Slacker G2 4 GB 25-Station Personal Radio Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought one of the first generation Slacker Radios, and while it is very cool, the form factor (similar in size to an iphone) was a little too big for the gym or even walking around. The G2 is a perfect size, while still maintaining a readable screen.
In case you are new to the Slacker concept, you create your own custom radio stations by selecting artists, and Slacker provides music from those and other similar performers. You can also select from the many Slacker stations. While listening to a station, you can push a "favorite" or "ban" button so that Slacker learns your preferences.
The best part of the Slacker player is the Wi-Fi feature. Before going to bed, I plug in my Slacker Radio to charge along with my other stuff. I hit the connect button, and I'm done. The Slacker radio makes a Wi-Fi connection, and refreshes all the radio stations with new music. Everyday I start out with a newly loaded mp3 player, incrementally better suited to my musical tastes due to the use of the favorite and ban buttons. If you subscribe to the premium service, hitting the favorite button also saves a copy of the song to the player.
Obviously you can "refresh" any mp3 player through the use of playlists, but I never have that kind of time. All my other players are basically static, loaded with the music I first downloaded to them. And unlike downloading music you have selected to an mp3 player, with the Slacker you are exposed to music that you may not know or did not think to download.
For me, with no time or desire to plug my player into a computer and juggle songs in and out, the Slacker is the perfect player.

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The Slacker G2 plays all of your personalized Slacker Radio stations on one sleek, ultra-portable player. Whether you listen to one of more than 100 expert-programmed Slacker stations or custom stations that you create, the music evolves as you listen. New songs are personally selected for you and automatically loaded on the Slacker G2 so your radio stations are always ready to play wherever you go.


Personalized Radio The Slacker G2 plays all of your Slacker Radio stations on one sleek, ultra-portable player. Whether you listen to one of more than 100 expert-programmed Slacker stations or custom stations that you create, the music evolves to match your tastes as you listen.
Effortless Create your own unique radio experience with Slacker Personal Radio. You know what you like--Slacker knows how to deliver it. Slacker's Internet radio offering is built on the expertise of DJs from all over the country, and just by listening, you make Slacker even better at delivering the music that you love.

Music Discovery Perfect your listening experience using Slacker's exclusive personalization tools. With different buttons, you can tell Slacker which songs are your favorites and which you never want to hear again. Fine-tune any station to get more hits or more fringe; request older artists over new. Album reviews and artist bios come with every song and are delivered right to your Slacker G2.

Advanced Radio Clocks Slacker DJs operate using a proven method of picking and mixing songs to deliver excellent musical variety that complements your tastes. This patent-pending DJ technology is embedded in the Slacker Portable to create the very best radio stations. The more you listen, the better it performs to deliver new music you'll love.

Slacker Basic Radio: Free Take the world's first-ever personal radio player with you for nonstop, customized music wherever you go. On the Slacker Portable, store thousands of songs for repeated listening, or connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot to get new music instantly. With hours of battery life, the Slacker Portable is built to go where you go.
To offer your favorite music for free, the Slacker Basic Radio service might play one to two ads an hour. That's significantly fewer ads than traditional radio, so you can relax and easily enjoy your favorite music.

Plus, it's all completely legal. Slacker has unique licensing agreements with thousands of record labels to give you free access to a variety of music. By working directly with the record labels, Slacker gets the latest content to ensure your radio stations always stay current.



Upgrade to Slacker Premium Radio If you want even more out of the service, pay just $7.50 per month for Slacker Premium, which puts you in control. What's the difference between Slacker Basic and Slacker Premium? First, Premium subscribers can avoid the ads that played in the Basic service. So, it's an ad-free listening experience.
Next, Premium subscribers have access to Slacker Request Song, which lets you add your favorite artists' songs to your station. Then, use Slacker's fine-tuning controls to indicate how often those requested songs should play.

Third, Premium subscribers have no limits on the number of songs they skip, letting listeners create the exact music experience they want. (Basic listeners are limited to six skips per hour, per station.)

And fourth, as a Premium subscriber, you can save your favorite songs with the touch of a button. Saved songs are added to your library so that you can listen to them any time. You also can save your favorites to your PC using the Slacker Software Player. It's the ultimate personal radio experience.

Slacker Premium Radio at a glance:

Just $7.50 per month
No advertisements
Request songs
Unlimited skipping of songs
Save favorites



Slacker Radio: It's Everywhere With the Slacker G2, get easy access to millions of songs from thousands of artists wherever you are. All of the music you love is automatically delivered to your Slacker G2 at Wi-Fi hotspots or through your PC via USB. You can listen to your music anytime, even when not connected.
Pocket DJ The same personalized listening experience you love on Slacker.com is available wherever you go on the ultra-portable Slacker G2. Slacker DJs hand pick songs for your player and you can use the ♥ and ∅ buttons on the Slacker G2 to further customize your stations. The more you listen, the better the music gets.
Refresh On the Go The Slacker G2 gives you uninterrupted access to your music wherever you are. Thousands of songs are stored on the Slacker G2 to fill up all of your personalized radio stations. That means you can listen to your stations absolutely anywhere.
The Slacker G2 can automatically add new music at hundreds of thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots across the country. Each time you connect, songs that were hand-picked by Slacker DJs are added to your device. Plus, you can select new stations for your Slacker G2 on any PC or Mac with an Internet connection.

Built-in MP3 Player Already have your own personal music library? The Slacker G2 features a built-in MP3 player. You can store up to 1 GB of MP3s on the 4 GB/25-station Slacker Portable, or 3 GB of MP3s on the 8 GB/40-station Slacker Portable. Then, listen whenever and wherever you want. Check out all Slacker Portables.
On-The-Go Playlists Create personalized playlists with your MP3s using the intuitive controls on the Slacker G2. Enjoy the favorites you own in any order you want. As a Slacker Premium Radio subscriber, you also can save your favorite radio songs and play them whenever you like.

Manage your MP3s Use your Slacker G2 with popular applications, such as Windows Media Player, to manage your music collection and transfer your favorite MP3 files from your PC to your portable player.

