can someone tell me if there is any advantage in having something like this
It is my opinion that the car dock that comes with the S50 is just fine. I live in the New York area and tune to the default 88.1 fm station that is programed into the car dock from the factory. Without the S50 on I can get pretty good reception on that 88.1 fm station. When the S50 powers up it just musles its way right in there. I have zero problems with it. No static, no pops, just clear Sirius.
I'm kind of confused by that ad you posted. How in the wide world of sports would you use an FM modulator with an already built in FM modulator?
I'm curious: is anyone completely happy at this point
Essentially, has anyone had a true trouble-free experience?
I can't say I am 100% happy, because as long as this thing has bugs it limits you ability to use it fully. However, I can say for the most part I am loving the heck out of my S50 and I don't plan to bring it back. My plan is to sit tight and wait on the firmware update.
I can "LOVE" songs rather live or from recorded content. It records them fully and I can access with no problem.
I have only had my tuner freeze up twice and both were when I was trying to record. I now understand there is no point in me trying to record until they put out a firmware update because I am just asking for trouble.
Just a note, but since I quit messing around with recording my S50 has been stable, no freezing, no shut downs and its been working great when moving it between car and home docks. My S50 has always recorded my 3 favorite channels with no problem. I have several hours in all 3 of my channels. I have also deleted channels that I didn't want the content on any longer and was able to get another favorite added. I'll admit I don't do a lot of fast fowarding or rewinding through content. I pretty much just let the channel play and enjoy it.
My suggestion is to just quite trying to do scheduled recording and such until they put out a firmware update.
I'm curious: is anyone completely happy at this point, i.e. - they are able to:
1) Have their S50 automatically record their three favorite channels - each time they leave it on?
2) They are able to love a song (whether from a live broadcast or from recorded content)?
3) Not have their unit freeze at all?
Essentially, has anyone had a true trouble-free experience?
1) Yes
2) Yes
3) Yes
No freezes for me. The only problems I've had are docking and recording "behavior" issues. The docking issues are definitely a problem but the recording issues I'm sure are by design(poor design is some cases). I honestly think the recording issues were last minute design changes and Sirius had to get them in quick to meet their launch date. By working too quickly I think they introduced the docking bugs. To save face I think Sirius will "do something" to address the majority of these recording issues. They might be better served to make a hard-and-fast rule and just stick with it. Something simple like no scheduling music channels but everything else is fair game for ANY DURATION.
I've been thinking... I haven't hooked my S50 up to my computer yet. I wonder if this is why I haven't experienced any lockups?
BTW, I'm ok with the heart to indicate recording. I just don't like it telling me it's recording and then I find out later nothing actually recorded. I would really have enjoyed listening to Maxim before falling to sleep the other night.
I'm kind of confused by that ad you posted. How in the wide world of sports would you use an FM modulator with an already built in FM modulator?
I agree with you Mark, the built in FM Tran works very well. You even have the little wired FM Antenna that you plug into it if you need a boost. But even if that doesn't work, the best bet is the SIRSWB, because it makes use of the built in FM Trans, it doesn't add another one to the setup, which you don't need. Plus my concern was where he talked about it powering the S50. I wouldn't take that chance.
I've had my S50 for three days now and have experienced most of the problems and bugs that you all describe. I have done three restores and I have found that if you use the usb cable only to restore it seems to take better than if you use the home dock. Also, has anyone tried to have the unit wake from the home dock to do a scheduled recording? I have tried a couple of times and it will not wake. I've tried selecting record "once" and "M-F" with the same results - no wake. Other than these few issues with this unit, which should be corrected soon hopefully, I am glad I made the purchase.
The Heart isn't suppose to show when it is doing the background recording of one of your 3 My Sirius Channels.
The S50 only has one tuner it is not capable of doing background recording. Nor will it do background recording while you are listening to a pre recorded show. I would like to know when the unit is recording live audio or not recording it. The heart icon if fine. They need to turn it on when its recording.
Also, has anyone tried to have the unit wake from the home dock to do a scheduled recording?
Mine will wake up 2 minutes before a scheduled recording. I'm going to take DAB's advice and just enjoy the music until the egg heads get it ironed out.
I have been trying things all day to see how things work. Something I have noticed is if I record a “Scheduled Show” and play it with in minutes of recording it does not play correctly. Most of the time is just silence sometimes its skips in and out.
If I turn the unit off. Remove it from the auto cradle. Turn it on then off out of the cradle. Then put it back in the cradle its fine.
Mine will wake up 2 minutes before a scheduled recording.
Thanks Markz. I didn't give it the 2 minute buffer to wake up before the scheduled recording. It seems the manual should include a little more information. But then again, who would schedule a recording for a minute later then turn thier unit off unless you were just testing.
After experiencing numerous freeze ups and shut downs between back-to-back scheduled recordings, I'd be THRILLED if the only`problem' was losing 5-10 seconds of material between recordings.
With all of the problems that have been so well documented here, I'm amazed that anyone could say they are happy at all with this product. Sure we can get the Sirius programming, but it certainly doesn't require a $300 radio for that.
Oh yeah, I too have had both my second and third S50's fail to wake up to record at times.
With all of the problems that have been so well documented here, I'm amazed that anyone could say they are happy at all with this product. Sure we can get the Sirius programming, but it certainly doesn't require a $300 radio for that.
I am extremely unhappy with all the issues I have had with this device. It was pushed out to market way before it should have been.
Out of the last few high tech devices this by far the worse
Tivo – Never had a single issue. Worked out of the box and was so easy to use.
Sony PSP – It’s a amazing device with a great screen and a lot of gaming power. Its user interface is great for playing movies and MP3’s
iPOD – Nothing needs to be said. Just Amazing how easy it is to use and it never fails.
Nokia 6820 Cell Phone – It’s a very complex phone with full POP3 and IM support. Bluetooth was fairly new when the phone was release but it all worked great. I love the phone.
HP iPAQ – A couple of issue that were fixed with firmware upgrades but nothing major.
Sirius S50 – This device is plagued with issues.
S50 - Reviews, Questions and Comments VII (Read Only)
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