SIRIUS Sportsters Revealed
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 This unit has been replaced by the SIRIUS Streamer Replay STRC1 but it does have a weaker FM transmitter(see below).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