What's in the Box Slacker G2 4 GB 25-Station Personal Radio Player, Slacker adjustable earphones, carrying case with sport clip, power adapter, USB cable, quick start guide, preloaded Slacker stations.

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Pioneer Airware MyFi XM Portable Satellite Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)I don't normally submit "product opinions" (I know, shame on me) but this portable XM radio from Pioneer is so good that I felt that I had to. I had been considering getting some kind of a satellite radio for my car for more than 6 months and when I found out that a friend of mine had a Delphi XM unit in his car I knew that the time had come to finally make a move :-)
I was thinking of getting a Delphi MyFi but then discovered that the Pioneer AirWare had recently hit the store shelves. I like the Pioneer brand and also liked the looks (and controls) of the Pioneer unit more than those of the MyFi .. so I picked up an AirWare at the local Circuit City (can get it cheaper elsewhere for sure). I have had it for 3 weeks now and during this time have used it EXTENSIVELY in the car, in my home office and also on business trips. It works great !
I am especially impressed by the effectiveness of the built-in FM transmitter ... I have used a few built-in and external FM transmitters in my time over the past few years but haven't had much luck with them (too much interference from other radio stations). I was pleasantly surprised (and relieved) to discover that the AirWare's transmitter is VERY effective ... I have been driving around the Connecticut/ Westchester County/NYC/Long Island region quite a bit since I got it, without having to switch FM frequencies at all !
The features and sound quality of the unit are great. It is very useful that you can record up to 5 hours of audio (via a "scheduled record" function) that you can then listen to offline when the satellite reception is not up to snuff. Another neat feature is that if you hear a song or artist that you like, you can press a button and from then on whenever that same song or artist is playing on any of the 150+ channels the unit beeps and displays a message so that, if you want, you can press the same button and the unit automatically switches to the relevant channel.
The AirWare comes with everything that you neeed to set it up at home or in a car. When using the AirWare in my car I use the "vent mount" to secure it (in its cradle) to an air vent. I have the antenna magnetically-mounted outside on the front part of the car roof. On some of the more tree-lined roads of Connecticut, satellite reception can sometimes be spotty ... you need to have line-of-sight to the XM satellites which are positioned in the southern sky .. but generally reception is very good. All-in-all I am very happy that I got it ... it is a very, very well designed and executed product ... plus the breadth and quality of the XM programming is great.
In summary I can heartily recommend both the Pioneer AirWare and the XM service !

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Imagine having Satellite radio in your hand, in your pocket, on your hip, in your car, in the mountains, at home, anywhere. Well, it's here. With the Pioneer AirWare XM2go Portable XM Satellite Radio Receiver, you can take XM radio anywhere you want to go. Now you can stay connected to the world in your car, at home, in the office, or by the beach. Pick up the AirWare XM2go, tune in to XM satellite broadcasts, stuff the receiver into your pocket, and you're ready to go.
This receiver comes with a home kit that includes a docking station, antenna, RCA cables, wireless remote, and AD adaptor that will bring XM radio right into your living room. Toss in the vehicle docking station, antenna, and 12-volt DC power converter, and you've got XM on four wheels. Pioneer doesn't stop there, though. With a set of stereo headphones, a rechargeable battery (up to five ours of use), and belt clip, you'll be tuning into the satellite airwaves anywhere your feet might take you.
The built-in memory effortlessly records and stores up to five hours of broadcasting. With this feature you never miss your favorite broadcast. The built-in FM transmitter enables your XM2go radio to play through any car stereo, home stereo, or boom box with a simple frequency tune. And, of course, no XM receiver would be complete without an informative LCD display that shows channel, artist, and song information, as well as personalized stock ticker and sports scores. All of this functionality is at your fingertips with the easy-to-use numeric keypad and scroll wheel. Add 30 presets and you've got one-touch tuning to your favorite channels.
The AirWare XM2go is the perfect introduction to XM satellite radio. It's portable, easy-to-use and requires no special installation. Listen to music, sports, talk, comedy, drama, news and kids programming, from coast to coast. For more information about XM Radio digital-quality sound, coast-to-coast coverage, and more than 150 channels of satellite radio entertainment, visit XMradio.com.
What's in the Box AirWare XM radio receiver, home docking station, home antenna, AC adapter, wireless remote control, 2 AAA batteries, audio cable, car docking station, car antenna, cigarette lighter adapter, cassette adapter, swivel/flush/vent mounts, rechargeable battery, headphones, belt clip, and protective case.

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Slacker 8 GB Portable Radio with 40 Stations (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Slacker portables bring a new dimension to music listening.
Without the hassle of ripping your own MP3s, the service allows you to create your own customized radio stations and then, by WiFi or USB, load them onto the player for your enjoyment at any time.
Many reviews have discussed the player in depth, so let me address a couple of issues in regards to the older player, the G1, versus the new player, the G2.
The G1 player is obviously bigger, and while one advantage is an easier to read screen, it is a bigger package to carry around.
The G1 player also has not had any further firmware updates since March '08, while the G2 player has had frequent updates. Therefore, some important features such as improved battery life, and better USB connectivity have not (yet) been updated for the G1. Please check the slacker forums if you're thinking about buying a G1 to see if any updates have occurred since this was posted.
The G1 player lacks an equalizer control setting, while this was incorporated into the G2 player. I can't say that the G2's equalizer is worth much, as they don't have any user adjustable settings.
The G2 player has a setting to manage the WiFi settings, whereas this has not (yet) been implemented in the G1 player. This again reflects the lack of any further apparent support for this first generation player.
As the price of the 8Gb G1 player has not dropped substantially (although for a time it was selling for less than [...] from Amazon), the G2 unit appears to be the primary hardware that is receiving support from the company.
The G1 player has had an annoying habit of occasionally having a break in audio at the beginning of a song. This has not been a problem with the G2 units. It is unknown what creates the problem, but there has not been a fix issued for the G1 unit to address this issue.
Remember, if you use the web based player at [...] ..... not all the songs that can be heard on the web player are licensed to be downloaded onto the portable players. The company says that there are they are continually gaining more licensing rights, but it is unclear what percentage of music that you hear on the webplayer can be transferred to the portable player. Even with this limitation, you can create a wide variety of stations and enjoy them on the units.
However, for your money, you will probably find the G2 unit less buggy, and better supported by the company with updates.

