SIRIUS Stratus 4 Plug-and-Play Satellite Radio Receiver with Vehicle Kit
- Easy-to-use, affordable Sirius satellite radio receiver with bundled car kit
- Easy-to-read 3-line display; 10 station presets; one-touch jump button toggles between music and news
- Includes universal docking connector and built-in FM transmitter
- Parental control with channel lock
- 90-day warranty
Product Description
Sirius Satellite Radio, three line display with car kitAmazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } One of Sirius’ easiest to use and most affordable receivers, the Sirius Stratus 4 is a must for satellite radio fans who want a less-expensive entry into the sat… More >>
SIRIUS Stratus 4 Plug-and-Play Satellite Radio Receiver with Vehicle Kit
If this is satellite radio, I am not impressed. A year ago, I was in a rental car that had Sirus. I really loved the music programming, yet frankly, FM radio still sounded better. So, I am in Best Buy over Thanksgiving and I see a special- spend $50 and get this radio with 3 free months. So I decide to take the plunge.
The hook up and install in my car was easy. Yet, this system will leave you with a Rube Goldberg like contraption on your dash board or in between the seats- The unit, the base, and wires for satellite antenna, power cord, and the FM extension antenna.
And, frankly, the FM extention antenna is totally worthless. As a matter of fact, it will make your reception worse at times.. And, there are issues of hitting bad spots in city areas– when going to lower elevations, or driving by some broadcast/communication towers, the FM transmit is going to not work, period. yet, I still get the satellite signal strongly on the unit.
If Satellite radio is run directly into the car’s radio, it will be fine, or if you add yet another contraption- the cassette deck adapter. So, all this for getting satellite radio is not as cheap as you think, with all the additional install and component buying.
All this, and still, even if you have the perfect set up in your car, FM radio still sounds better and has a better stereo seperation.
So, I don’t know if I am going to continue service as of yet. The programming is fantastic, when it the radio works. but, having a product that has mediocre performance is making it not worth it..
Rating: 2 / 5
I am a little unhappy with yet another wire in my car for the antenna booster but it is worth it for the clear sound. The radio is easy to use and the display is easy to read
Rating: 4 / 5
I dont know why these Sirius radios get SOOO hot all of the time. Reception is perfect, price was great. If they stay in business, buy one
Rating: 2 / 5
First, let me say one thing – the Sirius description of what comes with this radio is misleading. They claim it has an AC adapter. It does not; it has a DC adapter. The difference is that with an AC adapter you can use it in your house… without paying $40 (more than the radio costs) for a “home kit.” That is, if you don’t have a spare 12V power supply you can splice into a cigarette lighter outlet from Radio Shack.
Second, the sound quality is fairly poor; not terrible, but certainly not what you get from the standard stereos in Chrysler and Dodge cars with Sirius. There’s a certain dullness that can’t be adjusted out.
The music programming is excellent and far better than XM radio. I can’t stand Howard Stern and don’t like having to see him plastered over their web site but that’s minor. Their customer service people are rude and arrogant.
Reception is less than ideal. I found that in the car, the reception blanks out frequently. At home, with the antenna posted a foot from the window (outside) and away from trees and such, I can usually get two bars and only once or twice a day does it drop out, but it took a lot of experimentation to get there. I can’t get more than two bars, generally, and often drop down to one. Extra antennas tend to cost as much as the radio.
I use a hard-wired hookup so the FM transmitter isn’t the problem.
Overall — I’m very disappointed and I understand now why Sirius doesn’t have easy comparison charts for its radios or any specifications of frequency range, harmonic distortion, and sensitivity to the antenna.
Rating: 2 / 5
I purchased this radio along with a Home Installation Kit about a month ago. My main intention was to listen to college/pro football games not carried here on the West Coast.
Use in the car has been excellent with no problems except a short loss of signal while in a tunnel.
However, use at home has been less than stellar. Apparently, the ’satellite’ is located in the central US and supplemented by a ground based antenna on the East and West Coast. I have two home kits with one installed in a west facing upstairs window and the other in an east facing upstairs window. Reception is sporadic. In general, the signal is fine for about 1/2 to 1 1/2 hrs and then fades out for about 1/2 hr. Unfortunately, this seems to happen in the 4th quarter of a close game and every day around sundown. I’m happy with the progamming available just don’t like the interruptions. If the signal was steady at all locations I would have rated the system at 5 stars.
Rating: 3 / 5