TSS-Radio Blog

Here at TSS Radio we are getting very excited over the SIRIUS Soloist Universal Sound System. Finally, someone has brought a product to the table that is incredibly versatile and easy to use! This elegant powered speaker system has a unique interchangeable cradle system that allows you to enjoy high quality audio from your Sirius Satellite Radio in seven different formats. (Stiletto 100, Stiletto 10, Sportster 3, Sportster 4, Starmate 3, Starmate 4, and Stratus 4) This hot little number also allows you to integrate the use of an iPod. And not just one iPod folks! Any iPod that has the 30 pin connector. (Classic, mini, Nano, Touch, iPhone, etc) Lets look closer!

First off the Soloist looks fantastic! This thing could easily fit anywhere inside a home or office no matter what your decor. And with its sleek small design could be placed anywhere. It stand only 8″ high, 12.5″ wide, and a mere 4.5″ deep.

Second is the Soloist versatility. It comes equipped with four different adapters to integrate with whatever radio you choose to use, to include an iPod! Switching out the adapters is simple and easy. The only thing to note is if you are going to use a Stiletto on this unit, you have to remove one screw and slide the docking port over to the right. Here is a detailed video for how the adapters can be changed out and the docking port moved to the right for a Stiletto.

Third, the Soloist has a line in port on the back allowing you to connect an additional device that isn’t supported by the docking port on the front. It also has a line out port on the back so this unit can be connected to an existing home audio system.

Another advantage found on the back of the Soloist is the USB cable port. This can be used to sink up your Stiletto 100 to your computer!

And fourth and final, the SIRIUS Soloist Universal Sound System is one of the more affordable universal sound systems on the market with a price of only $69.99. This little baby can’t be beat! Plus, the unit is equipt with an alarm clock with sleep function, LCD display, and music timer functions. Very few products on the market are as versatile, powerful, small, and easy to use as this one. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sound system to go just about anywhere that can play just about anything!

Matt

TSS Radio

 We want to know where you get SIRIUS Service!

 We get many different reports from people from all the way down in Belize to fisherman in the Atlantic that get SIRIUS signal. So we want to know where do you get service?

We’ll make it a contest, send us a photo of your SIRIUS setup and the general area you live in and we’ll send you some TSS gear. We’re going on the honor system because we trust you!

 Submissions with pictures would be greatly appreciated as we are curious of everyone setup. Anyone who sends in a Picture and the area they get SIRIUS, will receive TSS Gear. We have some good stuff so hurry, the first submissions will get the best stuff.

So if you’d like to submit your SIRIUS setup and location here is the link.

Submit HERE!

This is a all-about guide to the long, prestigious line of SIRIUS Sportsters; from its humble beginning, to its now seemingly limitless potential.

3 years ago if you knew someone with SIRIUS, chances are they owned a Sportster of some kind, a popular radio to say the least. Thousands upon thousands have been sold and yet remain one of the lowest returned items we carry.This guide is not a selling guide more of a history lesson on the SIRIUS Sportster line.

The beginning:

The SPR1-The first Sportster, the father from which subsequent sportsters would be compared to. This unit offered features like an orange screen, personalized sports team logo start-up and shutdown screen, and 10 user preset buttons. This unit was in production until 2005 when it was replaced by the next of kin, the SIRIUS Sportster Replay.

SIRIUS Replays History:

After the popularity of the Original Sportster SPR1, SIRIUS was ready to give the satellite radio market another poster child for quality. The Sportster Replay SPR2 also known as the SIRIUS Sportster SPTK2, quick became a fan favorite. This unit took all of the advantages of the Original Sportster and added a few of its own.This unit could pause, rewind, and fast forward SIRIUS radio. Discontinued in 2006, this unit was a pride of the fleet reaching legendary status within the satellite radio community. In the later years this unit usually fell victim to a serious malady, the screen’s back-light would blink on and off. Sometimes this can be resolved by replacing the dock or cleaning,but in severe cases that unit would be condemned and a replacement would be sought out. This unit has been replaced by the SIRIUS Streamer Replay STRC1 but it does have a weaker FM transmitter(see below).