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Delphi SkyFi3 XM Satellite Radio with Car Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)This would by my forth XM unit I've used since signing up in 2003. I've used the SkyFi, the SkyFi2, the RoadyXT (My brother actually) and now, the SkyFi3. Choosing this unit itself was a no-brainer when shopping around for portable units.
The SkyFi3 takes all the functionality of my beloved SkyFi2 (pause/rewind features more than anything) and crosses it with the versatility of the Helix/Inno. Unlike the Helix and the Inno though, this unit has a bias towards car use, yet still gives you the option to be completely mobile (With the purchase of the antenna/headphone set). The Helix/Inno units, which are primarily for on-the-go usage, have a much smaller, yet more colorful screen than the SkyFi3, and also include a built in antenna for on-the-go Live XM feed without any extra accessories.
The SkyFi3 on the other hand, has a much bigger screen, though monochrome, that make viewing from afar much easier. Also, as stated above, unlike the Helix/Inno, this unit has the ability to pause and rewind live feed. It is the first of it's kind to accept MicroSD memory cards for your own music to be added to your playlists, giving you nearly unlimited storage. Be warned though, Recording Live XM feed is limited to the built in 256MB (~10 Hours). The only potential downfall this unit has over the Helix/Inno would be it's large size in comparison. Also, having such a large screen could potentially get scratched much easier. The SkyFi3 is significantly cheaper than the Inno/Helix and when bought through certain retailers, you are given a voucher to get the $50 Standard Wearable Kit for free.
As for the overall sound quality, as long as you are using the SureConnect or a direct wired connection to your car radio, quality is equal to any other XM unit (Of course, using a non-modulated method will be the absolute best). But if you attempt to use just straight up Wireless FM Transmitter, forget it. Total trash. I am going to assume the FCC forced Delphi to use a much lower power transmitter. I live in the Buffalo, NY area and I've gone through the entire FM band and couldn't find a single channel that even made it usable. The SureConnect kit that comes with the SkyFi3 is just a clip that connects to your AM/FM antenna on the outside of your car, then connects to a wire that plugs into your car kit. Make sure you use this unless you have another method of hard wiring the unit to your radio (either by FM Modulation of an Aux input port)

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DELPHI SA10271-11B1 SkyFi3 Receiver with Car Kit & Wearable Consumer Offer 2.8" large screen with horizontal or verticle mount 30-min Pause & Replay feature Stores up to 10 hours of XM programming with built-in memory Stores up to 500 songs with optional micro Secure Digital Card Plug-in-play Integrated tuner Portable Playback mode with internal 5-hour rechargeable battery Bookmark & purchase sone with XM & Napster Artist & Tune Select XM Sports & Stock Ticker Includes XM receiver, Car Kit, Remote, earbuds & USB cable Includes consumer mail in offer for a free wearable live kit

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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

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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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Pioneer CD-INCAR2 Car Kit for Pioneer GEX-INNO2BK Inno 2 Portable XM Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)The main reason for this kit (instead of the INNO1 version) is because the FCC forced Pioneer to reduce the FM transmitter strength. This means that to get the signal to your car's antenna you have to use an extra cable that runs from the in-dash mount, OUTSIDE YOUR CAR, and is clipped directly to your car's built-in antenna.
There are problems with this approach:
1. The first time you go through an automatic car wash the clip-on cable will be stripped right off.
2. The clip-on portion only works with extremely thin "whip" style antennas. My wife's car has a short, thick "aero" style antenna (in the center of the very rear of the roof) that is totally incompatible with this kit. They don't tell you that before you buy it.
3. Who wants a cable strung through your car for passengers to trip over? Who is going to rip out dashboards and upholstery in a new car to run this underneath? Maybe a professional installer, but this kit was aimed at the home user, supposedly.
In my case I finally tried running the "sure connect" cable under the floor mats, into the back cargo area, and then ran it in a large loop around the inner edge of the rubber seal around the hatch back, leaving the clip-on tip dangling where it wasn't obvious. The only reason this kit gets two stars instead of one is that worked: the signal is strong enough to reach the external antenna without any wires going outside the car.
If you're going to use your INNO2 in a car, be warned, and you probably should save the $70 and give it to a professional installer who'll jack it into the back of your existing radio's FM input--except I bet you have to buy the kit anyway, to get the FM transmitter enabled through the cradle, don't you?

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Convenient close-at-hand mounting with Car Dock, In-car antenna for best reception, and keep inno fully charged with included Power Adapter. Compatible with GEX-INNO2BLK only.

