0ur opinion:

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The sleek Sportster4 includes SlRlUS Replay, advanced sports features, a large, easy-to-read display, rotary tuning knob and moves easily between your car, home or boombox with universal docking capability.

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Get in the game with the plug-and-play Sirius Sportster 4 satellite radio receiver, which sports a new slim profile while still maintaining the same great features for which the Sportster series is known. Just like other Sirius-compatible receivers, the Sportster 4 offers a large, easy-to-read display, a rotary tuning knob, and accessible buttons, but now moves seamlessly into your car, home, or boombox. More significantly, the Sportster 4 maximizes the listening experience of Sirius radio's broad sports lineup, with the ability to decode the incoming Sirius digital-quality signal from more than 120 music, news, and sports channels. lt's also easily transportable, and thanks to the bundled car kit, lets you listen to your favorite satellite radio programs while driving.

An easy-to-read, six-line display tells you the channel name and number, category, artist name, song title, and time simultaneously. The receiver also lets you program up to 30 presets of your favorite streams, as well as search by stream, artist name, song title, or category. And with a quick press of the 0ne-Touch Jump button, you can instantly switch between the traffic and weather reports for your city or any of the other music, news, or entertainment channels. 0ther programming details include an S-Seek function that stores your favorite artists and songs and alerts you when one is playing on any of the music channels, direct station tuning via the numeric buttons, and a channel lock option. Time functions, meanwhile, include an onscreen clock, alarm, and sleep timer, as well as a program alert that allows the unit to switch to a preprogrammed stream at a selected time.

The Sportster 4 really earns its stripes, however, with its variety of enhanced features designed specifically for sports lovers. The Game Alert feature prompts you when your favorite NFL or other sports teams are playing on Sirius. The Game Zone lists all of your favorite teams in one virtual category and lets you select a different team from each of the various sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and college sports. And what sports fan could do without the Sportster's instant replay function, which lets you pause, rewind, and replay 44 minutes of live radio? As soon as you tune to a channel, the receiver automatically begins storing the audio for later playback.

The Sportster 4 also includes a built-in FM transmitter that sends Sirius radio programming to your vehicle's FM tuner, so you don't have to make a direct connection to enjoy the full array of channels. Simply set an empty FM frequency on your radio and tune the Sportster 4 to the same frequency. This function also works with other FM tuners, such as the one on your home stereo, but is easily paired with the car thanks to the bundled vehicle kit, which includes everything you need for listening to Sirius while driving. Components include a vehicle docking station, a suction cup mount, a vent mount, a DC power supply that plugs into your car's cigarette lighter, a roof-mount antenna, and mounting hardware.

Sirius satellite radio is a subscription service that provides more than 120 channels of programming, from digital-quality music to news, talk, and sports. lt is available only in the lower 48 states--not in Alaska, Hawaii, or U.S. territories. The Sportster 4, which measures 4.5 by 2.9 by 0.6 inches (W x H x D), is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
Sportster 4 satellite radio receiver, wireless remote control, lithium battery, vehicle docking station, roof-mount antenna, suction cup mount, vent mount, cigarette lighter power adapter, mounting hardware, installation guide, Sirius channel information card, user's manual.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Sirius Sportster 4 Sat. Radio Receiver ...
I bought one for myself and one for my son. No problems as of now.
If you plan on using it without a cassette tape adapter or a direct plug in from your car radio to the Sirius radio receiver you will most likely experience static and signal feed over from from nearby FM stations on your car radio. I'm lucky, my Ford Explorer (2000) radio also has a cassette player built in it, this totally eliminates any static or fading of signal between the Sirius radio and my car radio. For best reception mount the antenna on the exterior of your vehicle, don't try to lay it up on the dash near the bottom of the windshield.... doesn't work very well. The radio is easy to use and the small remote makes changing the channels, etc., easy, which is very useful and lessens the time you have to take your eyes off of the road. The 44 minute play back feature is a good bonus also. The large display and lettering makes it easy to read. If you plan to remove the radio from the mounting bracket everyday, it fits a little tight, but it isn't difficult to remove. Guess it is better to be snug than to have it fly off when you hit a bump or something. Overall, I'm completely satisified with this radio.

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Buyer's feedback: - Not for Audiophiles
Overall sound quality is less than FM, a little better than AM. I was disappointed with the sound quality, but after I had chucked in the $$ for the radio and a year's worth of programming, I guess I will deal with it. I'll just quickly add my $0.02 on the FM transmitter being junk - use the aux if you have one or get a cassette tape modulator - either one sounds about the same (which is significantly better than the FM).

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Buyer's feedback: - * I Love My Sportster ...
Regardless of the mixed reviews, I love my Starmate4. I was looking for a small unit to put in my vehicle and later expand for home use. And not break the bank.

The FM transmitter in mine works fine. The FCC restricts the transmitters. After winter, I'll probably use my aux port or an FM modulator for the best sound. I'll also hardwire it into the car to free up a lighter outlet (and wires). I suspect FM transmitters are sensative to car electronics, antenna (sp) location, and how dense the FM market is in an area.

The unit itself is super easy to use -- a must when driving. The buttons are few and easily accessible. It should be even easier when I get around to buying a battery for the remote. The mounting system also works very well. I have mine mounted on the windshield. However, you can mount it to an air duct. But I haven't figured out how those gadgets work.

I've had no signal problems, except when I pump gas under an overhang. Duh. And, the unit buffers the signal, so if you go under a bridge or the sat is blocked, you have some grace period.

There's also Pause/Rewind/Fast Forward features. Very handy when I miss the weather. You can rewind several seconds (not sure the max rewind) and re-listen to what you missed.

Oh, forgot the 30 pre-sets. Nice feature. The next model down had only 10 presets. Worth the few extra bucks.

The programming is awesome. Like full cable TV for your radio. I feel free! Free from commerical standard radio!

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Buyer's feedback: - The FM Transmitter really is garbage, but....
I first installed this unit into my 02 Xterra which I already had an FM Modulator installed into and it worked amazingly. Crystal clear sound, and the Sat. signal didn't drop at all as compaired to my Sportser 1 which didn't have signal more than it did have signal.

Last night however, I went and bought an 07 Hyundai Santa Fe. I put the Sirius in without the chance to put in (or take the out of the old car for that matter) the FM modulator. The FM transmission is awful. But don't let that sway you. Get off the tookus, and get an FM modulator. If you value audio quality enough to complain about a poor FM transmitter, then you should value it enough to pony up the extra $19.99 for the FM modualtor if you have no other wired option.

I have been beaten down by FM transmitters for years since my first MP3 player, so it's really not a suprise that FM transmitters are bad in general.

Outside of the FM transmitter, this thing is top notch. The display is great, the memory options are great. Everything you need is right on the remote, though the remote is still taking some getting used to because I am used to the Sportster 1 which had less buttons.

If you want a great Sirius option, and you have a good wired option (RCA / 1/8 jack / FM Modulator) this is the radio to buy no questions asked. Good job Sirius, and thank you for turning down the FM transmitter in fact. This way, eventually when I drive by some guy with Sirius in his Scion XB lunch box mobile, I won't have to deal with hearing his Tupac over my Iron Maiden.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Sportster Replay 2 compatible with docking stations? ...
I just bought a Sportster Replay 2 and was considering purchasing a universal docking station. I was noticing on the specifications for the Solo Universal docking station that my model was not included. Is the Sportster 2 a different docking configuration then the Sportster 3 and 4? Please help me out. Thanks.