By Alice Hill
RealTechNews.com

Editor’s Note: This article was sent to subscribers of the RealTechNews newsletter in July. Don’t miss out – subscribe today!

You can’t throw a rock without hitting an article about satellite radio which is why I decided to take the plunge and try it out for myself. In part one, I discussed the ordering process and choosing Sirius and the cheapie base product I selected and why. To bone up on that, please catch up here:
–Taking the Plunge

Now, on with the show:
When the Package Arrives
After many “back-order” delays, a box arrived one day containing the following items shown here left to right:

The Sirius StarMate satellite radio with roof antenna, suction mounting bracket, FM transmitter (via your cigarette lighter socket) and remote control.

The next package – the optional home installation kit – came with a larger home antenna, power adapter, and fixed metal mounting bracket. And last but not least, they threw in a program guide to all the channels.

Activating the Unit
The first part of the actual installation is activating the unit, and you can do that at home, in your car, or in your office. DO NOT throw away the box because there is some code on it you will need. There is also a letter with an ID and password – again, in your excitement to get started, do not lose these.

(Please click More to read the complete How-to)

To activate the unit, I mounted the suction base from my car kit on my desk and then plugged the radio into a wall socket using the home power adapter. If you only get the car kit, then I guess you will have to drive your car outside and use the cigarette lighter to get started. I highly recommend the home option which came free with my package.

Because you have to be near a window to receive a satellite signal, I put the antenna on my office window ledge to see if it would work indoors that way (it did). Once the radio was connected to the antenna and powered on, I dialed the toll free number that shows up on the radio’s LED display and in the documentation, and then read the unit ID and my account info over the phone to the rep (who was very nice by the way.) She then beamed a test signal to the unit (like my DSL provider cannot) and within seconds I was up and running!

Installing the Radio in Your Car
The first step is to place the small magnetic antenna on the roof of your car and then run the very thin strip of antenna wire under the rubber seal along your window (not shown). I chose to do this near the front of the car because it involved not having to go through the back of the much longer station wagon I was installing this unit in, but if you own a sedan, you can also mount it on the back part of your roof and then run the line through your trunk and under the sides of the car to get to the front. In either instance there is more than enough length in the antenna wire.

I suctioned the radio near the dash and then hooked up the FM transmitter. While the wires in the car looked orderly, I was dismayed to have two wires now in full view on my dashboard. It looked sloppy, but if you opt for the do it yourself model, you will either have to drill into your dash or do something fancy to get them out of view. I was not willing to do that at this time.

The suction cup mounting bracket was rock solid and did not budge even after I jiggled and whacked it a few times it to make sure it would not come loose in traffic.

Powering On
I have to say the first time you start up the radio is a treat because the sound is like a CD. There is no static and the FM transmitter – usually the bane of my existence, is rock solid. I have driven all over San Francisco and never get the signal bleed-through that iPod style transmitters are plagued with. I have to give that a major thumbs up and also a major relief since I was worried that using the FM transmitter would be a disaster.

Taking a Drive
While I was enjoying the music, I was dismayed by how hard it was to read the lettering in broad daylight. The amber letters were large and bright but I was having hard time staying on the road and squinting to get a read on what was playing. Worse still, the unit exposed on the dash began to get red hot and it cut down on my driving visibility. After less than five miles, I found a gas station and pulled over. There had to be a better way.

A New Location
I decided that if I moved the unit to the highest point of the windshield, it would not only be out of the sunlight, but would allow me to run the antenna line under the visor and keep it completely out of sight. The power line still hangs down (if only it was 10 inches or so longer and it would be perfect) but the unit’s display was instantly visible and it never heated up again beyond its normal slightly warm temp.

In the top position, the unit can also swivel so that either driver or passenger can control it, and again, the suction mount stayed rock solid. The driving visibility issue was also gone with the radio up so high.

The Sounds of Silence
The first thing you’ll notice is the complete absence of static. Instead satellite gives you silence when the signal is lost. I have only lost the signal in remote areas that had heavy tree coverage, or when in a parking garage, but outside of that (literally) the silence beats static any day.

Others may disagree. If you are listening to a news alert and you get static, you still can make something out. True silence blanks out everything and that may be an adjustment you may have to make, but I have not had that happen while driving in the city with many tall buildings– again only in those weird roads way out on the country with a lot of trees.

In terms of the music itself, the radio shows you what artist is playing on each band – a band is organized by theme like “Pop” so you can get a “Pop” lineup of 10 channels that will show channel one playing Brittany Spears, channel two playing Madonna and so on. Switch to a new band, and you get the lineup for that next theme, like News, or Oldies, or Rock etc. With hundreds of channels, there is definitely something for everyone.

I have to say I was amazed at what a difference it makes to choose artists playing on the air from a list. It’s like having the mystery of radio where you don’t know what actual song of theirs will show up, combined with being able to pick your favorites and no commercials. It’s hard to explain, but during an hour’s drive, you can jump from favorite to favorite artist/genre like a mystery mixed tape, or leave it on one channel and enjoy the ride.

Bottom Line: I don’t see how you anyone can go back to terrestrial radio once you’ve heard the quality of the audio and experienced the lack of commercials. The silence gaps and the installation may not be for everyone, but you can get a professional installation and stronger units than my base model cheapie.

For those worried about working in an office cube without a window – don’t worry. You get a free Internet account with your monthly service that lets you listen live online to all the same channels – so you get the best of both worlds. (This may also be a good home solution in houses that do not have convenient outdoor antenna access in rooms where you want to hear radio.) Sirius also needs to upgrade its hardware and offer a portable version I can use with my scooter, but for now, I have to say that was the best $99 I’ve spent in a long time.

Stay tuned for the home installation report…..
And let me know if I missed anything. Email Alice