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Sirius SLH2 Home Install Kit for the Stiletto 2 Portable Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)Most of the reviewers of this product are failing to mention its most salient value-add, which is the enablement of convenient upright desktop listening when the radio is far from a window. The base allows easy attachment to the included AC charger and antenna as well as your stereo speakers. The external indoor/outdoor antenna with 21' cable costs $34.99 by itself. So you are getting the dock, charger and remote control for only $15. This is great value from my perspective.
My particular application is the recording of various CNBC programs both in the morning and in the evening. This allows me to listen to the programs during my urban commute and fast forward through the commercials. This content is extremely valuable as I work in the financial services industry and need to absorb as much news as possible before the stock market opens. The dock and its external antenna allows me to listen to the radio where is it most convenient for listening but not necessarily the best location for reception. My urban commute is generally on a bicycle, in a taxi or on a bus/subway, so having a robust method of listening to programs like CNBC Squawk Box for 30 minutes that would be otherwise be wasted is a big productivity gain.
As reception deep inside my thick-walled prewar high rise is limited, the remote antenna dramatically improves the quality of the recordings and the overall user experience. Before purchasing this dock, I would place the Stiletto 2 on the window ledge so I could record key programs. This made listening to recorded programs while it was still recording not feasible. Now, I have the Stiletto 2 on my dresser plugged into a surplus pair of computer speakers. This allows for uninterrupted recording while I am listening to recently recorded or live programs. When I am ready to leave, I quickly remove the Stiletto 2, plug in the headphones and head out the door. My one issue with the dock is that it does not accommodate the case that Sirius itself sells. So, I have to spend a few extra seconds placing the Stiletto 2 in its case. This is very minor issue, however.
One other change I would suggest to Sirius engineers is that they provide a slightly more flexible antenna mounting mechanism. For those using the antenna indoors, it would be helpful to have suction cups or adhesive mounts so it could be affixed directly to glass. While the current antenna pivots on a base, there is a limited range of motion. So even if the user wanted to use double-sided tape to attach the base to the window pane, the actual antenna would be facing into the room. In my application, I used double sided tape to attach the base to a relatively narrow window ledge. This has worked fine and I am very happy with the reception.
In summary, this home dock is an excellent value. It improves reception and make access to the radio more convenient. I would especially recommend this product for anyone who wants to record important programs and/or listen to the radio while the recording is in progress.
Pros
Dramatically improves reception
Great value
Enables quality recording of shows while the radio is in the most convenient location
Easy upright placement close to external speakers for easy menu navigation
Cons
Doesn't accommodate a case (minor)
Antenna mounting orientation is limited


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Sirius slh2 sirius(tm) stiletto 2 portable radio home kit stereo audio output to connect home audio system or powered speakers; headphone jack to listen to sl2 while docked without speakers; pc sync to manage your mp3 & wma files; charges stiletto 2 while docked; compatible with stiletto 2 radios; compact, sleek design with high gloss finish; includes home dock, remote control, indoor/outdoor home antenna with 21-ft cable, audio cables, usb cable, pc software & ac power adapter

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Samsung YX-M1Z Helix XM2go Portable Satellite Radio with MP3 Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am new to the XM/satellite radio world so I don't have any legacy relative value issues compared to past or competing XM radios (e.g., FM transmitters). I can only describe my view of this product on its own merits...and I must say I've been thoroughly impressed. Browsing channels and listening to stations is easy as can be, the content is pretty solid, and the moreover, this Samsung unit looks good and works well. It is a VERY hassle free way of discovering and saving new music.
I can't get enough of the feature where if you're listening to a song or program, at any time you can hold the center button for a second and it will record the entire song (since the beginning!) and save it to memory, for listening later. It's a great way to build a library! Never again do I have to hear a song on the radio and try to guess what song it is and hope that maybe I can buy the album later. With this, I've got a pure digital copy on here, ready to go on what is effectively my portable music player!
Only drawback is that, as a satellite radio, I find that you do need reasonable access to the sky to get a signal (it starts to cut out about five to ten feet away from a window, for example). So I can't use this in the middle of a giant office building (read: my workplace). But, when I'm home the "home antenna" is connected to the docking cradle. Once in the cradle, it's plug and play and I never worry about reception. Also, I can have it record programs and whatnot for listening later...kinda like a Tivo.

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Finally, a portable device that lets you play live XM radio content. That's right, wherever you roam the Samsung Helix lets you tap into more than 150 channels of satellite radio. It's a big step forward for XM radio lovers, but there's more. With the Helix, you can combine live XM radio with your personal digital music collection (MP3s and WMA). This means you can enjoy your own music library while being exposed to all the new music and content that XM radio has to offer.
So how did they get a complete satellite receiver into a device that measures 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches? By using an advanced satellite/terrestrial internal antenna that allows the device to receive signals from anywhere. The device is light, too, weighing in at just 4.5 ounces. The unit's full-color, 180 x 180 TFT display, as well as a user-friendly interface, make it easy to save and delete content. In addition to making it easy to find the music you want to listen to quickly, the interface lets you build your own playlists right on the device that consist of XM radio content and your own digital music. Another cool feature is the Helix's built-in memory buffer, which allows you to save an entire XM radio song even if you decide to save it in the middle of the song. The Helix's internal memory supports up to 50 hours of saved content.
Featuring a full array of programming -- from talk shows, comedy programs, and live Major League Baseball broadcasts to just about every musical genre from bluegrass to jazz -- XM Radio is the fastest growing satellite radio network in the world. All XM metadata is displayed on the Helix's display, including full song title and artist name, as well as information extras such as stock and sports score tickers. The device also sports a category list for saving and accessing favorite channels. Another great feature of the Helix is TuneSelect, which alerts you when one of your favorite artists or songs is being played on an XM channel. Plus, the Helix supports the XM + Napster music service. If you hear a song you like on XM radio, simply "tag" it and easily purchase and download that artist or song via Napster. It's a great way to discover and own the music you like. And last, but certainly not least, the Helix features an integrated wireless FM transmitter so you can beam XM content to any FM radio frequency, making it very easy to listen to XM content on any home or car stereo.
What's in the Box YX-M1Z XM radio/MP3 player, battery, earbuds, remote control, home dock/cradle, home XM antenna, AC power adapter, travel power cable, RCA audio cable, USB cable, carrying case/holster, user's guide, and software CD-ROM.

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Sirius SLV2 Vehicle Install Kit for the Stiletto 2 Portable Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The car kit for the Stilletto 2 works very well. The large programmable channel buttons are easy to select without looking at them while driving. I do think the remote could be improved with fewer buttons. After you get your favorites programmed, it is unlikely that you'll use more than a few buttons on the remote, if you use it at all.

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Sirius slv2 sirius(tm) stiletto 2 portable radio vehicle kit smaller physical size, same full featured capability; 10-digit numeric keypad; direct tune or 30 preset stations; fm frequency preset button; locking mechanism; one-touch jump(tm) button for quick access to traffic & weather; multiple mounting options.