SIRIUS goes universal:

After the continued success of the previous Sportster, SIRIUS was set to make another model radio on the Sportster line. After much research and development, an idea was sprung,use a universal connection so that all SIRIUS radios would be cross compatible with each-other’s equipment. For instance, if you bought a radio before this breakthrough you would only be able to use the boomboxes, car kits, etc… that was designed for you specific radio. Now if you needed a boombox they’re all universal…hurray! With this new idea in place SIRIUS released the SIRIUS Sportster SP3tk1. This unit was smaller sleeker than it predecessor,with all the same features. But this unit was one of the first radios to suffer a blow to its usability-Spring of 2006,the FCC requires Sirius to take several of their satellite receiver models off the shelf and replace them with units that have a much weaker internal FM Transmitters and requires all new SIRIUS radios to be manufactured with weaker FM Transmitters.

Picking up the Pieces:

After a crushing blow to usability by the FCC, SIRIUS decided to press on with the development of new radios that were compliant and develop solution to overcome the weaker FM transmitters. FM Direct Adapters were designed to help overcome FM static and fit right into the slot for a cost-effective answer to weaker FM transmitters. The SIRIUS Sportster 4, probably my favorite SIRIUS radio ever. This radio used the universal connectors, GameZone, and GameAlert. It’s reliability and solid built construction gave it a spot in Josh’s SIRIUS radio Hall of Fame, which will be posted later this week so be sure to tune in!

The New Sleek Sportster 5:

This unit almost identical in size and shape to the Sportster 4, is aimed to please everyone. This unit has a contemporary metallic finish with the ability to change the color of the screen to match your car’s interior gauges. Functionality is again identical to the Sportster 4. This unit is the flashy brother to the Sportster 4.

This concludes my history lesson on the SIRIUS Sportster. If anyone would like to add or question my facts please feel free to comment and I will amend my article. Thank you all for reading.

Joshua Kincaide

TSS-Radio

One thing that makes TSS-Radio unique and, I hope, a good place to work, is that everyone here has multiple jobs.  Unlike many companies that have armies of customer service reps, who handle 100s of calls per day and are judged on how quickly they “resolve” the calls, at TSS-Radio almost everyone answers the phone and works on other projects between calls.  Other projects include: researching complicated issues for customers, artwork for the website, descriptions on the website, answering questions on sirius-related forums, researching new products, etc. Even the bosses - managers and founders of the company - answer customer phone calls and emails.  Here are some reasons why we think this is a good idea:

1. Better customer service - because we are not exhausted and under pressure to maximize the number of calls we answer we have more time and patience for our customers.  Lots of us have worked in the “other” kind of customer service job and know from experience how much it sucks.

2. It makes us smarter - the same people writing content for our website and ordering new products are also talking to customers.  This allows us to write content and order products that our customers are telling us they want.

3. Training - those of us who have been here the longest, can better teach our new employees by example.

BusinessWeek recently wrote an article about a sports clothing company in Canada called Lululemon, that is much bigger than TSS-Radio, but where every employee, even the CEO, needs to spend a full day each month doing “front-line” work like customer service or sales.

Alexander the Great, one of history’s most successful leaders and warriors,  is also famous for leading from the front, fighting like any other soldier.

So you’re thinking of buying a Stiletto or have already bought one. What accessories or tips do you need to get the most out of your Stiletto?

With this guide I will show you a few products and tips to help you get the most out of your investment.

First I will address the folks who have not yet purchased a Stiletto, so if you already have one please feel free to skip this section. Ok, you’re most likely looking at Stiletto’s because the are new, portable, and incredibly enjoyable, but being as there are technically three Stilettos it can be confusing as to which one is right for you.

First off we’ll look at the Stiletto 10. This unit was developed as a base model portable live Sirius radio. It has an internal memory of 10 hours and is not expandable with a memory card. The Stiletto 10 (SL10) does not support WiFi. It has been discontinued.

