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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Sirius Stiletto 10/100 Vehicle Kit SLV1 Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently hooked my S100 up to my car and everything seems to work just fine. The only problem i had was setting the fm transmitter to a channel that didn't have any interference from radio stations. Problem solved by connecting Sirius's FM direct Adapter(which connects through the cars antenna plug). No more static in any city. So the only real problem is that this car kit doesn't come with the FM direct adapter which was $20.

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The Stiletto vehicle Docking Kit is essential for those who want to get the most complete SIRIUS listening experience while in their vehicle. The Stiletto vehicle Docking Kit provides direct access to all of the features you would expect from an in-vehicle radio with a 10 preset button and integrated FM Modulator. It also includes our One-Touch Jump button for instant access to traffic and weather.

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Sirius S50-EX1 S50 Executive System Review

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(More customer reviews)Having owned my S50 portable unit since December 2005, I have waited a long time until the S50 Executive Systems arrived at my local electronics store. They had just put them out on display and I was the first to buy one yesterday - not that I've been hanging out at the electronics store waiting this entire time.
I was so starved for the unit, I bought one without hesitation. I didn't even look at the $218.89 price sticker, or give price a second thought.
Today, I got the unit setup at the office and it looks great - very executive. The design and look is as elegant as the portable unit, but that is where the buck stops.
The sound is uninspiring and I was surprised to discover that there is no tone control for the device. You are stuck with the flat output of the speakers.
The volume dial is unresponsive and frustrating. You have to dial it a full rotation to get the sound to go up or down. To turn the volume up to an enjoyable level, I have to rotate the dial 3-4 full turns to the right. When someone comes into my office, or the phone rings, I have to turn the dial back the same amount. It is the only volume dial that I've experienced that requires you to do so much work to hear your music.
I had some difficulty getting a good signal from the Satellite, but it wasn't bad and it works great now.
If I wasn't such a big fan of Sirius Satellite radio, I would have purchased a different unit months ago.
I'm happy that the unit is finally available, but I expected much more.

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Executive docking station for the Sirius S50

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

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(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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SIRIUS Stiletto SL100 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver Review

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(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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Ultra-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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SIRIUS Stiletto 2 Portable Satellite Radio with MP3 Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I thought about writing a review for some time now. I wanted to make sure I was out of the honeymoon phase before I wrote about this device. I have had it for over a couple of weeks now and feel like it's time.
I purchased the Stiletto 2 as a late Christmas present to myself. I had signed up originally for the 3-day trial and loved the radio selections. I live Montana and our radio stations are pretty decent, but we have a lot of commercials. So, being able to listen to music without commercials is fantastic.
I wasn't sure what device to purchase, so I started reading. I had read a number of reviews (particularly the poor ones) about the Stiletto 2, but I liked the portability aspect, so I purchased it.
I now understand their complaints. They want better reception from the device itself, better/more comfortable headphones, etc. I agree the reception on the device isn't the best when indoors, but I purchased the home kit and that significantly improved reception.

When I am away from my home dock, I connect through Internet radio and it works just fine.
I also bought the car kit, but haven't had a chance to install it yet. I was able to get reception in my car without it though, so I imagine the car kit will only improve upon that.
The user interface is quite easy to navigate and the controls on the device are fairly intuitive. I like to test devices without reading the manual first to see how easy it is to figure out and the Stiletto 2 was pretty straightforward. I had to refer to the manual to understand the recording options, but otherwise, it was simple.
The recording option is fantastic. I set up a number of recurring sessions in the middle night. In the morning, I can then listen to them when I am working out, running errands, etc. I think this is probably one of the best features of the device. I have 15+ hours of recorded content and have used only 35% of the internal memory. Replay is fantastic. You can skip through songs just like your MP3 player and for me, that's a great option.
The size of the device is just right. It fits in my pocket, but it's not so small that I am afraid it's going to get broken or lost.
The battery life has been more than adequate. It's rated at like 4+ hours for Satellite or Internet radio and 20+ for recorded or library selections. I can attest that I have listened to it for many hours without running out of power. I wouldn't mind having a spare battery, but it's probably overkill.
As for the additional SD card slot. It's too bad it's under the battery. When you install an SD card, it's like you are putting in RAM in your laptop. This is not simple or intuitive for a lot of people (thinking of my mom here). I am sure there was an architectural reason, but it's too bad it's not just inserted on the side like a number of cell phones.
I have owned a number of musical devices in my life, 5+ iPods, a Zune, Rio, CD players, Walkmans, etc, but I can say this device has really reminded me of how music can be such a wonderful part of your life. I listen to my radio non-stop, and I wouldn't have it any other way now.


