Hi all, I am sorry this is long, but I am pretty clueless about hardware and I hope somebody can help me with some advice about what to do.
I have a ST1 (Starmate 1) Sirius radio that I bought from Best Buy almost 4 years ago. Lately it's been "sticking"--when I try to change channels on it after it's been on for a while, none of the buttons work. It just sits there like a brick, playing the channel it's already on. I have to unplug it and plug it back in to get it to respond again. This is unpredictable, it can happen in the morning after it's on all night (I have horrible insomnia, the noise helps me sleep) or during the day after just an hour.
I'm assuming it's only going to get worse until it quits working altogether--or is there some way I can fix it myself? I do know how to solder if that helps.
Anyway, I have some kind of extended warranty from Best Buy that means I can take it back and they should repair or replace it or give me some kind of voucher, but I don't know what to do about it. Does it cost money to de-activate my ST1 and activate a new radio? Do I have to prove to them that it's getting stuck (hard to do when it's random)? Do they just give me a voucher for their store? Do they send it off to get fixed, leaving me radio-less until it's sent back? Has anyone returned a radio to them before?
If they want to give me a replacement radio, are there any really bad ones I should try to avoid? It looks like there are many new models from 30$ up to 100$+. The warranty plan I have is for up to 99$. The radio doesn't go with me in my car, it just sits on my stereo at home.
Finally, I'm reading about these wireless internet radios, should I just keep using the ST1 until it completely dies and then sign up for an internet-only Sirius sub and use an internet radio like the Grace things instead of getting a new Sirius-brand receiver? I am so confused.
I would really appreciate some advice.
I have a ST1 (Starmate 1) Sirius radio that I bought from Best Buy almost 4 years ago. Lately it's been "sticking"--when I try to change channels on it after it's been on for a while, none of the buttons work. It just sits there like a brick, playing the channel it's already on. I have to unplug it and plug it back in to get it to respond again. This is unpredictable, it can happen in the morning after it's on all night (I have horrible insomnia, the noise helps me sleep) or during the day after just an hour.
I'm assuming it's only going to get worse until it quits working altogether--or is there some way I can fix it myself? I do know how to solder if that helps.
Anyway, I have some kind of extended warranty from Best Buy that means I can take it back and they should repair or replace it or give me some kind of voucher, but I don't know what to do about it. Does it cost money to de-activate my ST1 and activate a new radio? Do I have to prove to them that it's getting stuck (hard to do when it's random)? Do they just give me a voucher for their store? Do they send it off to get fixed, leaving me radio-less until it's sent back? Has anyone returned a radio to them before?
If they want to give me a replacement radio, are there any really bad ones I should try to avoid? It looks like there are many new models from 30$ up to 100$+. The warranty plan I have is for up to 99$. The radio doesn't go with me in my car, it just sits on my stereo at home.
Finally, I'm reading about these wireless internet radios, should I just keep using the ST1 until it completely dies and then sign up for an internet-only Sirius sub and use an internet radio like the Grace things instead of getting a new Sirius-brand receiver? I am so confused.
I would really appreciate some advice.
