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A guide by Robert L. Estes, Sirius user
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Sirius satellite radio offers an abundance of audio choices: dozens of commercial-free, gendre-specific music "streams" as well as news, sports, talk, weather, traffic, and comedy/entertainment selections. You can sample these offerings for free at www.sirius.com (3 days - click "Listen"). Once you decide to subscribe, you will need to purchase equipment. This revised guide covers some of the more recently released Sirius products.
Satellite radio was initially targeted for auto use, and reception capability is offered as an option by an increasing number of manufacturers. Sirius suppliers also offer a number of aftermarket options. If you opt for an installed unit in your auto, you may need to purchase an additional receiver with a separate (discounted) subscription to listen to Sirius in your home (depending on computer or Dish Network access to your audio system - see below). Portability initially seemed to make more sense to me; however, constantly plugging and unplugging portable units became a bother - not to mention stress on the antenna connectors - so I installed a receiver-tuner combination in my car - and I must say that this has worked better.
In Your Car
Sirius suppliers offer a number of similar portable units (newer examples: 'Audiovox SIR-PNP3 Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver', 'SIRIUS Sportster Replay Plug-and-play satellite radio with car accessories', 'JVC KT-SR2000 Plug 'n' Play Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver', I purchased several second-generation 'Audiovox SIR-PNP2 Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver's and these units have generally performed well. The auto antenna has a strong magnet – I would suggest placement close to the rear window or trunk ledge so you can more easily remove it when necessary. Feed the antenna wire through your trunk and position the cradle in the vicinity of your car’s radio/CD player. For a more professional look, tease the thin wire into a channel beneath molding surrounding your rear window.
The 'Audiovox SIR-CK3 Vehicle Kit for SIR-PNP3 Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver' and 'JVC KS-K6012 Wireless FM Car Kit for the KT-SR2000 Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver' broadcast secondary FM signals to be detected by your car’s radio. Older units had only 4 frequency choices which could be compromised by interference from local stations broadcasting in the same range. Newer units provide a wider range of frequencies. You can also use a cassette adapter, but neither of these options will provide optimal sound quality comparable to an in-dash receiver - though it is not bad. If you are willing to spend more money, better sound is available if an after-market AUX adapter can be plugged into an open CD changer outlet on the back of your car’s radio/CD player. These are available from a number of Internet sources such as Autotoys.com, but self-installation can be challenging. Many car stereo dealers will sell and install AUX adapters (which can be used with other devices such as MP3 players). The sound and performance improvement for Sirius was dramatic for me, but the additional cost was significant, running in the range of $ 75-160 or more.
An in-dash installation will require a Sirius-ready receiver, tuner, and antenna (Example: 'Kenwood 45-Watt Sirius® Satellite Radio-Ready Cassette Receiver with Detachable Faceplate and Two Pre-Amp Outputs (KRC-435)', 'Kenwood KTC-SR903 SIRIUS satellite radio tuner', 'Kenwood CX-SR40 SIRIUS satellite radio antenna'). Most vehicles also need a dash mounting kit and wiring harness adapter. The tuner is generally installed in the trunk - a long cable is provided for connection to the receiver. The Kenwood tuner has an additional connection for adding a changer. All functions are controlled from the dash panel. While the portable Audiovox tuner generally worked satisfactorily, the Kenwood SR903 has been a superior performer with fewer signal "dropouts" in the vicinity of obstructions such as overpasses or tall buildings. The display shows less information than a portable unit, but titles, composers, and performer names are available with a sequential display "toggle" button. I installed my unit in a Camry, but I would advise professional installation unless you are a committed do-it-yourselfer.
In Your Home
Home hookups are easier ('Audiovox SIR-HK3 Sirius Satellite Radio Home Kit for Sirius SIR-PNP3 Receiver', 'Sirius ST-H1 - Sirius satellite radio receiver accessory kit', 'JVC KS-K6013 Home Connection Kit for the KT-SR2000 Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver'). Usethe supplied cable to connect the docking unit’s output to an available AUX input on your stereo. As an alternative, you could purchase a boombox adapter (Example: 'Audiovox SIR-BB3 Sirius Satellite Radio Boombox'). Your problem here will be positioning the antenna to receive an adequate signal. You may be able to place the antenna on a shelf adjacent to the unit - in larger urban areas Sirius has a ground-based antenna system to supplement or replace the satellite signal. This has worked fine in my downtown office but was not adequate at home. I moved the antennas outside, purchasing 'Terk SIR6 Outdoor Home Antenna (Sirius)' and 'Terk SIR-EXT50 Indoor/Outdoor Extension Kit (Sirius)' add-ons. The antenna which comes with the home kit is actually quite adequate, but the outdoor antenna is easier to fix to the roof and properly position. You do need to have a relatively unobstructed view of the sky. Large, overhanging trees can interfere with reception. Signal strength can be examined from the "Menu" option of portable units.
Component units ('Kenwood DT-7000S Sirius Satellite Radio Home Tuner','Audiovox CE1000SR Sirius Satellite Radio Home Tuner') are designed for installation with fixed systems. Earlier Kenwood units were reported to have programming bugs (also a problem with first generation portable units: 'Kenwood KTC-H2A1 Sirius Satellite Here2Anywhere Portable Radio Tuner') which are said to have been fixed with later upgrades. The Audiovox unit is newer. Given the expense of these units, I would check production dates and return policies in case you wind up with a defective receiver. You can expect antenna positioning issues identical to those described in the preceding paragraph.
Sirius music streams are available to Dish Network subscribers on the 6000 channel, allowing in-home access without additional equipment or charges. You can also listen to a digitally streamed signal accessed from the Sirius web page using a password, assigned after you subscribe. A high-speed connection is advisable. If you have an Internet stream-compatible MP3 recorder, you can save broadcast segments for "time shifted" playback on a portable MP3 player. Sirius has recently released a portable device, the 'Sirius S50 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver with Car Pack', which will store up to 50 hours of programming. I suspect that additional portable units will be released in the not-too-distant future.
Activation
It’s advisable to find a reasonable antenna signal before you activate the service. After initially turning the unit on, current stream content will be loaded into the receiver before it defaults to the Sirius preview channel. If you don’t have a decent signal, the satellite won’t “find” your unit for activation. Menu items such as antenna localization, display options, etc., don’t require a subscription for adjustments, so consider examining these displays before activating. The initial unit activation costs $10 from the web page, $15 by phone. Additional units can be activated only by phone; but the operators gave me the discounted rate for add-ons since I initially activated over the Internet.
If you like broadcast audio whether for music, news, or "talk," it is highly likely that you will enjoy satellite radio - and my guess is that content will continue to expand as time passes. I hope that your experience will be as positive as I have experienced to date with Sirius.
Disclosure
I have no financial interest in Sirius or any products referenced in this guide. |
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