Sirius Sportster Acquiring Signal (2024)

Hi
I have Sirius Sportster Boombox
and the radio will sometimes say acquiring Signal
Sometimes it will work & get a signal & sometimes there will be no sound but the artist & song will still be displayed

I've read that it could be the solder joints on the board but i looked at it & they are pretty small to work on.

I was wondering if the metal box (circled in red) can be switched to another unit with so i can keep my lifetime sub. let me know thanks.

In my experience, the problem with these is the "Acquiring Signal" issue that is present 24/7 is caused by a component failure within the shielded box, so transplanting it won't do anything for you. It was a known issue with the earlier Sportster models.

John

jmm83 said:

Sometimes it will work & get a signal

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Possibly it's working as it's supposed to and you're just not in a location to get a good signal. Does it work outside or near a window better? The Sirius radio in our cars go out when we pull into the garage.

"Acquiring signal" means the antenna is connected and probably ok. (Radio will say something like No Antenna if defective or not connected at all.) And if the antenna and reception is good and the subscription is not working you will only get the Preview channel(s). Sometimes the station and song are cached and still display even if the sound stops.

This really sounds like the antenna is on the margins of being pointed at the satellites. Different window or take it outdoors for a sanity check? Has to be pointed North if you are in CONUS.

RadioOn said:

And this is rare, but I think there are window coatings that can interfere with the signal.

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Yes; quite common in office buildings. Usually applied to reduce solar heating (and reduce heat loss in winter), it can also reduce RF transmission. Some offices will want this side effect, to reduce the risk of RF eavesdropping. There are controversial medical claims about reducing RF, too...

https://www.scottishwindowtinting.c...dow-film-blocks-radio-frequency-rf-radiation/

RadioOn said:

I believe original Sirius radios look for two geostationary satellites above the US/Canada with the antenna pointed towards Montana or Minnesota. It's not as directional as a satellite TV dish, but similar.

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Correction: Upon further review, I was thinking of the original Sirius constellation that was three satellites in a HEO/Tundra orbit. And the home antenna for the first-generation Sportster like in the OP's picture needed to be aimed generally to the North. Those satellites are long retired.

Now old pre-merger Sirius and XM radios and new XM/Sirius radios all use geostationary satellites at the equator. Point your home antenna generally South.

I am the original owner of the exact same setup. Right now it is playing in my breakfast room. I bought the lifetime subscription a billion years ago.

I had your problem and fixed it. Cheap design.

The original contract is probably long gone but I remember one line very well. Not the lifetime of the owner. It is the life of the radio. If it goes kaput – the contract is gone.

In radio’s menu, it does have a digital signal meter. Make sure your antenna is up high and properly oriented. It goes faster with two people.

My fixed problem? Antenna wire. Check where the antenna goes into the boombox. For some ungodly reason, the antenna wire ‘sliced ring’ connector is made of fragile aluminum. Stupid design. On mine, one slice was fractured. The connector wiggled so I would get a sporadic signal. Then it would say “Acquiring Signal.”

I replaced the antenna. They cost more than regular ones. Once replaced, everything has been fine. Check your connector really carefully. Very fragile. Scary fragile.

And that boombox sounds terrible. Where are the mid's health and treble sparkle? Mushy and depressing.