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Pioneer Inno Portable XM2go Radio with MP3 Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been an XM subscriber since my first SkyFi when Opie and Anthony started in October 2004. I added a MyFi when those launched and appreciated its features (ability to store songs, built-in FM modulator, auto on/off in the car, more presets for all the great music channels), but found its on-the-hip portability sketchy.
I purchased an Inno a few weeks ago and am blown away by the improved portability over my MyFi.
1. The reception is better--I can even get a signal in the gym (lots of windows, granted, but the old MyFi reception broke up too much for usefulness indoors).
2.The styling is sleeker. This thing is less than half the size of the old MyFi--about the size of my cellphone.
3. The store-on-the-go/auto-recording features are great. I've been recording Bob Dylan's theme time radio hour when they air it during the night so I've got it the next AM. Only fluke is that recording labels are not always EXACTLY the start and finish of each song. Sometimes you get a second or two of the song before/after.
The negatives that keep it from getting 4 stars--I miss the preset buttons from the MyFi. I had 30 presets, so could always find the right music/comedy/news/etc. for the moment. The Inno doesn't have any presets (unless I've missed something). The XM/Napster software doesn't work on the Mac, which is frustrating. Also, I'd ordered a car kit and still haven't received it.
In the end, though, this little radio is a HUGE step forward.

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XM Radio is a satellite based radio system. It requires a monthly subscription fee for reception. Pioneer's Inno is the complete entertainment package. It's a satellite radio that lets you listen to live XM broadcasts at home, on the go, and even in the car (car kit sold separately). The Inno lets you store individual songs or entire blocks of XM programming and listen to them anytime you'd like. Or you can upload some of your favorite MP3 and WMA files, and create playlists that include MP3s/WMAs and the songs you've recorded from XM.
The Pioneer Inno offers the long-awaited combination of MP3 and live XM Satellite Radio reception in a sleek, handheld device.The wearable radio delivers XM's over 170 digital radio channels of commercial-free music and premier sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming live and nationwide.It plays MP3s and WMAs, and it has a time-shifting memory mode for storage and playback of XM content. A particularly innovative feature of the Inno allows the user to ?bookmark? songs heard on XM, connect the Inno to a personal computer, and instantly purchase the songs from the XM + Napster online music download service.
The Pioneer Inno has 1GB of memory storage for MP3 files, WMA files, and XM programming, to hold up to 50 hours of content.At only 4.4 ounces and 3.4? x 1.9? x .67?, the Inno is extremely light and easy to take along anywhere. In addition to the XM + Napster feature of the Inno, it has a full-color 180 X 180 pixels TFT display and a user-friendly interface for saving and deleting content.Users can build personal playlists using a mix of XM content and tracks from their own digital music collection. The Inno has a memory buffer to make it easy to store an entire track heard in XM, even if the user starts storing it in the middle of a song.

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XACT COMMUNICATIONS XTR3CK Sirius Satellite Plug + Play Receiver and Vehicle Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought mine 1/8/06 (Bestbuy, $29.95 on sale) and also bought the home kit at the same time ($49.95). Got home, went to the Sirius website, signed up for service and had the sweet sounds of their programming in my home all within 30 minutes.
I opted to utilize the built-in FM transmitter to link to my home theater receiver, and was satisfied with the sound quality. I got lucky with my antenna placement because the window closest to my stereo faces North-West, exactly where it needs to be for reception at my Florida location.
Running the antenna in my car was a bit of a pain, but it was worth the hour I spent installing it. Again, I use the FM link to listen in my car.
As for user features, I must confess to being one of those lazy people that learns a few favorite channels, then uses the remote to directly access them. Over time I may actually read the manual and program the pre-sets.
Overall, I'm very satisfied. The unit fits in my shirt pocket, and I use it every day. I don't understand some of the complaints from the other owners. All I know is that I wanted a cheap unit to listen to Howard in my car & home, and the XTR3CK with the XS052 home kit got it done for $80.00. The bonus of all the rest of the great Sirius music & programming lets me easily justify the monthly subscription.


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Requires subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio ServiceBuilt-In Wireless FM Transmitter Wireless IR Remote Control Vehicle Kit Features 4-Position Vehicle Docking Cradle -Sun Visor Mount, Windshield Suction Mount, Adhesive Dash Mount, Amps Plate Mount Vehicle Antenna 12v Vehicle Power Adapter Satellite Radio Features Over 120 Channels of Satellite Radio & 65 Music Channels 100% Commercial Free

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Pioneer CD-INCAR1 Car Kit for Pioneer Inno Satellite Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I easily installed the Car kit in little time. Having a stereo though with no Auxiliary input I am relying on the FM transmitter. Living in a large but not to large metropolitan area I have trouble finding an open frequency thus giving interferance quite often. Even when having good reception I find that the trasmitter is quiter than a normal radio station (although you can set the transmition volume). Overall the kit is good.

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Enjoy your Inno XM satellite radio in any vehicle with this Pioneer accessorykit, which includes everything you need to start enjoying all the songs you'vedownloaded. The kit features a custom car dock for easy mounting, a cigarette lighterand cassette adapter that lets you power up and listen to the Inno, and a full-functionremote control for convenient passenger use while driving. The included XM antenna,meanwhile, is small but powerful, ensuring that you'll receive a virtually uninterrupteddigital satellite signal. The accessory kit, which also comes with swivel and vent mounts,is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box Custom car dock, power adapter, cassette adapter, full-function remote control, XMantenna, swivel and vent mounts.

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Xact XTR1 Sirius Satellite Plug and Play Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First off, the XACT is a very nice receiver. I have owned a PNP2 and this receiver and I prefer this one. The XACT, while not wearable, is very portable. You can even buy the Powerpod and take it anywhere you go. The size of the receiver does come with setbacks though, there are only 10 S-Seeks compared to 20 on most of the other receivers. The screen is smaller (although very nice), and the presets require a little more work to set. The greatest thing though is the service itself. It is great not to hear any commercials, and the music streams are top quality. The Talk, News, and Sports are also great. Sirius recently added a Maxim channel, which is quickly becomming one of my favorites. Sirius's sports are great, I am a fan of football and there is nothing like hearing your team that is normally not carried locally. In the end I recommend this receiver and Sirius.

