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Starmate Replay OR Sportster Replay ~ Which To Get???
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| Starmate Replay OR Sportster Replay ~ Which To Get???
- Click HERE to go to the original thread with graphics
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| NWSternGirl |
| I see that many of you have one of these two radios. I didn't want to F up the other threads, so I'll ask here: why did you choose one over the other. I will get one of these VERY soon and would love the opinion of those who own them. Gravitas!!! :gwave: |
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| jms397 |
Quote: Originally posted by NWSternGirl
I see that many of you have one of these two radios. I didn't want to F up the other threads, so I'll ask here: why did you choose one over the other. I will get one of these VERY soon and would love the opinion of those who own them. Gravitas!!! :gwave: |
I got the Sportster Replay because it is compatible with the boombox and because I like the blue display better.
The Starmate isn't compatible with the boombox.
I use it my car during the day and bring it in at night and use it with the boombox. |
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| NWSternGirl |
FYI, the Starmate Replay has the blue display, rather than that ugly orange one on the original Starmate.
Anyone else have anything to add??? |
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| Sirius_Store |
The Starmate Replay is excellent regardless, but a little more geard towards the car only. The Sportster Replay is perfect for moving it quickly from the car to home or office. In the middle of good radio I will take it quickly from the car and dash inside and have it going in a moment. The reason the Sportster Replay is better for that is because is has a dock that is fits snug into that you can pull it in and out of. The Starmate Replay has three connections that you have to plug in and out of everytime you move in or out of the car. It adds up.
Also like jms397 said you can use the boombox. Also the Sportster Replay can utilize the Higher end player Executive Docking Station
The Starmate Replay has one big feature that the Sportster Replay doesn't though, and that is artist search. When a song you like is playing and you press the Memo button it will remember the next time that song plays (up to 20 or 30 songs) when it is playing on any Sirius station and will allow you to go to that song with a push of a button. Well the Starmate Replay takes it one level further and lets you choose to Memo either the song or the artist.
Hope this helps. |
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| NWSternGirl |
Extremely helpful!!! Thanks!
Mutt, I hope these sponsor links work soon. :( |
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| The Butler |
Nice topic NWSG. I think I've got it narrowed to those 2 units as well. Sirius_Store has me leaning toward the Sportster. It's going to start out in the house and I may not install it in the car 'til I get a new one. I initially thought the 44 minute replay to be a waste but I can see myself using it in the morning when I jump in the shower.
Any more reviews? I want to do this in the next week or two. |
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| KingSoundBytes |
I got the Starmate Replay last week and so far so good. A big reason I selected this one is because it's a newer model and quite small. I'll be using it mostly at home since that's where I work. I hooked it up to my stereo and also my computer.
I also installed it in the car and although I know nothing about installing stuff in cars it was quite simple. The car installation is not permanent. It can easily be removed.
Signal strength at home is variable. Most of the time it's fine, but in the evening it starts to drop out a lot. I just got this home antenna delivered to see if it helps: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ronics&v=glance .
I'm thinking about getting another radio (for my wife). There's a small, cheap one coming out:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-aKE1rF...250150&I=607SV1
I look forward to new units that may come out in the future. They can only get better. |
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| The Butler |
I pulled the trigger and bought the Sportster Replay on Monday. Hook-up at home was easy, although I did end up putting the antenna outside, great signal. The unit sounds great now, after a tip from backstage: Don't use the phono slot in older rack stereos.
Also, Radio Shack is running a $50 rebate most units over $80. Just activate before the end of the year. |
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| spreedogg |
Quote: Originally posted by Sirius_Store
The Starmate Replay is excellent regardless, but a little more geard towards the car only. The Sportster Replay is perfect for moving it quickly from the car to home or office. In the middle of good radio I will take it quickly from the car and dash inside and have it going in a moment. The reason the Sportster Replay is better for that is because is has a dock that is fits snug into that you can pull it in and out of. The Starmate Replay has three connections that you have to plug in and out of everytime you move in or out of the car. It adds up.
Also like jms397 said you can use the boombox. Also the Sportster Replay can utilize the Higher end player Executive Docking Station
The Starmate Replay has one big feature that the Sportster Replay doesn't though, and that is artist search. When a song you like is playing and you press the Memo button it will remember the next time that song plays (up to 20 or 30 songs) when it is playing on any Sirius station and will allow you to go to that song with a push of a button. Well the Starmate Replay takes it one level further and lets you choose to Memo either the song or the artist.
