in San Francisco. And I take public transportation all the time. Buses, BART, I walk, etc. Some city streets allow just2-way traffic. One lane for cars in each direction. If I walk on those narrow streets with 2 to 3 story houses on both sides, then the signal cuts out. If I want on wider streets, it's fine. And there are two kinds of signals. Terrestrial and Satellite. You can get one or the other, or both. And there is a setting in the options that shows you both signals while the music or news plays. So you will see how little signal you need to get the programming. Unlike regular radio, a limited signal does not mean poor quality. It's all you need to get the full experience. It's digital, so it's perfect or it's not. It doesn't need full strength to get a perfect audio output. This is important. Now, the Xmp3 came with a home kit, and I bought an extra one for work. I didn't have to mount the antenna outside at all. Just place it on a window ledge and watch the antenna signal. Aim it around and watch the signal response. It's stupid-easy. I did the same thing at my office. So when I am home or at the office, I plug the xmp3 into the doc, which is already plugged into the external antenna and I get great audio. It comes with a remote control with every home kit. A pair of self powered $20 speakers is all you need to use these with the home kits. It works fantastically and you need only the one device.

Some wondered if you can truly record more than one station at a time. Yes, you can. Keep this in mind because it's important and I'll explain why in the next paragraph where I explain the battery issues also raised in review.

Some complain the battery only lasts for 4 to 5 hours in live mode. First, live means you are listening to Xmradio live, and not recorded. The XMP3 player can play MP3s, WAVs, and recorded XM radio, plus live XM Radio. There is an easy way to extend the use of the radio to meet anyone's enjoyment needs. I have owned 5 iPods, 4 Zunes, 3 Zen Players, and 2 Rios, plus a Sansa. I have listened to over 200 audible books. I listen to podcasts more than anyone I ever met. I've been listening to portable audio for over a decade. So Xmp3 has a lot to live up to. I'm just as tough on a device as anyone else.

I want to give a quick example of how I use it and you can apply this to the battery issue. Because my method solves all the problems of battery, signal, etc in my opinion. So open those eyes wider and pay attention. The reality that this records 5 stations at once is the key. In the morning before the New York Stock Exchange Opening bell, I am up and getting ready for work. I record CNN, Bloomberg, and CNBC at the same time for about an hour. I can mostly listen to one of those live as I get ready for work, but the other 2 are recorded at the same time. When I hit the street to take my bus, I listen to the other recorded programs to avoid any signal issues. The information is still fresh, and I get no signal problem as I did record this while the unit is mounted into the external antenna. Playing back recorded programming, audible books, or mp3s makes the battery last 16 hours. So my point is, when you are listening to something live take the opportunity to record other stations so you maximize your listening time. It's easy, and it works well. And you get to use the device all day. Again at 4:00PM at work I set it to record the stations I want for an hour. So that at 5:00PM when I leave, I am listening to recorded shows from 1 hour ago and again, little battery drain, and no signal problems on the way home because it's recorded playback. What's the difference in listening to 1 hour ago programming? In fact, it's better. Let me explain why. When you record a channel for 60 minutes or more and then play it back, you can skip ads as easily as you can hit the "Next" button. The recorded shows are divided up by every change. If a ad comes up, it's considered a segment which can be skipped in playback. So when I listen to record news, I can quickly listen to the news by skipping ads. And it's even easier than a tivo! Just one tap of skip, skips one ad. If there are 3 ads in a row, you can skip 1, 2, and 3 times to skip all three ads. Easy as pie and you'll love it. So believe me, you want to take advantage of recorded shows when you go for a walk. You skip the bull, get perfect audio, and can listen just like live or skip ads. Up to you.

So I have to say, in terms of the device itself, it's a 5 star device. After reading poor reviews, I'm glad I tried it anyway. If you are on the fence, go for it. You will see as I have see that the device is fantastic. That's where the rave reviews come from. Those are from those folks that have a brain in their head and don't have some ax to grind.

Now I do have gripes, but they have to do with the XM2Go Music software. This software is not a music manager as you might think. It should not be compared to iTunes or Media Monkey, because it's honestly not a music manager at all. It's more of an upload tool to upload mp3s or WAV files to the device. Read on...

I thought the XM2GO app would be a full music manager, but rather what it does is allow you to easily setup a program record time if that's what you want. You can use it to upload music to your SD card. But the best way to do this is by organizing what you want to upload to the device into a single folder before you upload it. If you already have a full music collection on your hard drive that is stored in the file system by artist and you want a small subset of favorite tunes, you're going to go crazy with XM2GO because you will have to pick one by each song using a director tool in XM2GO to hand pick each song and choose upload. It's insanely stupid.