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The Xact XTR1 Sirius Satellite Plug and Play Receiver is a palm-sized portable Sirius Satellite tuner that will give you endless hours of Sirius Satellite programming. With the XTR1, along with a subscription to the Sirius Satellite Radio Network (sold separately), you'll have access to 13 categories, including music, sports, talk, entertainment and more from Sirius.
The XTR1 features an 18-channel preset capability, a built-in wireless FM transmitter, wireless remote, and stereo headphone jack with volume control. If you have kids, a parental control will help you to control the content they listen to. Use the illuminated keyboard and control buttons to search by artist name, song title, or category. And a satellite-updated real-time clock, built into the receiver, will keep you on time wherever you're going.
Note: You must subscribe to Sirius Satellite Radio to receive the satellite radio signal.What's in the Box XTR-1 Sirius satellite tuner, wireless remote control, two AAA batteries, and user's guide.

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SIRIUS Sportster 5 Satellite Radio Receiver with Vehicle Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)OK.
So after all of the hype surrounding satellite radio I decided to "pimp out" my Sebring by adding SIRIUS to it. In order not to look ghetto as well as match my existing deck I decided to pick one of these up and subscribe.
First, I'll review the device. Then, I'll review the service. Basically, good news then bad news.
The device itself has a very small form factor which I found very appealing. It comes with a mini dock which essentially powers the device and routes its audio and antenna signal. Know that you'll be doing quite a bit of wiring if you do this yourself - I would recommend professional installation unless you're comfortable doing your own car installation stuff. There are 3, possibly 4, wires that you'll be dealing with:
- The CLA (cigarette lighter adapter)
- The satellite antenna
- The FM antenna extender (only needed if you choose that option)
- The line out (only needed if you choose that option)
Now, if all of these ports were in the back of the dock next to each other this wouldn't be so bad, but instead they're on either side. That's a lot of cables to have hanging out, which is why I recommend professional install if you're not comfortable. I decided to do it myself and, to get set up with the "basic" quality which is wireless FM (it's decent, but nothing to write home about) with neat wiring took me about 45 minutes, give or take. That's including mounting (which I'll get to in a moment).
SIRIUS recommends using line out/line in if at all possible. Newer decks have this jack, but some older pre-2004 likely do not, or if they do, it's a proprietary connector that might not work with the Sportster 5. I have the Kenwood MP735U and it works just fine. I found the cable at Circuit City ($24!!!) and it worked like a charm. Took some doing and even more neat wiring, but I did get it to work. I will admit, using the line out spanks the smoke out of the wireless FM or FM modulation options; it's near CD quality, especially on the Jazz and Classical stations. Again, you can use wireless FM and it will sound "okay", but line out will give you the absolute best quality possible; you just have to do another cable.
Mounting the unit has a number of options as well - one of which is not available depending on what state you're in. California, for example, has Draconian laws about vehicles; you can't have anything stuck to the front windshield. Ironically this is the easiest way to mount the device, as the suction cup works extremely well, and you just attach the device to the metal arm and adjust. If you have this option and don't mind the device up in the window, I recommend doing this. I have an old Chrysler CD changer indash not being used; a trip to Home Depot for a $.49 angle bracket did the trick - attached it to the dock with a single screw, then slipped the other end into the CD slot and like magic, it's solid and looks great right underneath the deck. I suppose I could have hard installed it with another screw or two, but I'd rather not.
All said and done the initial hardware investment came to roughly $200. Keep in mind that SIRIUS has cheaper devices that don't look nearly as good. The downside to the devices is the cigarette lighter adapter. In fact the documentation explicitly forbids a direct power tap. This is so disheartening I can't even describe it. I have to keep unplugging it when I turn the car off so it doesn't suck the battery dry. Why can't you have the option of tapping it into the player's alternate power line so it turns on with the player? I'm absolutely mystified at this oversight.
Now, the service. Oh, this will be fun.
The quality of the audio? Stellar. Never heard anything like it except on digital TV's music channels.
The quality of everything else? Horrid. Where do I begin...
- The activation/customer service phone # has extremely long wait times. it took me a total of 5 hours across 10 different phone calls to reach someone who could help me. Do the math.
- Activation/CS reps are clearly stressed over something. I talked to two who were just blatantly rude; one who had no idea what she was talking about, the other a guy who claimed he'd been "...working at SIRIUS for over 3 years and" knew what he was talking about. Funny - since he had no idea that you can't activate with invoice billing on the website (more on that later).
- SIRIUS and Circuit City have some type of conglomeration going on to force you to call to activate. CC offers a "prepaid subscription card" which is supposed to offset the initial charges (more on that later) to get service. Well that's all good and everything except the card cannot be used on the website even though the website acknowledges the card and its value. It says "cannot be redeemed". An Asst. Manager at CC informed me that calling was the only way to redeem the card. Had I known that, I wouldn't have bought that particular card, but a regular gift card that I could use on the web. Because of the aforementioned long hold times, it was a nightmare to do this simple task. The girl even told me "you should be able to use it on the web" - the other idiot claimed "you're just doing something wrong".
- Too much personal information required to sign up. Why do you care what type of car I have? All that should be needed is a credit card (if you choose that payment method) and my address/name. If it's for purposes of theft recovery, that's up to me, the buyer, to deal with that. Which I do - in my auto insurance plan.
- Website will authorize your credit card without activating an account for you. That's money you can't touch until they feel like releasing it - which could be 2 weeks.
- Inability to just sign up for an account without giving billing information and/or buying a device. Why can't I just establish the account and then pay for it? Why force me to buy the deck in order to get service established? If I wanted DirecTV and didn't have it, I call them and activate, and then the hardware comes...not the other way around.
- Website forces you to put in a credit card. You can't do invoice billing as an option. Why not? Because they know every customer would just do that and then they would be getting free service for that month grace.
- Website does not allow you to select month-to-month billing as an option, and by default it hides the quarterly and 6-month options (which would obviously be the more popular for newbies like myself).
- Telephone IVR can't hear properly. I tried to activate through the automated system and it just couldn't understand the letters "D", "I", "O", "N". That's it, and I don't know how many times the chick said "sorry?"
- No trial offered (I'm talking about in-car installation). Why can't I just buy a unit from a store that offers returns, activate a 14-day trial period with a credit card, and then return and cancel if I hate it? Because then they'd have high turnover due to buyers remorse (which I had at one point due to the above issues)
- $15 activation fee which is not disclosed on the hardware documentation. You don't find out about this until you go to the website or you talk to an agent. It should be clearly disclosed on the packaging of the device since you'd be forced to pay that fee by activating the device - not at the very last minute when you're putting in your credit card. On top of that, it's blatantly mob-ish of them to charge: an activation fee, a monthly fee, fee for the hardware, etc etc etc. They already get money from the subscription - remove the activation fee already or annualize it across the subscription.So class, in summary: The customer service is screwed up, and in order to activate properly and get the best billing options, you need to call customer service (which did I mention is screwed up?). DO NOT activate over the web if you're using a gift card. I guarantee you, you will get frustrated.
The quality of the product is top notch. The ability to see who's playing before you select the station is excellent, and the high resolution of this screen makes navigating stations quick and easy. The audio sounds upper class if you're using the line out jack, and setup is not that difficult if you know what you're doing. Once you get past activations you should be smooth. It's just that phase that causes headaches.

