Sirius Satellite Radio News

The satellite radio revolution is here and you’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon with all of your friends and family but you don’t have a champagne budget. Worry no more with the SIRIUS InV2 radio you can enjoy over 120 channels of satellite radio with style and affordability.

Hands down the most attractive feature of this radio is the price. Do not be fooled by the small price-tag. This radio holds a powerful punch and looks great in any vehicle. This radio has a classic design in black with an orange-yellow digital read-out. The easy push-button navigation is a must for quick channel surfing.

The InV2 comes complete with a dash mount, cigarette lighter adapter, magnetic antenna, antenna cover, FM extender antenna, suction cups, alcohol swabs, and cable guides. SIRIUS makes sure you have everything you need to make the installation of your radio go smoothly. Professional installation is recommended for all in-vehicle satellite radios. These radios require a wired connection to your existing connection. Good satellite signal and antenna positioning are important to getting excellent reception.

The SIRIUS InV2 may be setup for wireless connection to a FM frequency on your vehicle’s radio. If you choose to use this setup the FM Extender Antenna should be attached to the InV2. After the antenna is attached both the InV2 and the vehicle’s radio will be set to a FM Frequency. While this connection will work with your vehicle’s radio for the best listening experience a wired connection is preferred.

An important control to learn is the FM Presets Button. This button allows you to preset FM frequencies and allows the user to select between those frequencies. In large cities you will find that there will be different frequencies that may be better in one location than another.

The use of the InV2’s controls is very similar to your standard vehicle radio. There is a large digital display which shows the SIRIUS channel you are on and displays information about the program that you have playing. This satellite radio allows you to view display information in different formats, you can select between channel name, artist name, song title, and category name to display.

The channel UP/DOWN buttons are similar to the tuner buttons found on a standard radio. As are the preset buttons to store your favorite channels. This radio comes with a setup menu which allows you to change FM presets, brightness, contrast, and parental controls to lock channels. Navigation through the menu is simple using the channel UP/DOWN buttons and the Select button showing the SIRIUS dog icon.

If you are a newcomer to satellite radio you will be surprised at the difference in quality of audio. Digital audio produces a clean sound. After listening to SIRIUS radio you may find that you cannot listen to radio the same way again.

The classic and feature set of this satellite radio are perfect for any vehicle.

If you are serious about your SIRIUS satellite radio, you will be interested in some of the latest ways to enhance your satellite radio experience and capabilities. For example, consider the opportunity to listen to more than one station in your home simultaneously. That is just one of the numerous new advancements that have been made in satellite radio technology and accessories. Another option is a remote control with a LCD display that will provide you with such information as the artist, station and song title.

In the event this is your first foray into satellite radio or if you are toying with the idea of satellite radio but you are not sure yet if it is for you, it is a good idea to understand what you will need to get started with satellite radio and what options and accessories are available to enhance your satellite radio.

First, you will need an antenna; you can purchase either an indoor or an outdoor antenna. One option would be to go with an indoor/outdoor antenna while another option would be to mount an exclusive outdoor antenna. You will also need a home tuner. One option is to purchase a tuner that will actually fit into whatever stereo system you already have. A more advanced option is a home tuner that includes a display as well as dozens of channel presets, game alerts, a remote control and the antenna.

Another option you might consider; however, is a satellite radio that also has the ability to play MP3s and CDs as well as satellite radio. RCA produces a system that sits easily onto a shelf and includes a MP3 player so that digital files can be added to the system. If you like to have options, this upgrade will provide you with more options than you know what to do with.

If you intend to listen to your satellite radio all over the house (as most people do) another upgrade is a repeater system. This type of system gives you the ability to have the satellite signal in literally any room of the house and with the convenience of not having to run any wires that could be a hassle as well as a safety hazard. The hand-held remote gives you the ability to change the channel from in room in the house as well.

Of course, satellite radio isn’t just for home. Most of us were introduced to satellite radio on the road. Satellite radio enhancements and upgraded have made the experience of taking satellite radio on the road better than ever. One of the most welcomed enhancements is SIRIUS Backseat TV. A video monitor and FM tuner is required; however, with this unit your kids will be able to enjoy special kid’s television programming 24 hours a day and 7 days per week. If your family gets tired of watching the same old DVDs on road trips or your kids think they just can’t live without their favorite television programs, this is certainly an option worth considering.