I use Media Monkey instead of iTunes. And in Media Monkey, I can take my favorites playlist and sent a copy of the songs in that playlist to a folder on my desktop in Windows. Then I use XM2GO to upload the contents of that single folder to the SD card. This gives me my favorite MP3s on the XMP3. I find this the fastest, easiest way to deal with the extremely lousy XM2GO software, which didn't even come with my player. I had to download it. The one real complaint I have with the XMP3 player is not with the device. It's with the Music app from XP / Pioneer. These two companies absolutely blew it on the software. You can work around this as I said, but it would have been great to have a more full-featured music app so that you can easily manage podcasts and mp3 playlists on the device. The way it's done now makes me want to visit with Pioneer and XM and slap these stupid programmers. I don't know why it is so hard for these companies to see what needs to be done to make something simple and enjoyable to use. It's as if they have no brains in their skulls, and know that's not true. It's not a show-stopper. I'd buy the device all over again even knowing what I know now.

You can add audible content to the Xmp3, but not on the SD card. It goes on the devices built in memory. And recorded XM radio also goes on the device memory. So the SD card is truly good for MP3s and WAV files.

Now a few other points for first -time XM people. If you use the web app to play content online you can click a button and buy the song from Amazon. I love this feature. So listening via a laptop over the internet is a good idea and can help you discover new songs to buy. BUT! And I mean BUT, some stations are not available online. No Bloomberg or CNBC for example. Don't count on every station being there exactly the same way as on the device. Because of this, I strongly recommend getting a home kit for your home and office. If you just think it through a little you'll find that the battery, being mobile, etc are all not a real problem. Even for those walking around dense cities as I am.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer GEX-XMP3 Portable XM Satellite Radio Receiver w/ Home Kit

Product Description:
Record What You Love, Listen When You Want! Introducing the Pioneer GEX-XMP3 Portable XM Satellite Radio with MP3. Providing you with the best of both worlds.
With the XMp3, the Music Never Stops
Loved that song, really want to hear it again? Miss that MLB play or joke on one of the comedy channels? Pause and replay it. Know you'll miss the game? Record it and play it again the next day, or on the drive home. In the car with your kids? Listen to 20 on 20 or XMKiDs while simultaneously recording the game, your favorite show, or the station you can't get enough of to listen later.



Live XM: Enjoy over 170 channels of music and exclusive content.




The NEW XMp3 offers:

More ways than ever to record up to 100 of your favorite XM programming
Automatic Recording: 15 - 30 hours
Multi Channel Record up to five channels at the same time
DVR like feature pause and replay 30 minutes of live XM
Smaller and lighter form factor
Larger and more vibrant color display
Improved User Interface and track wheel
Micro SD Slot! The XMp3 is microSDHC compliant and works with standard or high capacity microSD cards (up to 8GB).
New Exclusive XM2go Music Manager compatible with XMp3 and backward compatible with Inno, Helix, Nexus, and SkyFi3

Record up to 75 hours of programs or 10 Hours of songs.


Compact and easy to cary at only 3.1 ounces.


Live XM

Enjoy over 170 channels of music, sports, news, talk, entertainment, and exclusive content
Set up to 99 Favorite Channels
TuneSelect: Be alerted when your favorite artists or songs are playing on any XM channel
XM Programming Guide: See the best of XM and choose to be alerted when it is playing or schedule to record it

Recording

More ways than ever to record up to 100 your favorite XM programs -- automatic, scheduled, one touch -- and save time by recording up to 5 channels at the same time
One-Touch Recording of up to 10 Hours of Individual Songs
Schedule Recordings of up to 75 Hours of Your Favorite XM Programs
Automatic Recording of up to 15 - 30 Hours of Your Favorite XM Channels
Save Time -- Record up to 5 Channels at the Same Time

MP3
Enjoy your personal music collection (MP3 and WMA files) collection with the micro SD card slot. Compatible with standard or high capacity microSD cards, the XMp3 is microSDHC compliant.
XM2go Music Manager

Schedule Recordings of up to 75 hours of your Favorite XM Programs
Manage your music: Create and modify playlists of your own MP3 collection or your XM recordings
Online Programming Guide: Discover new music by seeing what's playing on XM for the next week
Bookmark and purchase songs from compatible online music services including Napster
Purchase and listen to your favorite audio books from Audible.com/xm

Other Key Features:
GameSelect: Be alerted when your favorite sports teams are on any XM channel Info Extras: Keep track of selected sports scores and stocks


What's in the Box
GEX-XMP3 Portable XM Satellite Radio with MP3, wireless remote control, headphones, operation manual, warranty sheet

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SIRIUS Stiletto 2 Portable Satellite Radio with MP3 Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I thought about writing a review for some time now. I wanted to make sure I was out of the honeymoon phase before I wrote about this device.I have had it for over a couple of weeks now and feel like it's time.

I purchased the Stiletto 2 as a late Christmas present to myself.I had signed up originally for the 3-day trial and loved the radio selections.I live Montana and our radio stations are pretty decent, but we have a lot of commercials.So, being able to listen to music without commercials is fantastic.

I wasn't sure what device to purchase, so I started reading.I had read a number of reviews (particularly the poor ones) about the Stiletto 2, but I liked the portability aspect, so I purchased it.

I now understand their complaints.They want better reception from the device itself, better/more comfortable headphones, etc.I agree the reception on the device isn't the best when indoors, but I purchased the home kit and that significantly improved reception.

