TSS-Radio Blog

How to mount a Sirius Satellite Radio

There are several different ways to mount a Sirius Satellite Radio.There are as many standard mounting options as there are custom options for placing a satellite radio. It can be as simple as a suction cup on the windshield to a piece of ABS plastic cut to fit and placed in an open DIN.

Depending on you level of skill, you can mount Sirius Radios any way you see fit,but here are a few suggestions based on my experience:

• Suction Cup Mount-This is the simplest way to mount your radio. It’s pretty self-explanatory, push the cup onto the windshield in an area where it will give you the best view of your radio and more importantly the road. This is a beginner skill option.



• Vent Mount-This is an option if all others are not available. This is a slightly more difficult install, but does give a nice clean OEM look. A great feature to this option is that you can run the Sirius power adapter, Sirius Antenna, and audio cable from your Sirius Radio through the vents behind the dash, making this a cheap and effective mounting option. Also a beginner-moderate skill option.



• Vehicle Specific Mount-This is the best way to mount your Sirius Radio, hands down. These brackets are tested and made to fit your specific radio. The brackets are made to fit in a specific spot on your dash and cannot be moved elsewhere. They typically use a factory screw or bolt that is already in your car holding you dash in. You simply unscrew the screw or bolt, place the bracket, and then replace the screw and dash. It is a firm hold and fitted with a Swivel it can be angled to be viewed from different seats in the car. A moderate skill option.

Like I always say if you have any questions please feel free to call us up and we’ll give you the best advice our collective minds can give.

All the new Sirius radios have the same weaker FM transmitter, there I’ll just say it. Now that we got that out of the way we can begin to solve this dilemma.

It does not matter why or really who turned down the transmitting signal in most FM Transmitters sold today( Sirius radios included). What really matters is what can we, together, can solve it.

Almost any car has the ability to solve the weak FM problem. There are typically three solutions, listed in order from good to best:

• The Tape Cassette Adapter
  This device is simple. Remember when walkman CD players first came out? And you rushed out and bought one, but couldn’t listen to it in the car. And then someone handed you a cassette with a audio cable coming out of it. That was a Tape Cassette Adapter. It allows you to play any audio device that has a headphone jack( IPOD, CD Walkman, Sirius, etc) through your car stereo’s tape deck. If you do have a Tape deck this is the most painless way to directly connect your Sirius Radio.

• The FM Direct Adapter
  Some people feel this is lesser quality sound than the Cassette adapter, which I half agree, but I ranked this higher because it does not have that pesky audio cable running from you tape deck to the back of you Sirius radio dock. It gets installed into the car’s antenna and then has a cable to run to the FM OUT of the Sirius dock. This gives you a more hardwired look and still provides you with adequate FM reception. It is a great solution for a semi-permanent application like Company cars, leased cars, and Semi-Rigs.

  

• Aux-Input Device
  This is the BEST way to connect to radio. These devices plug into the CD Changer port on most car stereos and gives a set of RCA line inputs.The RCA inputs can be connected to any audio device via appropriate patch cable. Some car stereos are not enabled however, so be sure to refer to our website for compatibility charts.

For in-home FM transmitting see this product: Whole House FM Transmitter

If you have any questions of concerns about the products described above feel free to visit our website or call us here and we will be more than glad to give you a more detailed list of products that may be available for you car.

SCVDOC1 Sirius Connect Vehicle Dock

If you’re a Sirius nut like me, this new toy is a got-to-have item!

This dock is different from all others. It allows you to use your Dock and Play radios and Stilettos, through your compatible head unit. You can now control your unsightly Sirius receiver from your head unit and leave the receiver in the glove box. It uses the Sirius Dock and Play Universal connector giving you the flexibility to use any of the newer Sirius Radio Receivers.

Comes with the

• SCVDOC1 dock
• 3 interchangeable adapters for all the Dock and Play radios
• Sirius Connect interface cable
• magnectic mount satellite antenna
• dash mount with adhesive base

Please before you decide to purchase this item, make sure the car stereo is Sirius Ready and has the appropriate translator for you radio.
If you are not sure please feel free to refer to our website for further reference.

Got a Sportster,Streamer Replay or Sportster Replay Receiver?

Need a replacement?

The Streamer Replay uses all the same docks and boomboxes as the Sportster and Sportster Replay. The only difference is that the Streamer Replay is a different color and it does have the weaker FM transmitter associated with newer units. So if you were using your Sportster through FM stations you should think about directly connecting your unit to your radio via a FM Direct Adapter, a Cassette Adapter or a AUX-Input device.

Sirius Radio Amplifier

Sirius fans who have trouble acquiring a satellite signal, there is hope.The Sirius Echo Repeater is the product you’re looking for.It allows to put the antenna in one room(where you get a good satellite signal) and the receiver in another(where you would not normally get a satellite signal).This is great for anyone who wants their receiver in the basement, but does not want antenna extensions running through their home.

In the portable SIRIUS satellite radio world there are only two serious contenders..no pun intended.

SIRIUS Stiletto 100
This radio is was revolutionary for its time. Combining the ability to listen to live satellite radio via the built in satellite antenna and battery and the ability to connect to Wi-Fi wireless internet. When the Stiletto came out it was long sought after by Sirius fans and prized by the individuals who owned them. The few downsides to the glorious Stiletto 100 are its limited 100 hour internal memory and painful antenna headphones(both remedied by the Stiletto 2).

