willk

Hi.
I've found posts on various websites talking about this, showing that a good number of people but no one seems to have found a solution yet.
Here are the facts:
-A few weeks ago, my Sirius Sportster started frequently showing the "Acquiring Signal" message. Every once in a while, the message goes away and the appropriate text returns, but the message always comes back after a few minutes.
-This is happening when the unit is in the home cradle, the boombox, and the car cradle, so it can't be an antenna problem or a tree obstructing the view.
-The s-seek function is still working. The radio, even with the acquiring signal message up, will give me an s-seek alert, allow me to switch to the new station, and still not give any audio.
-Every once in a while, there is audio, but it goes away pretty quickly.
-Sirius says to buy a new radio (the same solution they seem to have to any problem). When I have emailed them, they ignore the fact that several people seem to have had this problem in the same time period.
-If I have to buy a new radio, I will, but I would like to know if this is going to happen with any older generation Sportster I buy to replace this one. I would like to buy a Sportster or a Sportster Replay that will still fit into all of the equipment I already own (boombox, home cradle, car cradle), and none of the newer units fit. I could buy one from ebay, but how likely is it that I'm going to have the same problem with that one? If these things just wear out over a period of around three years, Sirius should say that or make radios that will still work with the older equipment.

Anybody got any answers or help or advice? I really don't want to buy a whole new system, especially when it seems that, in addition to the subscription cost, I'll probably have to spend another couple of hundred dollars in another few years to do the exact same thing.

Thank you.

Will

BigAlKY

I understand your problem. Month or so ago, I ran into the same problem with my Stilleto100. I had to upgrade to the SL2, but all my equipment was for the SL100. I posted a class action lawsuit about it, but since Sirius is barely holding on to their lives.... why waste my time.

There is no real anwser to your problem at hand. But as I see it, Sirius is running and I fear once their cash cow(Howard Stern) leaves in 2 3/4 yrs, so will Sirius. How come they no longer offer lifetime subs on their site. The best you can do now is a 2 yr sub. I wonder if next yr they only offer for a 1 yr sub only.

I see the hadwriting on the wall and Sirius has only hopes to hold out for 34 months and after that it is all a guessing game and the merger is going no where any time soon.

Just my thoughts...... good luck on getting your radio back up

Mazdax605

My original Sportster is doing the exact same thing overthe last week or so. I have had the unit for about 3 years. First I thought it was the antenna,but the unit shows strong signal strength,and every once n a while the text shows up,and I can hear Howard,or what ever I have on,but then maybe 4-5 minutes later it cuts out again. I also get a lot of "acquiring signal",but it has full strength. I have not contacted Sirius yet,but I am not happy as I have missed around two weeks of Howard. I thought it was the dock,or antenna,but it is happening in either of my vehicles,so I doubt I have problems with both. I don't want to buy a whole new system as I have two dock,and the boombox. I was looking at ebay,and there are plenty of old sportsters on there,but I don't want to spend money on something that may be doing the same thing. Is there anything I can do aside from complain,or cancel my subscription after 3+ years?

derek1079

I had a similar problem with my Sportster a few years ago. Except I was getting the "Antenna not connected" message instead of the "Acquiring signal" message. It turns out, the little tabs on the circle of the antenna connector on the bottom of the receiver itself were bent in. I was able to take a pencil and bend the tabs outward a little bit and it solved my problem. It's worth a shot I guess if you want to try it.

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ClubSteeler

It could be a bent or dirty connection slot on the bottom of the radio. Although I'm not sure how you could fix that. You can try to get something in there to clean the tabs. (Not sure of your age, but remember those original Nintendo game cartridges, and how they could get dirty and sometimes work for a while then flip off?)


Other than that... I wouldn't be too upset if I were you. You can go to ebay and find a Sportster or sportster replay, receiver only, for under $20. In fact I just bought a Sportster 3 with car kit, new, open box return, for $25.

willk

what is the newest model i can get that is compatible with the old stuff? it seems that the old sportster replay is probably it. does that sound right?

thank you.

w

derek1079

Just the original Sportster, Sportster Replay, or Streamer Replay. The Streamer Replay is black, so it wouldn't match the color of your gray Sportster Boombox, but it will work.
http://www.tss-radio.com/streamer-re...c1-p-3671.html

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Mazdax605

I just got off the phone with Sirius,and they told me to do a "hard reset". I tried that,and nothing new. I asked the customer rep,what I could do if this doesn't work(it didn't)? They told me that they could sell me a Sportster 4,or 5. I don't want to buy anything like that because then I have to buy another cradle,and boombox which isn't in the budget now,or in the near future.

I was thinking about buying a used Sporster on ebay,but who knows what I am getting with that. I just want this Sportster to work,and I would hope Sirius would help repair it which they are not. You would think that a subscriber for 3+ years would get some sort of special treatment,but I guess not.

I used my fathers Sportster 4 when he got it,and I wasn't impressed with the FM signal strength,and I don't want that radio.

Is the used,or open box old original Sportster from Ebay my only option?

derek1079

You could buy the Streamer Replay from tss-radio.com that I listed a few posts up

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Mazdax605

How about a Streamer GT? I found one local on craigslist that is cheap enough. Will this unit work in my dock,and most importantly does it have the strong FM signal?

SiriusChic

I've been having the same problem with the signal cutting out. Times change but currently it's around 4:30 PM Eastern, 12:30 AM and 8:30 AM all Eastern Time. I think it's due to the satellites and the earths rotation at this time of year, as if I move the antenna (from it's optimal position) it'll pick up the signal again, but then loose it as the satellites move. From my area it's optimal to North-north by northwest.

It's not the radios as one of mine is a PNP2 and it works great in the car, but home causes a problem at the times given.

derek1079

No, sorry. It's not compatable. Only Sportster, Sportster Replay, and Streamer Replay.

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Mazdax605

Do those three radios you listed all have the strong FM tuner? If so I also found a Sportster Replay local for $25,and I can pick it up from the seller on craigslist.

pearkel

My older clarion started doing the same thing a couple of weeks ago. Finally I got fed up this AM and called to take the radio off of my account as it was juat a waste of money. The lady on the phone offered me a free sportster 4 with car kit and a fm modulation kit. All at no cost, shipping or subscription commitments. Very pleased and will keep 2 radios on my account for a while longer.
I think that it is kind of strange how the same problem is being experienced by different users on the older radios.

derek1079

I'm not sure. All of the original Sportsters would have the strong FM Modulator. As for the Sportster Replay/Streamer Replay I think some were manufactured before the FCC crackdown, and some after. And there's no way to tell the difference by looking at them. You could always buy the FM Direct Adapter if you get one with the weak FM Modulator.

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