Satellite radio is a great thing, offering commercial free music, talk, sports and much more. Sirius offers many different radios for your convenience; however, short of an extensive side by side comparison, how do you determine which radio is right for your needs? Here’s a little information that will help you make an informed decision and get the radio that you want and need.

First, you’ll need to define where you want to listen to your radio. Do you want Sirius radio in the car? What about at home? Do you want a portable stereo solution? Sirius has options that will cover all of your applications (several can be used everywhere).

In Car: The Sirius InV and InV2 are in car only options. They offer basic screens with up to 3 lines of description on an amber colored display. The InV offers 10 station presets, while the InV2 offers 6 presets. These units are designed to be used only in vehicles.

Dock and Play: These units are designed to be used in the home, in the car or inserted into the Sirius Boombox for portable play. They include the Stratus 4, the Starmate 4, the Sportster 3 and the Sportster 4 and Sportster 5. These can be used in a variety of different places and offer several different screen options. The Stratus, Starmate and the Sportster 3 offer blue or amber displays, while the Sportster 5 offers 15 different programmable color combinations for onscreen display.

Portable: The Stiletto 100 and the Stiletto 2 are portable and come with the portable use kit. The car kit, home docking station and Boombox attachments can be purchased and used with these. These are actually the most versatile of all the Sirius offerings, since it can be used in any number of ways. Whether you want an in car radio solution, a portable radio for music only you can hear or something for the house, this is probably your best bet. The Stiletto 2 comes with 60 minutes of playback and both have a 2.2 inch full color display. In addition, the Stiletto series has 2 GB of storage for mp3s (Stiletto 2 can be upgraded to 8GB).

Now that you know what is available, choosing the best solution for your listening needs will be a much simpler process. Finding these devices is also a simple process. Purchasing them online is a good idea, you can usually find better deals on these through Internet retailers than you can find at an electronics store. This is because, unlike other retailers, online retailers have very little overhead and can pass those savings along to you, the consumer.

Choosing a Sirius subscription plan is your next step and that will entail even more choices to be made. Annual subscriptions save more money in the end, but cost more up front, while monthly subscriptions are much more affordable in the short term and cost more in the end. You can also get a discount on additional radio activations.

Satellite radio is exploding in popularity, thanks to many well-known disc jockeys and celebrities joining the broadcasting lineups. For example, Sirius Radio has broadcasting icons like Howard Stern, Martha Stewart and Cousin Brucie.
Finding the right kind of radio to tune in to all those great shows is challenging. Most people choose a radio they can listen to at home or in the car. This year, Sirius has introduced the latest in its Sportser line. The Sportster 5 can be docked at home or in the car and features:

• Large multi-color display: easy viewing and use
• Selectable colors: match your dash lights and mood
• SIRIUS Universal docking capability
• SIRIUS Replay™: pause, rewind and replay up to 60 minutes of live radio
• FM transmitter or stereo audio output to connect your vehicle’s radio
• FM preset function: allows you to store the best FM frequencies in your area for optimum integration
• 30 presets: enjoy fast access to your favorite channels
• S-Seek™ Alert: so you won’t miss your favorite artists, songs and sports
• One-Touch Jump™ button: direct access to local traffic and weather, or your favorite channel
• Personalized sports ticker: real-time updates of your favorite sports
• Rotary tuning knob: surf channels on the fly
• Sports Alert™: track your favorite sports team and race driver
• Parental controls: easily lock and unlock channels
• Alarm clock w/snooze: wake up to your favorite channel
• Complete vehicle kit includes radio, dock w/suction cup mount and vent mounts, remote control, vehicle power adapter, magnetic mount satellite antenna and FM extender antenna

The arrival of the Sportster 5 has generated a lot of chatter online among electronic enthusiasts. Electronista, a leading online source for news about the latest in radio and computer technology was one of the first media outlets to weigh in on Sirius’ latest dock and play radio: “…The Sportster 5 is one of the satellite operator’s more conventional receivers and is intended for mounting on a car or docking at home; the new update adds a color display that a 6-line, multi-color display that can be adjusted to match a car’s lighting or provide a brighter contrast during night driving”.