Sirius Satellite Radio’s misleading web site, radio designs waste time and money

According to Sirius Satellite Radio, you can buy one of their radios with an included kit that includes an AC adapter.

Try it, though, and you’ll get a whole bunch of stuff, none of which is an AC adapter.

Call tech support, and you’ll find that they do not sell AC adapters separately. There’s no reason not to, except that their home kits, which do not come with any reasonably priced radio packages, cost $40, which is more than some of their radios. They will happily refer you to a Web site run by another business, which also does not appear to sell separate AC adapters.

For reference, AC adapters for computers typically cost $100. The same adapters for radios, cassette players, etc. typically cost $10. My rough estimate on actual cost to manufacturers is in the dollar range.  

Go to Radio Shack and they will tell you that the Sirius dock is specifically designed NOT to accept aftermarket universal adapters, both due to the physical mounting of the plug and the voltage required. 

Again, Sirius Satellite Radio specifically writes on their web site that their radios come with an AC adapter. Feel free to buy the radio and a few months of service; then call them and see what they say. The answer is, “Waste your time and money returning the radio to us if you don’t like it.”

If you fall for this trick, please do feel free to tell as many people as you can about their sleazy business practices. Yes, both satellite radio companies have lost money, but that’s no reason to resort to deceptive business practices.

Update: If you really, really want to use Sirius at home, the cheapest way to do it is to buy their inexpensive “on special” radio (e.g. the Stratus 4), and then find a big 12V power brick. Wire (carefully! and remember the PosiTaps) that to power a cigarette lighter outlet — you can get them very cheaply at numerous stores — which you can then plug the Sirius adapter into. Make sure the power brick is rated for at least the amperage of the radio. You can then use the vehicle dock and antenna at home.