XAct XTR1UK Sirius Satellite Receiver with Universal Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)Sirius Satellite Radio is an excellent service, with extraordinarily rich and varied content, and therefore worthy of much more than XACT Communications offers in this "universal" kit. This review is ONLY related to XACT's equipment, and NOT to the Sirius service.
I've owned the receiver and kit for three months and I am now in the market for a replacement. Here's why:
1. The keypad interface is the least intuitive of any I've ever encountered. Although I pride myself on being something of a technophile, I must contstantly refer to the user's guide to figure how how to accomplish things with this keypad. You can't even enter a station by number directly! (You must select each of the 3 digits from a displayed list of digits using arrow keys and the enter button). Although the receiver boasts storing 18 "favorites," you can not get to any directly via the keypad; in all cases you must scroll through groupings (A through F) or lists first.
2. The user's guide has a few significant errors, such as how to store favorites channels.
3. The "universal" mount for vehicles comes with one small plastic disk with two-sided tape that adheres to the dashboard. The base unit easily detaches from this disk for use in the home. However, if you want to use it in a second VEHICLE, you need another of these little disks. XACT absolutely refuses to sell the disk alone, and insists that you spend another $50 (!) for another complete kit if you want to move the unit from car to car.
4. The display is too small, and often gets "stuck" with info from prior selections, requiring a reset.
5. Mobile reception is spotty, even in clear, unobstructed areas. I'm in the NYC suburban area, and lose the signal every ten minutes or so when on the road. A friend with an in-dash receiver for Sirius experiences no such problems.
6. In order to power this unit by batteries (for use like a walkman), you must purchase a huge, clunky wrap-around battery kit for $100 (!).
I recommend you definitely consider the Sirius service, but look for an alternative to any XACT hardware.
P.S. Since first writing this review, my XACT unit failed completely due to overheating, which I discovered is a very common problem with XACT equipment. Although the store where I purchased it provided a replacement, I fear the problem recurring after the warrantee has expired.

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Enjoy all 120 channels of Sirius satellite radio while driving in your car or sitting in your living room with XAct's XTR1UK plug-and-play universal kit. Equipped with an XTR1 satellite radio receiver, a universal docking cradle, satellite antennas for both your home and car, and accompanying power sources, the kit includes everything you need to enjoy satellite radio in virtually any location.
The XTR1 conveniently displays all artist, song, and channel information on its six-line readout, which also includes a satellite-updated real-time clock. Meanwhile, selecting channels and menu options is a snap thanks to the large, easy-to-access illuminated buttons. And drivers will delight in such bonuses as the 18 station presets, which let you quickly access your favorite stations, and the S-Seek feature, which lets you know when one of your 10 stored song titles is playing on a given Sirius station. You can even search the up-to-the-minute Sirius playlists by category, channel, artist, or song title.
The XTR1 sends its signal to your stereo receiver through its built-in wireless FM transmitter, which "broadcasts" the satellite signal over an unused FM frequency--no hardwiring required. As an alternative, you can also connect the XTR1 tuner directly to you stereo's input jack (if it has one) with the included patch cable for the best possible sound quality. And the docking cradle is versatile enough to work almost anywhere. There's no need to buy separate kits for listening in the car or at home, as this kit offers everything you need.
Additional features include a wireless remote for controlling the tuner from a distance; a sleep timer and traditional alarm; a lock function that lets you restrict access (via password) to Sirius' more off-color content, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack for private listening. The XTR1 tuner, which measures 2.75 by 4.62 by 1.38 inches (W x H x D), is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
Note: You must subscribe to Sirius satellite radio to receive the satellite radio signal.
What's in the Box XTR1 satellite radio tuner, universal docking cradle, vehicle antenna, home antenna bracket, audio cables, AC adapter, 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter, wireless remote control, user's manual.

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