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From now on I will stay away to items with the Terk brand name. It became non functional in December of 2009. My antenna was purchased in March of 2009. No reference to model number(SIRMINI) at all on Terk's website. Lasts for 9 months. Terk not possible to contact. Terk can not be contacted, no customer service is available.
The thing that I liked better about the SIR3 antenna, compared to the newer SIRMINI, is the construction of the rubber tail that covers several inches of the cable before it enters the antenna. For that price, I'll live with the silicone rubber caulk job. This makes it easy to get a nice looking installation. The antennas used on newer receivers have a similar electrical connection, but without the plastic shell, so be sure of what you are buying. I was able to bend the cable cover to fit flush against the car roof, but the ends later popped up to leave small gaps that I had to hide by filling them with black silicone rubber.
Unlike many other reviewers, I had a problem finding an antenna with this FAKRA type of connector. The MINI is smaller than the SIR3 - a smaller footprint and not as thick - but works just as well. The SIR3 tail was installed on the cable at the factory and is flexible (It bends to match the curvature of the car roof). I found the SIR3 antenna still available at one place on the Internet, but at twice the cost of this newer antenna. I have an older model (2004) Kenwood Sirius receiver that plugs into a Kenwood AM/FM car radio and it requires a Sirius antenna with the square plastic housing on the connector.
This Terk SIRMINI is advertised as the replacement for the older SIR3 antenna. Unfortunately this SIRMINI antenna has a stiff plastic cover that snaps over the cable to act as the tail and it does not conform well to a curved surface.
It does state in the Technical Details that this has the FAKRA connection. You are trying to make a product made for something else work on the one you have, it may work, but usually it will do as people are saying, stop working, or act up. I would suggest getting the SMB connection antenna that has the right connection. It would be nice if amazon would post a picture of the connection, or list it as FAKRA connection. FAKRA is a older style connection, and apparently only used by Delphi on newer radios, which is what I have on my 2008 radio, talk about old tech. Anyone know if this is the FAKRA connection type.EDIT: I was looking more closely.
MOST newer radios have that connection. It sounds like this antenna is the old style connection, FAKRA. For the ones that are cutting the connection off, you are probably voiding the warranty, and the connection will probably come loose and that is why you are getting the check antenna message. So for the ones that have newer radios, this more then likely will NOT work for your radio without cutting off the end piece, and as many have said, that does not work very long.
Ordered a similar product had to send it back because the connector did not fit. Great product. In the future a picture of this product and similar products should show a picture of the connecting end and state what Sirius radios they are compatable with.
Amazon doesn't show the connection plug.Assuming Terk hasn't upgraded their design from the one I have, the quality is very poor. My plug is not solid; rather, it is a circle of thin flanges, which quickly break.
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