Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have been a satellite radio customer for four years. I started with XM and moved to Sirius about a year ago (no, Howard Stern had nothing to do with my move). I mention this so that you will understand that I am familiar with satellite radio and its occasional downsides.
There is no doubt that the Stiletto is a really cool satellite receiver. Its interface, while not as intuitive as the iPod, is about as close as you can get. Some serious (pun intended) thought went into the hardware and software design on this unit and the graphics are top-notch.
Using the Stiletto in a car or home (with the home or car kits) is a dream. The sound is great and it works just like a satellite radio should.
It also works well over an 802.11b WiFi network, even connecting to a WEP-protected wireless router. On the downside, Sirius really should have included 802.11g so that the Stiletto doesn't bring down the speed of the rest of the network (in case you don't know, if you have a 802.11g network and put a 802.11b device onto it, everything else on the network slows down to 802.11b speeds). Some people have complained that you have to spend more ($1.99 per month) for higher quality internet audio. What bothered me the most is the fact that only some of the channels are available via internet radio.
Where the Stiletto really falls flat on its face is as a portable radio. I'm a cyclist and so I purchased it to use on my daily training rides. I took it yesterday on a short 25-mile ride and was extremely disappointed with its performance. I was able to receive a consistent signal for about 1/4 of the ride, a choppy signal for about 1/4 of the ride, and no signal for 1/2 the ride. I live in the Los Angeles area where there should be plenty of terrestrial repeaters and I was riding in areas where there were no buildings or where the majority of the buildings were single-story homes. Curiously, I had the best reception on some tree-lined streets, but I suspect that's just because I was closer to the repeaters.
Of course, for the best portable reception Sirius will tell you to use the included antenna headphones. Who are they kidding? Not only do these things
look like something from a bad sci-fi movie, they are also the least comfortable headphones I have ever tried. No wait, let me rephrase that . . . these things must have been designed by Torquemada as some sort of torture device. They will make your head and ears hurt after about 5 seconds.
Oh, and by the way, Sirius must not think that Mac users would want this radio since it only comes with Windows software. Duh!
Bottom line: While I really like the design, features, software and graphics of the Stiletto, I will be heading back to Best Buy to return it and the car kit. Since I can't really use it as a portable radio, I might as well spend WAY less on a StarMate 4. If, however, you don't care about consistent portable reception, you want the best satellite receiver I've seen, AND you want to spend 3-4 times more for it than other devices that can capably be used in your home or car, then this might just be the radio for you.
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SIRIUS Stiletto SL100 Portable Satellite Radio ReceiverUltra-portable, the Sirius Stiletto SL100 satellite radio receiver features a built-in antenna that allows reception of the Sirius signal without the need for an external car or home docking station. Best of all, this receiver offers up to 100 hours of storage capacity and can handle MP3 and WMA files, enabling you to mix Sirius content with your own personal music collection. It provides up to 800 MB of storage for personal digital audio files, and it provides compatibility for most internet music subscription services and music stores (Windows Media 10 or later).
For added convenience, the SL100 has Wi-Fi capabilities (802.11b), so you can stream Sirius content from your Internet connection when within a Wi-Fi hotspot. It offers support for WEP and WPA password protected Wi-Fi networks and remembers previously accessed Wi-Fi networks for quick access. And when coupled with an optional vehicle or home docking kit, you can broadcast both Sirius radio and digital audio files over any FM stereo via the built-in transmitter (dock required).
The sleek and stylish SL100 has a removable battery and built-in antenna, and it comes with a headset with an integrated antenna for improved signal reception. The 2.2-inch TFT screen is brightly colorful and offers a QVGA resolution. The Aurora graphic user interface and a six-way navigation control provide easy one handed access to all features and content. Other features include:
30 channel presets
Sirius Replay allows you to pause, rewind and replay 60 minutes of live radio
Game Alert prompts you when favorite games are being broadcast and alerts when scores change
Game Zone lists all of your favorite teams in one virtual category
Color screen displays channel logos, song title, and artist information
Save up to 10 hours of individual songs from live Sirius programming broadcasts by a single press of the "Love" button
Schedule recordings up to 6 hours in length
Parental controls and channel lockout
This package includes Yahoo! Music Jukebox software, which enables you to bookmark songs you hear on the radio. The song is then moved to a favorites list on the Stiletto 100, which can be accessed by a PC application when the unit is connected to your computer. The application allows you to look up and purchase songs, full albums, or explore artists' other offerings through the Yahoo! Music Jukebox software or other compatible online music download or subscription services. Once the song is purchased or rented, it can be transferred onto the Stiletto 100.
You can easily switch between the two included batteries when circumstances change. The standard battery provides power for 4 hours of satellite radio, 12 hours of Internet radio, 24 hours of playback from your MP3 and WMA files, and 24 hours of radio replays. The more lightweight slim battery is great when you're out and about, and it provides 2 hours of satellite radio play, 6 hours of Internet radio, and 12 hours for your digital library (either MP3/WMA or radio replays).
What's in the Box SL100 radio, earbuds, antenna headphone for expanded live signal reception, standard and slim batteries, PC cable (USB compatible), AC adapter, and My Sirius Studio software with Yahoo! Music Engine.
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