Sirius radio owners

[n2mark]

Okay, I want to obtain one for car and house- went onto their site,
what do I need to buy yet be economical? What parts do I need? Feel free to contact me by email. There were several prices, components, don't know what to buy for a starter.

[Maat]

1. I'm going to leave it to the technical types to answer this one.

I have the Kenwood 'plug-n-play,' the home unit, the in-car docking and car antenna, and I got it for under $200, including installation. I operate it through the tape deck, but recommend that you get an 'FM modulator' instead.

I've had no problems, and have enjoyed both #143 (Sirius Left) and #144 (24/7 Air America) for about a year. They also have each NFL game.

[gmoney]

2. just hooked up mine...

They sure don't want to tell you what you need, do they?

I *THINK* if you get a receiver with a car kit, that should be all you need to listen in the car -- mine included the receiver, cigarette lighter power adapter, the antennae, mounting stuff, and a remote.

The receiver is also a transmitter, so you set it to "broadcast" a signal to the FM radio in your car. If you have a cassette deck, you can probably use one of those little cassette adapters that plugs into the headphone jack ($10 at Radio Shack). Or, you can get a more elaborate "hard wired" set-up if you want to put some money into it.

For the house, you can either get a kit similar ($50) to the car kit that provides power and antennae hook up, and an audio out for your home stereo, or use the "broadcast" setting to transmit to your stereo. Or most of the receivers have a matching "boombox" that you can get for $75 to $100.

I think if you wait until AFTER Christmas, you could probably find big sales on them, too. Keep an eye out for special promotions... I managed to piggyback on a Howard Stern promo where you got $150 worth of hardware free for pre-paying a one-year subscription. I think it's expired, but it would not surprise me if it repeats.

Also, check the discounters like Best Buy or Radio Shack for specials. Good luck!

[Lex]

3. Here's what I got when I got Sirius--

I bought this exact unit (it came with the home docking station that runs through your existing stereo setup):

http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=ProductAsset&cid=1068746824243


Then I got this for my car, which is portable (I can change from one car to another) and Sirius comes in through your existing FM radio--like on 88.3 FM--wirelessly.

http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=ProductAsset&cid=1077744931680


It was VERY EASY to set it up and get everything going. I paid for a year's service in advance and got a discount.


Hope this helps.

[soothsayer]

4. but don't you need a subscription for EACH radio? that's why

I'd go portable if possible.

[Lex]

6. Of course I only have *one* radio.

As per my post, I pop the radio out of the home unit and take it with me to the car and pop it in the auto unit.

Absolutely no need for me to have 2 radios with the set up I have. EVERYTHING is portable. The home unit connects into any stereo anywhere and the car unit connects into any car anywhere.

Only one radio receiver is necessary.

[sbj405]

5. Plug N Play unit, home dock and car dock

I imagine they are having some deals for the holidays. When I bought it, I the deal was buy a unit and one docking station and get the other free. Total tab was $150.

Also, depending on your location and your housing situation, you may need an antenna extension for your home. I think that runs about $40. Unless you are in a city with ground repeaters, you'll need to put the home antenna outside.