thesman's Full Review: Directed Electronics st2 SIRIUS Radio Receiver wit...
As I quickly approach the upper echelon of Howard Stern's proposed target demographic I assure all of you that I wasn't desperate to subscribe to Sirius Satellite Radio. When my wife asked if I would be interested in Sirius for Christmas I was mostly intrigued by the fact that I didn’t have to hear another local auto dealership commercial – you know the ones that I’m talking about with the deep voice guy screaming at the top of his lungs about “professional grade.” They are an instant headache.
Satellite Radio would be a good investment for me, not just for the car, but for my office as well so it was important to find a receiver that offered portability, easy installation and ease of use for an affordable price.
My first instinct was to invest in the stylish $300+ S50 but the features and price point were, in my opinion, not at all worth it. The S50 can easily be perceived as a portable satellite radio – which it isn’t. So I choose the Starmate Replay which was offered for $79 after a $50 mail in rebate. The Starmate’s appeal to me, in addition to the price, was its size, the display and the features.
With it’s small size it is easy to transport the Starmate Replay between my car, the office and my home. As of this writing (1/2006) there are not many accessories offered for the Starmate but I read reports that it was Sirius’ best selling model this past holiday so that may change quickly. A boombox and an integrated car installation kit are scheduled for release in early 2006. The Starmare Replay ships all that you need to install the unit in a car – adjustable suction cup mount, low-profile car antenna and a wireless remote control.
The liquid crystal display is backlit in a bright blue and, though some have criticized the brightness even at it’s lowest setting, I like that it is easy to read with two sizes of scrolling text. The buttons on the unit are small but a wireless remote will allow one to install the unit in other areas of the car where the display may not be as prominent.
Speaking of installation (both auto and in-home) I have a definite issue with how the Starmate is portrayed on the box and in advertisements as a neat and clean little unit. Miraculously the Starmate is operating without the use of an antenna wire or power source! In reality 2-3 plugs are connected to the Starmate – which is a bit of an eyesore.
The unit has a built in FM transmitter that works very well in my area (suburbs of Philadelphia) allowing me to transmit the signal directly to my car stereo. I have the option to preset up to 5 different FM channels if I experience any interference.
A unique feature on the Starmate Replay is the ability to record up to 40+ minutes of radio in “Tivo-like” fashion. Perfect if you don’t wish to miss Howard Stern’s next FCC rant or lesbian fantasy.
Also is the ability to preset up to 30 different channels -10 preset buttons available on 3 bands.
So, to sum up my experience to date:
The Good; An attractive, small, stand alone unit with an easy to use interface and plenty of features. FM transmitter works well.
The Bad; To date there is a significant lack of accessories for this model – Sirius promotes an integrated, more professional quality, car installation kit but does not offer a date of availability.
The Ugly; 2-3 wires are necessary to plug into the side of unit for power, signal and, if desired, speakers. An eyesore that is missing from all of the promotional photos and advertisements.
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