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With a stylish new gun-metal grey finish, the Sportster 5 satellite radio receiver sports a new slim profile while still maintaining the same great features for which the Sportster series is known. Highlights include a large, multicolor, easy-to-read 6-line display, plus a rotary tuning knob for added convenience. The Sportster 5, conveniently transportable between home and car, is easy to use and features Sirius' universal dock for simple installation. Optional universal accessory docking kits and audio systems conveniently allow for use in the home, boat, office, and multiple vehicles.
An easy-to-read, six-line, 2.7-inch multi-color display helps keep tabs on the channel name and number, category, artist name, song title, and time simultaneously. The receiver also lets you program up to 30 presets of your favorite streams, as well as search by stream, artist name, song title, or category. And with a quick press of the one-touch jump button, you can instantly switch between traffic and weather reports for your city and any of your preset music, news, or entertainment channels. Other programming details include an S-Seek function that stores your favorite artists and songs and alerts you when one is playing on any of the music channels, direct station tuning via the numeric buttons, and a channel lock option. Time functions include an onscreen clock, alarm, and sleep timer, as well as a program alert that allows the unit to switch to a preprogrammed stream at a selected time.
The Sportster 5 really earns its stripes, however, with its variety of enhanced features designed specifically for sports lovers. The Game Alert feature prompts you when your favorite NFL or other sports teams are playing on Sirius. The Game Zone lists all of your favorite teams in one virtual category and lets you select a different team from each of the various sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and college sports. And what sports fan could do without the Sportster's instant replay function, which lets you pause, rewind, and replay 60 minutes of live radio? As soon as you tune to a channel, the receiver automatically begins storing the audio for later playback.
The Sportster 5 also includes a built-in FM transmitter that sends Sirius radio programming to your vehicle's FM tuner, so you don't have to make a direct connection to enjoy the full array of channels. Simply set an empty FM frequency on your radio and tune the Sportster 5 to the same frequency. This function also works with other FM tuners, such as the one on your home stereo, but is easily paired with the car thanks to the bundled vehicle kit, which includes everything you need for listening to Sirius while driving. Parents also have control over channels and channel lockout. Measuring just 9.5 x 7.5 x 3 inches, the Sportster 5 weighs a mere 3.7 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 Sportster 5 satellite radio receiver, remote control, vehicle docking cradle, vehicle power adapter, vehicle antenna, suction cup and vent mounts, FM extender antenna, getting started guide, installation/user's guide, accessory brochure, and programming guide.

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Sirius SDSP5V1 Sportster 5 Dock and Play Radio with PowerConnect Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Good radio, easy to install. The Pros: can change colors for display, however, display picture is the same (with Howard Stern looming in the background). Comes with remote, which can be handy, depending on where you install the radio. Easy to see display during the day and at night, even with polarized glasses (some reviewers stated that this is not so). For reference, The Xact one I had before this had a blue display which was close to impossible to see during the day, in particular with polarized sunglasses. The Cons: the FM transmitter is a lot weaker than the one from my previous radio (Xact). Activation: The legendary bad SIRIUS customer service sure was confirmed trying to activate this radio. I bought this as the replacement for my old radio which stopped working correctly. All I needed SIRIUS to do was deactivate my old radio and activate this one. It took about 1.5 hours to get this fairly straightforward task accomplished, mostly because I was put on hold several times for what felt forever. Best tip I can give: IF YOU BUY A NEW RADIO AND WANT TO REPLACE YOUR OLD ONE WITH IT, CHOOSE 'CANCEL SERVICE' WHEN YOU CALL SIRIUS. Otherwise, you will experience the same odyssey I went through (I chose "CHANGE SERVICE"): You first get transferred to Bangalore (I assume) where you are told that they CANNOT swap your two radios (i.e. cancel one, activate the other). They WILL tell you that you need to first activate your new one, which (of course) they are very happy to help you with. They will try to upsell you (no surprise) and tell you that you have to pay an activation fee. And since I had two radios, I got a discount(lasting for how long it takes to cancel the other radio). I explained in the beginning what I wanted to do, but of course they just go through their script. After the activation I requested to connect me to the 'department' to cancel my other radio. Of course I was put at the end of the waiting queue, after a few minutes my connection was lost, so I called again and chose the "CANCEL SERVICE" option. After about another 20 min of waiting, I was connected to the US service site and told the person that I needed to cancel service on a radio. After logging in to my account the person noticed that I had two radios, so I explained what I wanted to do. The good news is that the person got upset about how this was handled and talked to her supervisor (again I was put on hold). She then told my that my activation fee for the other radio would get reimbursed and that my old radio was cancelled. I hope that this radio will last a few years so I don't have to deal with their customer service any time soon...
UPDATE: as of today (12 Nov 2010) I still have not received my promised refund for the activation.

