Manage updates with the Download AppDelphi SkyFi3 (XM)
Manufacturer: Delphi Corp. Part number: SA10224
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Delphi SkyFi3 XM receiver/recorder is a flexible solution for home, car, and on the go for those who don't want to spend big bucks.
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CNET editors' review
Delphi SkyFi3 (XM) price range: $149.99
- Reviewed by: James Kim
- Reviewed on: 10/25/2006
- Released on: 10/17/2006
The good: The Delphi SkyFi3 is a competitively priced plug-and-play satellite radio receiver/recorder. It can pause and replay programming up to 30 minutes, is lightweight and easy to use, and includes a large and legible screen. It plays back digital audio files via the expansion slot and can be used while afoot with optional antenna headphones. It includes a car kit and a remote control.
The bad: The Delphi SkyFi3 has a budget build quality, with a monochrome screen with no channel graphics and no built-in antenna, so you must use optional headphones for true portability. It lacks a Micro SD card, has subpar rated battery life, and can't store your own digital audio files on internal memory. It has a substandard FM transmitter and charging the device over USB isn't guaranteed.
The bottom line: The Delphi SkyFi3 XM receiver/recorder is a flexible solution for home, car, and on the go for those who don't want to spend big bucks.
User reviews
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Great until it stopped working.. now I am XM-less!!
by dnuccia on July 2, 2007
Pros: Everything you read in the editor's review is spot on.
Cons: Two defective units.... I'm done with Delphi!
Summary: Had the Myfi for 2 years, loved it, it died. Bought the SkyFi3 and thought it was 'flimsy' compared to the rugged MyFi but thought I'd give it a ...
Summary: Had the Myfi for 2 years, loved it, it died. Bought the SkyFi3 and thought it was 'flimsy' compared to the rugged MyFi but thought I'd give it a try. First unit I received had very outdated firmware. Couldn't get the firmware updated and couldn't use the info extra feature (sports scores and such). Returned/replaced that unit with a new one. Worked great for 2 weeks then started wigging out. First it would come on and lock up on the checking media screen. Had to wait for the battery to die before it turned off. Recharged it and got it working again until I stopped to get gas the other day. Turned the car off, which turned the radio off. Turned the car on, have never been able to turn the Skyfi3 back on again. Amazon told me it is a widespread problem and won't give me another one as a replacement. So can anyone recommend a decent comparable XM radio????
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A good XM reciever for the money
by loessn on August 5, 2007
Pros: I like the screen and the storage of songs
Cons: Terrible instruction booklet, covers no real questions and is very confusing
Summary: I have owned this unit for a month and have finally figured out how to operate it just by playing around with it. It has frzen up 2 times and ...
Summary: I have owned this unit for a month and have finally figured out how to operate it just by playing around with it. It has frzen up 2 times and in another review, I think if he would press the mode and volume button at the same time, the unit would reset. It does come with a one year warranty and the Delphi Premium Sound System has great sound.
Updated
My Skyfi3 has storage for 10 hours + of music, that I download free from XM. The only thing that I do not like is the owners manual which does make figuring out the radio up to the user. I am not fussy so the screen colors, or lack of does not matter to me. What's not to like?2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Worst Radio I have owned
by galaxieford on December 6, 2007
Pros: Great Idea to record songs!
Cons: Unreliable, keeps loosing memory and locks up
Summary: This is number 3 and I am switching to a different brand. I leave mine running in the car so I can back it up to listen to my talk...
Summary: This is number 3 and I am switching to a different brand. I leave mine running in the car so I can back it up to listen to my talk
show and EVERY time it will play it for a while, then it will delete it's previously
recorded stuff! VERY FRUSTRATING! I have returned it twice and all 3 of them do it.
I called the factory and they said they are aware of this and it should be corrected in the next software update. That was 6 months ago. Today I had to reboot it about 6 times to get it to work, and it had deleted all of my recorded songs
Thats it, I'm getting something else. I am very glad I gout the extended warantee! Just so you know I have never filled one of these forms out before,but I registered just so I could save someone else from buying a hunk of junk like I did. Remember, if you still want to buy one, get the warantee, you will need it!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Haven't been able to use it...buydig.com sent me a deffective unit
by dontusebuydig on April 16, 2007
Pros: Looks pretty cool
Cons: Didn't work
Summary: I read the review of Skyfi3 last week and through the recommendation of cnet.com chose buydig.com to purchase one. I received the player in two days and had ...