The Stiletto 100: Physically identical to the Stiletto 10, but offers more features including Up to 100 hours of storage (2 GB),Schedule up to 6 hour blocks of recording from SIRIUS’ Commercial Free Content,and SIRIUS Replay™—Pause, rewind and replay 44 minutes of live radio. It does have WiFi built in, with the WiFi feature, you will be able to listen SIRIUS inside any building were there is an accessible WiFi connection.

The Stiletto 2: Brand new and sleek looking the SL2 is a fan favorite. It brings all the features of the SL100 plus the ability to use a Micro-SD memory card and use both B and G WiFi. This unit is slightly small and different color, and has an internal battery rather than an external battery like the SL10/Sl100. The SL2 uses the same internal interface menus as the SL10/Sl100. It however does not use the same docks and cradles as the SL10/Sl100. If you are upgrading from the Stiletto 10/100 to the Stiletto 2 you can use the power and antenna cables from the previous car/home kit and just use the Stiletto 2 car dock or Stiletto 2 home dock.

Ok, so you have your Stiletto, now here are a few suggestions to help you protect, customize,and enhance you new toy.

Stiletto Cases:There are many cases out there for your Stiletto, Leather cases,  ruggedized cases, and Neoprene cases to name a few. Choosing one is a personal choice, based on intended use. If you’re a runner, a stiletto armband case is perfect. If you’re a professional, a sleek stiletto leather case touches your Stiletto off nicely, and for you construction workers, a stiletto ruggedized case will protect it from any accidental drops or bumps.

Stiletto Headphones: The Stiletto does come with a set of Antenna Headphones, but if you get the SL10/Sl100 you may want to upgrade to the Stiletto 2 Antenna Headphones, which are made by Altec Lansing, padded and comfortable. Also Stiletto come with standard SIRIUS earbud headphones which DO NOT have an antenna built inside. With Stiletto you can use a variety of aftermarket earbuds to get the best quality sound from you Stiletto. Headphones like the V-Moda Bass Freq headphones feature a powerful bass design that replicates the deep bass, warm mids and crisp highs of the world’s finest clubs and concert venues. Premium V-Moda Vibe Headphones have been acclaimed for superior sound and quality. We have a variety of headphone that can be found HERE

Stiletto Memory Cards: Now if you have a Stiletto 2 this is a feature exclusive to you, adding a MicroSD card like the PNY 2GB MicroSD Flash Memory Card, the PNY 1GB MicroSD Flash Memory Card, and the SanDisk 4GB MicroSD Flash Memory Card.

 Stiletto Screen Protectors: You just made a SIRIUS investment( no pun intended) and you want to keep it nice and clean and free of scratches, I suggest the Sirius Stiletto 2 Screen Shield for Stiletto 2 and Sirius Stiletto 100/10 Screen Shield for Stiletto 10/100 these are applied like standard car window tint and are designed to protect you stiletto screen from any unwanted scratches and nicks.

TIPS and TRICKS for Stilettos:
Tips for both SL100/Sl2:

• Use a Screen shield, please, you will thank me after the first time you accidentally put your Stiletto in the same pocket as your car keys, I’ve done it
• Fully Shutdown the Stiletto before you remove the battery.
• Shut down often, especially at night if not in use.
• Update often, use the USB cable and connect it up to your computer or alternatively connect it to WiFi.
• When 80% of internal memory is used, the Stiletto may start to glitch. The easiest fix is to clean out your recordings.
• After you purchase a Stiletto, UPDATE IT!. It will put the newest version on you Stiletto and fix a few bugs that may have been present when you unit was purchased.
• Use My Sirius Studio software

If you have a Stiletto 2 this is specific for you:

• Format your MicroSD card

This is pretty much everything I can think about Stiletto that will help you the consumer be satisfied and give you a long lasting, quality product.

If you have any addition or comment feel free to email me at:

Josh@tss-radio.com