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SIRIUS Sportster 5 has advanced features, like alerts and tickers for the latest sports and scores, plus a bright, full-color display with selectable background colors to match the vehicle dash lights.Features:'Easy to Install: Revolutionary SIRIUS|XM PowerConnect FM Transmitter works through the vehicle's radio with easy Do-It-Yourself installation. The color coded vehicle dock makes it simple to connect.'Large, multi-color display: Easily view artist, song and channel information.'Selectable display background and text colors: Choice of 15 different color combinations to match the vehicle dash lights or the mood.'Enhanced real-time program guide: Ability to browse programs, artists and songs playing on other channels without having to change the channel.'Pause & Replay: Pause, rewind and replay up to 60 minutes of live radio.'Favorite channels: Save and enjoy fast access to up to 30 favorite channels.'FM preset key: Easy and quick tuning for optimal PowerConnect performance.'S-Seek Alert: Don't miss your favorite artists, songs, sports teams and drivers when they're on live radio.'Sports Alert: Delivers real-time scores and updates of your favorite sports, teams and drivers, plus alerts when they're playing.'One-Touch Jump: Direct access to traffic and weather conditions of the 20 most congested cities, or to access a favorite channel.'Parental Controls: Easily lock and unlock channels with mature content.'Includes complete PowerConnect Vehicle Kit: Universal docking capability - add accessories for the home, office or additional vehicles.

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Crosley CR6002A-RE Revolution Portable USB Turntable Red Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Looking for a record player for the house -- for both casual listening and making mp3s of my collection. Everything I looked at took up TOO much room -- either on my desk when recording, or around my stereo system. Saw this and decided to give it a try. Glad I did.
Was really surprised by the build quality. Although the unit is plastic, it seems to be built around a sturdy metal frame -- the hinge mechanism is steel, not plastic as I expected. Controls are right on top, and the 45 rpm adapter is a sturdy rubber and stores in the unit. Tone arm is metal and plastic, with a nice diamond cartridge.
Lots of listening options -- headphone and audio out. Internal speaker is a bit tinny, but met my expectations given the small size of the unit. REALLY AWESOME -- FM transmitter! This worked great with my stereo. Just dialed in the radio station and listened wirelessly from about 15 feet. Works much better than the junk I bought for my in-car iPod use. Connection via USB to computer was simple, and Audacity software is included. Ripped vinyl sounded very good -- finally got my white album on the iPod!
Don't know how much I will use the battery power (6 AA), but I gave it a go. Left the unit on overnight, and it was still playing at the correct speed the next morning. So if you need to go portable, looks like you won't be disappointed.
Highly recommend this unit if you are in the market for a turntable.

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We took the record player "out of the box". Crosley's RevolutionTM turntable truly fits the word in every way. Where other turntables take up space, this one dances around a desk without ado. Where other record players must be kept in their designated place, the Crosley RevolutionTM practically begs to join you on every journey. And where other turntables tangle you in a web of wires, the Crosley RevolutionTM effortlessly pairs with any FM radio for cordless, clear sound. It is a turntable of firsts-the first battery-powered Crosley turntable, the first with a platter smaller than a teacup saucer, and the first with a wireless transmitter for cord-free enjoyment. Users can tote this two-speed turntable with them to vinyl swaps or to a friend's house. Featuring a USB hookup for easy analog-to-digital transfer, the Crosley RevolutionTM will allow users to free their favorites from the grooves for digital enjoyment across a variety of devices. This small but mighty turntable also features a headphone jack, passive audio out, and a dynamic full range speaker.

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Crosley CR6002A-BK Revolution Portable USB Turntable (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Looking for a record player for the house -- for both casual listening and making mp3s of my collection. Everything I looked at took up TOO much room -- either on my desk when recording, or around my stereo system. Saw this and decided to give it a try. Glad I did.
Was really surprised by the build quality. Although the unit is plastic, it seems to be built around a sturdy metal frame -- the hinge mechanism is steel, not plastic as I expected. Controls are right on top, and the 45 rpm adapter is a sturdy rubber and stores in the unit. Tone arm is metal and plastic, with a nice diamond cartridge.
Lots of listening options -- headphone and audio out. Internal speaker is a bit tinny, but met my expectations given the small size of the unit. REALLY AWESOME -- FM transmitter! This worked great with my stereo. Just dialed in the radio station and listened wirelessly from about 15 feet. Works much better than the junk I bought for my in-car iPod use. Connection via USB to computer was simple, and Audacity software is included. Ripped vinyl sounded very good -- finally got my white album on the iPod!
Don't know how much I will use the battery power (6 AA), but I gave it a go. Left the unit on overnight, and it was still playing at the correct speed the next morning. So if you need to go portable, looks like you won't be disappointed.
Highly recommend this unit if you are in the market for a turntable.

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We took the record player "out of the box". Crosley's Revolution turntable truly fits the word in every way. Where other turntables take up space, this one dances around a desk without ado. Where other record players must be kept in their designated place, the Crosley Revolution practically begs to join you on every journey. And where other turntables tangle you in a web of wires, the Crosley Revolution effortlessly pairs with any FM radio for cordless, clear sound. It is a turntable of firsts-the first battery-powered Crosley turntable, the first with a platter smaller than a teacup saucer, and the first with a wireless transmitter for cord-free enjoyment. Users can tote this two-speed turntable with them to vinyl swaps or to a friend's house. Featuring a USB hookup for easy analog-to-digital transfer, the Crosley Revolution will allow users to free their favorites from the grooves for digital enjoyment across a variety of devices. This small but mighty turntable also features a headphone jack, passive audio out, and a dynamic full range speaker.

Get 33% OFF

Click here for more information about Crosley CR6002A-BK Revolution Portable USB Turntable (Black)

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