Please help Sporster 4

baspeed · 06-10-2006, 11:29 AM

I am replacing my Sporster R with the NEW Sporster 4 form Sirius. WHen I hook up my new Sporster 4 I hear static. It's not clear like my other radio. I tried a bunch of FM fre. form 89.9 to 92.9 but they all do the same thing. If I lay the radio on my leg it quiets it down a bit. It also dosnt appear to have the sound quality my REPLAY or the SportaterR has. I tried the radipo in a friends car and it did the same thing. FUnny thing is and explain this... I tried it in my girlfrineds van this morning and it was clear. moved it to my car Static. You get static even when your not on a station. Could it be the power plug?

Is there any where I can post a problem to Sirius or get any info on the Sportser 4 problem before I ship the radio back across the country?

Thank you to anyone who knows anything about my problem

Speed

baspeed · 06-10-2006, 11:53 AM

looking up some things in this forum and they mention the different power cord form 12v to 5 v. Funny how the S4 worked clear as a bell in my girlfriends van but not in my Grand Am or my friends Jeep. Anyone know if there is some adaptor to stop the static or if some cars do not support the 5v?

**Michigan Made** · 06-10-2006, 12:05 PM

There is a drop down in the cord or in the unit. Don't worry about the 5v. Plug it in and it will work. The s50 is this way as well.

zevious · 06-10-2006, 12:54 PM

This sounds more like an FM Mod issue to me. Isn't this FM Mod weaker than previous models?

AKmaro1 · 06-10-2006, 01:47 PM

Just a thought, is the internal volume all the way up on the Sportster? I've done similar things with my Starmate Replay, moving it between the house and car. If the volume wasn't all the way up I got bad and noisy reception on the FM frequencies.

**DAB** · 06-10-2006, 02:53 PM

There is no doubt this is an FM Trans issue. Vehicles are 12 volt, but the cig power adapter has the circuitry built into to supply the Sportster 4 with only 5 volts of power. So this isn't the issue.

You have 2 options as I see it. Well maybe 3. Shipping it back will make no difference because this is the way all new FM Trans will be thanks to the FCC. Option1: Get an FM Switching Box and hardwire it directly to your head unit, this will provide the best level of SQ via an FM Trans. Option2: You can get an wired FM Antenna that plugs into the FM-Out on the cradle, but this will only boost the signal a bit, but generally will clean it up enough that it will work acceptably. Option:3 Go back and use one of the older models that have a stronger FM Trans.

I'd recommend option1 myself. It takes a bit of effort but will offer you the best level of SQ.

Have you ever found it if they make any kind of adapter for your head unit that will allow you to directly connect a tuner, because that is the ultimate sound?

baspeed · 06-12-2006, 04:52 PM

I talked to a tech at Sirius and they said that my radio is bad. They siad it should work in the car with no problems and if Im getting static on all channels then the radio is bad so Im gonna send it back to the company and I will let you know if the new one works better. Anyone else have a new Sporster 4?

zaj · 06-12-2006, 05:12 PM

I've tried two of them, and they both had horrible FM transmission. Thanks to the FCC, I think all FM Mods will be lousy from now on. So, go with DAB's suggestion on the FM switching box or go back to an earlier generation receiver (which I did--back to Starmate Replay for the car--I don't want to monkey with the hardware of the car, since I have a Prius, and my warranty will be shot if I make any mistakes).