Summary: I read the review of Skyfi3 last week and through the recommendation of cnet.com chose buydig.com to purchase one. I received the player in two days and had it professionally installed (80). The product did not work, and on the box it had a blue sticker on it that said "write verify failed." Delphi customer support was great and told me it was a defective unit. When I called Buydig.com they gave me only the option of returning all parts of the unit, which included the parts I had to professionally install. Which would mean I would have to have the unit uninstalled from my car. I called delphi and they told me all i had to do was send the receiver to them and they would send me a replacement. i can't wait until i get my replacement in a few week. DO NOT USE BUYDIG.COM
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Junk - worked for 10 mins then died. Can't listen to liveXM without additional hardware
by gmorelos on June 6, 2008
Pros: None - doesn't work
Cons: need addition hardware to listen anywhere but your car
Summary: I purchased this to be able to listen to live XM outside my car - my car already has satellite radio. When I purchase this directly from XM I told ...
Summary: I purchased this to be able to listen to live XM outside my car - my car already has satellite radio. When I purchase this directly from XM I told them what I wanted to do, but wasn't told the device was unable to do this without additional hardware at the cost of a minimum of $50. Very dissapointing!! To top it off it died after 10 mins. while waiting to be activated. I will be sending this paper weight back. DO NOT BUY ONE OF THESE!!!
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is a piece of Junk.
by Michael Oyler on May 23, 2008
Pros: Nice looking.
Cons: Locks up all the time. Connection to antenna is a pain.
Summary: I bought the SKYFI3 because XM Radio recommended it. Turns out to be the worst radio I have ever bought. Screen locks up, cannot turn off until battery gives up. ...
Summary: I bought the SKYFI3 because XM Radio recommended it. Turns out to be the worst radio I have ever bought. Screen locks up, cannot turn off until battery gives up. Unit refuses to accept the delphi firmware updates.Called Delphi for help, and was led through a bunch of instructions so fast that I really did not have clue what was going on. Result was that the tech: got me up and running, only to have it quit several days later.All in all the design and technical details are very very bad. I will not buy another one, and I am stuck with the one I got.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Does not do the one thing I asked for: Play live XM.
by skd86mld on May 15, 2008
Pros: Its light, nice headphones!
Cons: Does not play live XM when away from the house.
Summary: I asked specifically during the buying process if I would be able to listen to live XM while walking the dog.
It arrived as promised, I got it activated, and ...Summary: I asked specifically during the buying process if I would be able to listen to live XM while walking the dog.
It arrived as promised, I got it activated, and all setup. But it did not play live XM during my first walk.
The only reason I asked it do, and it does not work.
Additionally the staff is like dealing with a time-share or used car salesman.
The XM Radio's in the cars are our favorites, but the portable units have been a complete disappointmen.
The one thing I need, it does not do and the sales people would not give me a complete and accurate answer to my questions about the product.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very poor design with numerous defects - do not buy the SkyFi3!
by Warner_9876 on September 23, 2007
Pros: Lots of features
Cons: Serious operational deficiencies.
Summary:
Updated...
If you want to listen to one channel all the time this unit might be okay for you. Otherwise, buy something else!
I've had my SkyFi3 for aSummary:
Updated
If you want to listen to one channel all the time this unit might be okay for you. Otherwise, buy something else!
I've had my SkyFi3 for a little over 2 months. In that time it has locked up numerous times, requiring the battery be removed to reset the unit.
In the list view the text is too small to view comfortably form 2 feet away while driving. There is no option to increase the text size (thus reducing the number of channels listed).
The "sure-connect" system is anything but sure - driving through a city will almost certainly require an extensive search for an open radio channel and it is very touchy about which one you select. Crackling and popping are the norm on this unit unless the selected channel is completely free of broadcast signal.
The remote control unit works poorly and is far far to small. It is nearly impossible to operate anything but the forward/back/select button set at the top of the remote using just one hand. Furthermore, the remote works poorly - buttons often do not work when pushed, and holding down a button will result in intermittent communication.
The interface on the cradle is even worse. Some functions are nearly impossible to access, and others are difficult. For instance it is hard to "record" using the "rec" button without accidentally hitting a "1" or "2" which results in a channel change.
Even if the interface (remote or cradle) works for you, the system design sucks. For instance, lets say you are listening to channel 40 but wish to scan the other channels by scrolling through the list. A song you want to listen to comes on channel 40 - if you do not scroll back to channel 40 the unit will switch to whatever channel you have under the selection cursor if you stop scrolling for about 15 seconds.
I have a 1 Gig SD memory chip added to my unit. The intent was to collect songs for playback. However, as you add more songs the SkyFi3 tends to chop off the beginnings or ends of those you've already collected rendering them worthless. Deleting a corrupted song will probably corrupt one or more other songs.
I bought a SkyFi2 for my Mother some time ago, and she loves it so I figured I'd give the SkyFi3 a shot without seriously researching it.
Very few electronics products I've purchased have been as disappointing as the Delphi SkyFi3.