SIRIUS Stiletto 2
The Stiletto 2 is a vision into portable Sirius radio’s future. It combines all the Stiletto 100 strengths and none of its weaknesses. A MicroSD card slot for expanded MP3 storage and a set of comfortable and stylish Altec Lansing antenna headphones adds to its already awesome arsenal. Only after holding the Stiletto 2 can you really appreciate its eminence and glory.

Both are a wise choice if your thinking about upgrading, but if you want to be on the forefront of Sirius’s technology the Stiletto 2 is the way to go!

SIRIUS Conductor Home System

Have you ever owned at TV that did not have a remote? Always having to get up everytime you wanted to change the channel gets very annoying.We feel your pain. That is why we offer the Sirius Conductor Home System.It gives you the freedom to place you radio nice and neatly in your home theater system and the flexibility to change the channel from the comfort of you couch or favorite leather recliner with massaging lumbar support and temperature controlled cupholders.

The remote offers three lines of text including channel name/number,Artist and Song title.The pre-programmed controller features 49 buttons and up to 30 presets. Connects to any stereo system with RCA inputs via RCA cable(included) Remote uses RF technology and has a range of 75ft uninterrupted.

So if carefree setup and in-home Sirius is what you desire than we strongly suggest this product.

Sirius Conductor Product Manual

If you have one of the Stiletto line of receivers this is especially important for you. It will help you understand how and why you get reception in certain areas.

• The What? What are repeaters? These repeaters sit above buildings and receive satellite signal and retransmit them throughout the city.If you’ve ever been on the top floor of a large building and looked over at another building and saw satellite dishes and a bunch of other high-tech looking devices most likely you saw some sort of a repeater.They give us all a signal where normally we would not be able to get one.
• The Who? No not the band, I am talking about who is affected by Sirius Signal Repeaters.Sirius Signal Repeaters are placed in Urban areas to effect the most amount of people based on their ability to get signal. Most people across the country in rural areas can get a signal with standard antennas that come with their radios.That is the reason repeaters are only placed in concrete jungles(cities). Without these repeaters even the Sirius Executives in New York could not get a signal.
• Where are they placed? Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco,Atlanta, Miami, Chicago,Detriot, and Philadelphia are just a few, almost every main city has been accounted for.
• How do repeaters work? Repeaters sitting high above the city will receive the satellite signal,then retransmit that signal to receiver that would not normally get a signal. You can look on select radio to see which kind of signal you are getting if you access the Aiming or Signal screen on the menu of you Sirius Radio, it will say SAT or TER. SAT signal is the direct signal from the Satellites above and TER signal is the Terrestrial signal from repeaters.

Sirius has spent a lot of time and money getting us all the ability to reach their content and for that we thank them.

Sirius Antenna Signal Repeater

The Sirius Echo Signal Repeater System (SIRWRS1) is a system that allows you to place your Sirius receiver in places you never thought you could. Where before you were bound by antenna cables spanning in and out of your house, now all you need is this system to send the antenna signal through wireless transmission.

This unit is comprised of two parts. The base station: this is where you connect your Sirius antenna to.Combined with Sirius Extension cables you can place it in any indoor room. Your Sirius antenna must be in a position to receive satellite signal for the system to be effective.

The second piece is the piece you connect to your Sirius receiver. It will directly plug into the ANT port on the receiver just like if you were using the regular antenna. You can place this piece up to 75ft uninterrupted, transmission range is lessened by other wireless devices and obstructions( ie walls, concrete,and of course a 1983 Volkswagen Scirocco). Cordless phones and WiFi internet can also degrade the signal.

All-in-all this unit will give you the freedom to place your Sirius Radio where ever you desire.

Sirius Car Antennas

Confused by which replacement antenna you need for your Sirius Satellite Radio?

Magnetic cat antennas are a fragile breed by nature.Their life span can be significantly shortened by certain things like where the antenna cable is ran, how the antenna exits the vehicle, and where on the car the actually magnet is placed. By making sure you do not install the cable with any sharp bends or in a place where a door/window/sunroof can pinch the cable it will make sure you get all the years out of it you can.

If you do find your self in a bind needing an antenna I offer these simple suggestions and tips:

• Dot Micro Car Antenna This Model is the industry standard. It has a low sleek profile, keeping it as far away from wind and rain as possible while giving you a 360 degrees view of the sky. It has a Higher Gain than all other antennas, which translates into better signal, making this the most cost effective choice of all the antennas.
• Directed Electronics Replacement Car Antenna This is the car antenna that comes with many radios out-of-the box. It is on the bulkier side and has a lower gain than the Dot Micro. But it does have two magnets making it a slightly more secure. Still a great antenna just not the most popular.

IF YOU HAVE A SEMI-RIG OR TRUCK SEE HERE!

• Sirius Truck Antenna If you are looking for a Heavy Duty antenna built for life on the road then this is the antenna for you. It features a heavy duty steel mounting bracket,Several mounting options including mirror mount, flap mount, air dam shield mount etc. making this the most sought after antenna on the road. By getting the antenna away from obstructions gives you the best possible signal and allows you to get a satellite signal where other antennas would not. If you have a Semi or Truck this is the antenna for you!

IF YOUR ANTENNA DOES NOT HAVE A SMALL ROUND CONNECTION OR IT HAS TWO BOX CONNECTIONS SEE HERE:

Older radios featured a dual antenna connection. One for terrestrial signal and one for direct satellite signal. If your radio has two connections for antenna than this adapter is what you are looking for:

• Dual Antenna Adapter This adapter gives you a single round connection to be able to use any of the other antennas listed above. It takes the two box connections you currently have and converts them into a single round plug to where you can place a newer style antenna.