Hope this helps. |
thanks man...I am getting the sportster now |
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| jms397 |
One word of caution when installing the car kit for the sportster or sportster replay. This only applies to the car kit, not the boombox or home kit.
When you are ready to plug in your antenna to the cradle that holds your sportster, make sure that the cradle is in the place you really want it and you aren't planning on moving it unless you can leave the antenna plugged in to the back of the cradle.
Its a known issue that if you plug in the antenna and then unplug it, it will be very difficult to unplug and it will possibly ruin the connection. Some people who have unplugged the antenna and plugged it back in will get the "antenna not detected" message and have to swap the cradle and antenna for a new one. This happened to me and I saw others with the same problem at the Sirius Install Garage board. I swapped mine out and haven't had any problems since.
Make sure when you plug it in to leave it in. |
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| NWSternGirl |
| Thanks for the advice, jay! |
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| NWSternGirl |
Quote: Originally posted by KingSoundBytes
I got the Starmate Replay last week and so far so good. A big reason I selected this one is because it's a newer model and quite small. I'll be using it mostly at home since that's where I work. I hooked it up to my stereo and also my computer.
I also installed it in the car and although I know nothing about installing stuff in cars it was quite simple. The car installation is not permanent. It can easily be removed.
Signal strength at home is variable. Most of the time it's fine, but in the evening it starts to drop out a lot. I just got this home antenna delivered to see if it helps: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ronics&v=glance .
I'm thinking about getting another radio (for my wife). There's a small, cheap one coming out:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-aKE1rF...250150&I=607SV1
I look forward to new units that may come out in the future. They can only get better. |
So, how is the new antenna working for you? |
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| Mutt |
I'll be picking this little $50 unit for kimba.
she has one of the freebies from last october. I need to find a boombox unit for that
the sirius store is looking good |
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| NWSternGirl |
Quote: Originally posted by Mutt
she has one of the freebies from last october. I need to find a boombox unit for that
the sirius store is looking good |
 Oh god, I'm SO confused! The Sirius Store isn't the affliate link that gives you a little $$, is it??? I thought the affiliate link takes me to shop.sirius .com. |
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| ZoSo925 |
Sportster Replay is definatly the top item to get.
Starmate is cheaper and has cheaper features.
Best thing I like about the Sportster is the station knob to switch channels. Looks like a volume control knob but it's to change channels.
Also the Sportster has more Pre-set memory stations and supports the 45min record feature. I like that a lot too |
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| NWSternGirl |
Is the Starmate Replay the ONLY 3G (third generation) radio? I understand that this 3G chipset keeps the radio/plug cooler.
Also, I read on siriusbackstage.com that there is a splitter/combiner dealy-bob that people who have satellite TV service (both DirecTV and Dish) can use, rather than having to run a second cable for home use.
http://www.siriusbackstage.com/foru...pic.php?t=23818 |
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| jigzaw |
Quote: Originally posted by NWSternGirl
Is the Starmate Replay the ONLY 3G (third generation) radio? I understand that this 3G chipset keeps the radio/plug cooler.
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I'm interested in this too. I think the Sirius One, and S50 are supposed to be 3rd gen chips, but that's just rumors I've picked up on the board.
I haven't seen anything in the Sirius literature about the generations of chips so I'm wondering where this information comes from??? Does anyone know how to find out about the chips and which recievers have which ones? I mean from an official source, rather than hearsay. |
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| NWSternGirl |
| I have read about some uber geeks at Siriusbackstage actually taking apart the goods to inspect them. They report back in the forum about their findings, and everyone has a happy ending over it. :p |
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| jms397 |
Quote: Originally posted by NWSternGirl
I have read about some uber geeks at Siriusbackstage actually taking apart the goods to inspect them. They report back in the forum about their findings, and everyone has a happy ending over it. :p |
What's wrong with happy endings?  :D |
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| Transitmike1 |
| MY fiancee Bought me the starmate replay For Christmas, ANd i have to say that I absolutly love it has all of the same features as the sportster replay but i think that the mount for the starmate is a lot more convienent then the docking system for the sportster replay because its smaller, I live in Nyc and i Love the FM Transmitter and is sounds great and the Memo feature is unbelievably great, but it can get annoying real fast if you have a lot of artist and songs alerts i get like at least 7-12 Beeps per song (lol), I also believe that size matters When it comes to radio i think the smaller the better and i also believe that the starmate Replay looks nore appealing and its silver finish blends very well with a leather interior. |
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| RightWinger |
The guy at Best Buy said they were coming out with a boombox for the starmate in the summer...