Warner1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Worst XM Radio I ever owned.
by goblue7 on September 2, 2010
Pros: Auto Shut Off
Cons: Too many to list
Summary: I am just looking for an XM radio that will actually work. I have the same issues...lock ups, constant hard resets, lost content and content never plays back. Biggest ...
Summary: I am just looking for an XM radio that will actually work. I have the same issues...lock ups, constant hard resets, lost content and content never plays back. Biggest pile of crap ever, worse than the old MiFi.
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What up with all the complaints?
by ibcraig0 on June 25, 2010
Pros: SD card slot, big display, big buttons make it easy to navigate in the car, fairly easy to use once you understand the format, overall a very nice radio.
Cons: Getting used to the navigation takes a minute. I am pretty tech-savy, and it took me a little bit of playing to figure it out. I don't like that you have to have it plugged into a base, to hook up an antenna.
Summary: I bought this off of a local classified ad claiming it was new and had only been opened to take the pics. Well the vent mount and the USB cable ...
Summary: I bought this off of a local classified ad claiming it was new and had only been opened to take the pics. Well the vent mount and the USB cable were missing so I knew right away the ad was not completely up front and I was not sure if I wanted to even get it. I had read the reviews and a lot of them complained about picking up signal and that it froze all the time, so I expected some challenges. But I am a cheap skate and it was a good deal so I went for it. I bought a wall AC adapter that has the cigarette lighter plug so I could use it in the house and not have to be in the car to play around with it before spending another 50 bucks on the home kit. I stuck the antenna on the door knob, plugged it in, and had signal. I have not had one second of problems with it. I had a USB cable from a phone that worked and I downloaded the firmware upgrade but never really had a problem before doing that. I work in an office building quite a ways from a window and I get strong signal all day without any problems. It has WAY exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it wholeheartedly. It is a very nice little radio, and the quality is way nicer than the 50 dollar units you can get like the Onyx. So go for it, I think it is a fantastic little radio.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Delphi Corp.
- Part number: SA10224
- Description: The Delphi SKYFi3 comes with everything to start enjoying XM in any vehicle equipped with an FM radio. A low-profile car dock with direct channel and preset-favorites access allows for both horizontal and vertical mounting options. The car dock also provides for a single auxiliary line input so users can listen to an external audio. SKYFi3's orientation flexibility, bright 2.8-inch display screen and ease-to-access car dock buttons offer improved readability and control for safer operation while driving. In today's fast-paced, multi-tasking world interruptions while listening to our favorite songs are unavoidable. The SKYFi3 features a 30 minute Pause-Replay function that continuously and automatically saves the last 30 minutes of music, sports, comedy or talk - regardless of whether the user changes channels. At any point during live listening, users can pause a song or program with a single button press. As long as playback resumes within 30 minutes, users can enjoy what they would have otherwise missed. The Delphi SKYFi3 can time-shift up to 10 hours of fresh and continuously updated XM programming on its non-removable internal flash memory. Recordings can be started anytime during the live listening mode or by using SKYFi3's scheduled recording feature. A subscription to XM must be maintained to listen to stored XM programming.
General
- Product type XM radio tuner / digital player
- PC interface(s) supported USB
- Flash memory installed 256 MB Integrated
- Depth 2.4 in
- Height 4.3 in
- Width 0.7 in
- Weight 4.1 oz
- Carrying case None -
- Included accessories [Jul 2, 2008 from CDS: Miscellaneous] Software kit,
XM radio cradle for car,
Remote control,
XM antenna,
Mounting hardware Audio Features
- Digital storage None
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Timer Sleep,
Record - Built-in clock Timer,
Digital clock - Addtional features XM radio recording capability ,
Built-in FM transmitter ,
Upgradeable firmware Digital Player / Recorder
- Supported digital audio standards MP3,
WMA - ID3 tags support Yes
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display LCD
- Diagonal size 2.8 in
- Backlight display Yes
CD System
- CD system type None
Cassette System
- Cassette system type None
Radio
- Tuner type Digital XM radio tuner
- Tuning display LCD display
MD System
- MD system type None
Remote Control
- Remote control Remote control - Infrared
Headphones
- Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Connectivity technology Wired
Connectivity
- Connector type 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
1 x XM antenna SMB,
1 x USB,
1 x Docking station Battery / Power
- Battery Lithium ion Rechargeable Player battery
- Mfr estimated battery life 5 hour(s)
- Power device type [Feb 24, 2011 from CDS: Power Device] Power adapter
System Requirements
- Peripheral / Interface devices [Dec 3, 2010 from CDS: System Requirements] USB port,
CD-ROM - Operating system Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4,
Microsoft Windows XP SP2
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Delphi Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Delphi Corp.
- Address:
5725 Delphi Dr.
Troy, MI 48098 - Phone: 248-813-2000
- Fax: 248.813.2670
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