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With the release of the Stiletto 2, Sirius ushers in the next personal music player revolution. With a slim and sleek profile smaller than a video iPod, the ultra-portable Sirius Stiletto 2 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. This handheld receiver offers users up to 100 hours of internal storage of live satellite program and music feeds. It also can handle MP3 and WMA files, enabling you to mix Sirius content with your own personal music collection. 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 (adapter required).
The compact Stiletto 2 MP3 player is a 4.3-ounce portable radio that is capable of receiving live Sirius broadcasts via both satellite and Wi-Fi signals. Internal flash memory is used to store Sirius content as well as MP3/WMA files for non-live playback. Listeners can easily bookmark songs and tag favorite songs for later purchase using any Windows-based online music service. Additionally, the Stiletto 2 supports removable microSD flash memory cards to enable users to conveniently expand usable memory space. MP3 and WMA files also can be stored on the Stiletto 2 and managed with the included My Sirius Studio software. The Stiletto 2 is compatible with most music download and subscription services.
The enhanced Wi-Fi capability of the Stiletto 2 permits access to standard Sirius Internet Radio (SIR) or, for an additional subscription charge, SIR's premium audio quality offering. SIR gives subscribers access to more than 80 channels of Sirius Satellite Radio content on the Internet, including Howard Stern's two channels, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius OutQ, and commercial-free music programming. Sirius also selected Altec Lansing to develop the new antenna headphones for the Stiletto 2. Featuring large 30-mm drivers for full-spectrum acoustics and an adjustable headband for increased user comfort, the new Altec Lansing antenna headphones can deliver hours of listening enjoyment in absolute comfort and crystal clear audio clarity.
Other features of the Stiletto 2 include a brilliant 2.2-inch color display, a handy media dial, and a six-way navigation control that provides easy one-handed access to all features and content. Thrown in for added convenience are Sirius Replay, which allows users to pause, rewind, and replay up to 60 minutes of live radio programming; Game Alert, which allows listeners to track favorite sports team and drive broadcasts and alerts when scores change; and Game Zone, which provides a listing of the user's favorite teams in one virtual category. Parents also have control over usable channels with the parental channel lockout feature. Measuring 1.9 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches, the Stiletto 2 weighs in at a scant 4.3 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 Stiletto 2 receiver/MP3 player, battery, AC power adaptor, Altec Lansing headphones, ear buds, PC cable, and My Sirius Studio software.

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XAct XTR1CK Sirius Satellite Receiver with Vehicle Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I first bought this item with the boombox.(big mistake)receiver was alway very hot to the touch after use.
After a little over a year(one year warrenty)it burnt out.
I replaced the receiver and after a little over another year, the sheild around the connection point for the antenna broke away. It could not see the antenna anymore.I then replaced the received a third time. It only worked for 3.5 hours,then went silent,it would not re-activate after that.
I have now returned it and bought the Stiletto 100 from Sirius. IT IS AWSOME!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!! Stay away from all X-act products.The service at X-act is even worse then their products.

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Enjoy all 120 channels of Sirius satellite radio while driving in your car with XAct's XTR1CK plug-and-play vehicle kit. Equipped with an XTR1 satellite radio receiver, a four-position vehicle docking cradle, a satellite antenna, and a 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter, the kit includes everything you need to enjoy satellite radio while cruising anywhere in the 48 contiguous U.S. states.
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 streams, and the S-Seek feature, which lets you know when one of your 10 stored song titles is playing on a given Sirius channel. 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 on almost any surface in your car, including the sun visor, windshield, or dashboard.
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, vehicle docking cradle, vehicle antenna, 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter, audio cables, wireless remote control, user's manual.

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