When I am away from my home dock, I connect through Internet radio and it works just fine.

I also bought the car kit, but haven't had a chance to install it yet.I was able to get reception in my car without it though, so I imagine the car kit will only improve upon that.

The user interface is quite easy to navigate and the controls on the device are fairly intuitive. I like to test devices without reading the manual first to see how easy it is to figure out and the Stiletto 2 was pretty straightforward.I had to refer to the manual to understand the recording options, but otherwise, it was simple.

The recording option is fantastic.I set up a number of recurring sessions in the middle night.In the morning, I can then listen to them when I am working out, running errands, etc.I think this is probably one of the best features of the device.I have 15+ hours of recorded content and have used only 35% of the internal memory.Replay is fantastic.You can skip through songs just like your MP3 player and for me, that's a great option.

The size of the device is just right.It fits in my pocket, but it's not so small that I am afraid it's going to get broken or lost.

The battery life has been more than adequate.It's rated at like 4+ hours for Satellite or Internet radio and 20+ for recorded or library selections.I can attest that I have listened to it for many hours without running out of power.I wouldn't mind having a spare battery, but it's probably overkill.

As for the additional SD card slot.It's too bad it's under the battery.When you install an SD card, it's like you are putting in RAM in your laptop.This is not simple or intuitive for a lot of people (thinking of my mom here).I am sure there was an architectural reason, but it's too bad it's not just inserted on the side like a number of cell phones.

I have owned a number of musical devices in my life, 5+ iPods, a Zune, Rio, CD players, Walkmans, etc, but I can say this device has really reminded me of how music can be such a wonderful part of your life.I listen to my radio non-stop, and I wouldn't have it any other way now.

Click Here to see more reviews about: SIRIUS Stiletto 2 Portable Satellite Radio with MP3 Player

Product Description:
With the release of the Stiletto 2, Sirius ushers in the next personal music player revolution. With a slim and sleek profile smaller than a video iPod, the ultra-portable Sirius Stiletto 2 satellite radio receiver features a built-in antenna that allows reception of the Sirius signal without the need for an external car or home docking station. This handheld receiver offers users up to 100 hours of internal storage of live satellite program and music feeds. It also can handle MP3 and WMA files, enabling you to mix Sirius content with your own personal music collection. When coupled with an optional vehicle or home docking kit, you can broadcast both Sirius radio and digital audio files over any FM stereo via the built-in transmitter (adapter required).


The sleek and stylish Stiletto 2 can play both Sirius broadcasts and MP3s. View larger.

With its compact design, the Stiletto 2 lets you experience Sirius internet radio on the go. The compact Stiletto 2 MP3 player is a 4.3-ounce portable radio that is capable of receiving live Sirius broadcasts via both satellite and Wi-Fi signals. Internal flash memory is used to store Sirius content as well as MP3/WMA files for non-live playback. Listeners can easily bookmark songs and tag favorite songs for later purchase using any Windows-based online music service. Additionally, the Stiletto 2 supports removable microSD flash memory cards to enable users to conveniently expand usable memory space. MP3 and WMA files also can be stored on the Stiletto 2 and managed with the included My Sirius Studio software. The Stiletto 2 is compatible with most music download and subscription services.
The enhanced Wi-Fi capability of the Stiletto 2 permits access to standard Sirius Internet Radio (SIR) or, for an additional subscription charge, SIR's premium audio quality offering. SIR gives subscribers access to more than 80 channels of Sirius Satellite Radio content on the Internet, including Howard Stern's two channels, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius OutQ, and commercial-free music programming. Sirius also selected Altec Lansing to develop the new antenna headphones for the Stiletto 2. Featuring large 30-mm drivers for full-spectrum acoustics and an adjustable headband for increased user comfort, the new Altec Lansing antenna headphones can deliver hours of listening enjoyment in absolute comfort and crystal clear audio clarity.
Other features of the Stiletto 2 include a brilliant 2.2-inch color display, a handy media dial, and a six-way navigation control that provides easy one-handed access to all features and content. Thrown in for added convenience are Sirius Replay, which allows users to pause, rewind, and replay up to 60 minutes of live radio programming; Game Alert, which allows listeners to track favorite sports team and drive broadcasts and alerts when scores change; and Game Zone, which provides a listing of the user's favorite teams in one virtual category. Parents also have control over usable channels with the parental channel lockout feature. Measuring 1.9 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches, the Stiletto 2 weighs in at a scant 4.3 ounces.
About Sirius
Sirius Satellite Radio delivers more than 130 channels of music and programming via crystal clear direct satellite feed. In addition to 69 channels of commercial-free music listening, Sirius also delivers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, and weather forecasts. Sirius--the official satellite radio partner of the NFL, NASCAR, and NBA--broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL and NBA, as well as live NASCAR races. All Sirius programming is available for a monthly subscription fee.
What's in the Box
Stiletto 2 receiver/MP3 player, battery, AC power adaptor, Altec Lansing headphones, ear buds, PC cable, and My Sirius Studio software.

Listen to more than 130 channels of music and programming on the go--in the car, at home, or in the office.

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