as for me im all about the sportster...it kicks ass, though the receiver gets rather warm...must be cause im listening to the damn thing all DAY LONG! |
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| Kelly |
| Does anyone know of a site that has the sportster/boombox in stock now? |
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| Kerupt |
I just ordered my starmate with home kit tonight... what a bitch it was trying to get. Flying Off shelves everywhere. When I went to the sirius site to check up on how to activate I saw that boom box and alls it says its comming soon
seems it was ok to wait for the one I liked by looks alone anyhow :D
I almost feel for the free orbiter rebate from radioshack but found youd have a VERY hard time trying to find any kind of kit home and/or car for that one |
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| scooterMX |
I bought the Starmate Replay for my wife for Christmas. She'll primarily use it in her car, and Radio Shmucks was giving away the Car kit in an instant rebate, so it was a sweet deal.
Since we move it from the car to the home kit pretty regularly (Once a day usually), I have to say the only downside of the Starmate (over the Sportster) seems to be the wires hanging off the receiver with the Starmate.
In the house it's not so bad, but in the car it's nearly impossible to route the cables so that they're out of the way, but accessible when you want to reconnect it. This weekend I'll be re-routing the cables so that they are *almost* entirely tucked away, with just enough to reach the dashboard mount.
If anyone has any suggestions on super-clean installs on a '01 Jetta, let me have them! |
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| hokiefenokie |
I just picked up the Starmate Replay radio and activated. I've noticed the sound quality is pretty bad - almost like I am listening through a cellphone. I am using the built-in FM modulator on 88.1.
My brother has XM and he doesnt seem to have any sound quality issues.
I really want to keep Sirius for Stern - is this a Starmate issue - or does Sirius just have limited broadcast technology?
Thx.. |
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| Fa-Fa-Fo-Ha |
| Are you listening in your car or at a home radio? If you are in a home system try putting the audio in MONO not stereo. I know that made a difference for my brother. |
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| JerseySternFan |
NW, when I got my car I had it with sirius factory installed. I thaught it would be ok since I do alot of driving in the morning. Well, when I realized I was missing some of the other programs, I knew I had to get another recieve. My friend had the Starmate but I don't like the look of it, so I went with the SportsterR. It has 30 presets, nice size unit, and my favorite feature, is the alarm. Not sure if the Starmate has an alarm or not.
Also, waiting for the boombox to come out in Feb was too much to wait. I now have to get a second boombox to keep in my office at all times and just carry the starmate in my cupholder and take it down as I need it. |
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| SkookS |
I picked up the Sportster Replay car kit and the boombox. It took me a day to find the perfect spot for the boombox ant. I didn't have much of a problem with the car hook-up, although I did end up plugging in the FM rat tail. The reception was a bit off until I did that.
I does give off a lot of heat.
The material on Sirius is excellent. I really dig Jam-on, the Bridge and buzz-saw.
My only complaint about the player is that unlike XM, you cannot preview the song playing on one channel (text) while listening to another channel (music/talk). Maybe there is a function I don't know about?
Peace. |
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| matthewrkern |
| I picked up the Sportster Replay. I figure that after the $50 rebate you end up paying only $20 more than the Starmate, and the the Sportster has a slightly bigger screen that works well when used in the home. Which is my primary purpose. They are both quality, just depends upon your needs. Enjoy! |
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| scooterMX |
@Skooks:
| Quote: My only complaint about the player is that unlike XM, you cannot preview the song playing on one channel (text) while listening to another channel (music/talk). Maybe there is a function I don't know about? |
I'm not sure with the Sportster, but on the Starmate, if you press the Disp(lay) button while viewing the channels list, it rolls through three display options: The station name, the artists name, and the song title.
That way you can 'browse' for whatever you're in the mood for... |
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| AEM31 |
Sportster works the same way. If you press down the display button once: it makes the display of the current song bigger.
But if you press and hold display down for 2-3 seconds, you will get a scroll of all channels, press display once more, scroll through by current artist singing, press display again and scroll through current song playing.
To select a channel/artist/song from the scroll, just press the rotating knob on the right. To return to previous channel displayed, just press and hold down display button. |
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| SkookS |
| Very cool! Thanks for the info. I'll check it out! |
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