Sirius Satellite Radio Sirius Sportster SP-TK1 Satellite Radio Receiver - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

Sportster units get very hot ! If you use it in the boombox stop ! Take the radio unit out - remove the silver cover from the boombox ( don't overlook the 2 hidden screws under the speaker grills ) take a dremel tool with a cutting wheel - and cut all the shrouding away around the top of the reciever. This will allow the radio to run way cooler ! I also drilled several holes thru the swivel mount to allow better air-flow !

Get a new dock if you think its the dock. If that doesn't fix it, then your dock connector has a broken solder joint from years of wear and tear. It's common, and a very easy repair. Just resolder the connector to the board.

Thank you 20 minutes in the freezer works. Amazing

Sirius does not stand behind their products, There is no out of warranty repair for their radios,  and they do not offer sites for repair. Seems  like this is a definite problem with this model. Their solution is to buy a new radio,(with all the new-docking,boombox etc) accessories. also they charge $75.00 to change to the new radio.I liked my sportster 1 because of the FM modulator. It just had to be centrally located and all the radios in my home picked it up(no docking) the new radios require $50.00 docking stations for each stereo location and radio location, unless you bring a boombox everywhere, and the sound isn't the same.    I feel there should be a class action lawsuit against Sirius for these reasons and I might look into it. What do all you think?

Go to XM, I did. But first, call Sirius and ask them to 'refresh' your receiver. Leave unit on channel 1 for 30 minutes and see if problem go away. Make sure to turn off and on with pushbutton on unit - not remote, and do not just diesconnect power..

Buy radio shack electronic contact cleaner (in a can) and spray a small amount on the male connector from the antenna wire, and spray a small amount on the male connector in the base of the Sportster that the sportster interfaces with. Place the antenna connector onto the base unit and remove it several times and swirl it while connected. Place the sportster into and remove it from the base several times. This usually will fix the issue. Sat signals are extremely sensitive to the slightest oxidation or dirt or whaterver on that tiny antenna connection point.

I had the problem of "acquiring signal" after years of working. The fix is simple. The connectors on the base unit that plug into the sportster, and the antenna connector on the rear of the base get slightly oxidized. Buy radio shack electronic contact cleaner (in a can) and spray a very small amount on the male connectors (both the antenna plug and the male to female connector that is in the dock itself. Plug the antenna in and out several times and swirl it. Place the unit into the dock and remove it several times. You will likely find the signal problem is solved. You usually dont need a new antenna, but simply a clean set of contacts. Sat signals are very very suseptible to the slightest impacts. Good luck!

when you listen to a cd or the normal radio does the drivers side speaker work? if it does then it is most likely the base is the problem. you might have a loose connection in your car. or the speaker is blow.

Look at the bottom of your unit, you'll notice the round port next to the slot? It get's jammed up inside the unit if you pressed to hard setting it into the cradle at some point. Not easy to fix, unfortunatley.

Go into the menu and reset to factory default

My wife replaced the car kit.
The sportster itself was fine, what fixed the problem was replacing the cradle.
Now the second one has taken a dump.

Let me save you $30.00. A new antenna will not help, nor will cleaning the contacts. I just did both of those and it did not help. I have mine in the freezer right now cooling it down. Sirius told me that I should not leave it in the car because it gets to hot. They told me to buy another unit....

yes everyone is getting "aquiring signal" problem, why isn't sirius radio taking responsibilty ???? it's thier satttelite ??????
glenn

I am running into the same exact issue. I have had my Sportster about 14 months now and this is the first problem I've encountered. We had a cold night in the low 20s and the next morning the Sportster started in with these issues. It's been two weeks now and I have the same exact issues (have power, all connections in tact, no "no signal" message, etc.). Sirius recommended a factory reset through the menu option. I was able to do that, but the problem was not corrected. If anyone has any advice here, please let us know..... Thank you. -Peter

Unfortunately this is a fairly common problem in the Sportster, caused by worn contacts in the tuner. Sometimes you can temporarily resolve the problem by wedging a thin piece of cardboard behind the tuner in the cradle, to create a better contact; but eventually it will just wear out again.

i had the same problem and had to return the antenna to radio shack to get a replacement. the guy said that the antenna had a crack in it from the cold weather or water got into the antenna and that is why it malfunctioned.

my sirius satellite radio stopped working the screen states antenae not found in the car and at home on the boom box the antenae has been checked and is not the problem can this be fixed ?

You power jack has come unsoldered. You can try to resolder it yourself, or buy a repair service from someone on ebay.

Are you using the FM modulator? Try using a different FM frequency, or use the 'audio out' jack and a cassette adapter. If you plug headphones into the unit, do you still have static?

Hello there !

I suggest you fix it don't through it yet ,I want you to change this chip .

sound IC( Amplifier ) it could be damaged or something is loose inside .


good luck