If you like to listen to the radio while in your car or at home, you might want to consider investing in a satellite radio system. Satellite radio offers dozens of commercial-free radio stations with uninterrupted digital quality. This means that no matter where you are in the country (provided it's not three levels down in an underground parking garage) you can listen to the radio without any hissing interference.

Many people assume that satellite radio is only available in your car, since this is the most commonly marketed use. In fact, satellite radio can work anywhere--as long as you have the right receiver. Companies like Sirius and XM actually sell receivers that you can bring with you from the car into your home, where you can plug it into your home stereo and continue to listen.

Sirius satellite radio was the fist company to offer commercial-free music, and they continue today with 120 different commercial-free channels. Choosing a satellite radio provider basically means choosing between XM and Sirius, and Sirius has some exclusive channels that may make you lean in their direction. Among their exclusive offerings are NFL, NBA and NHL broadcasts, as well as the Howard Stern Show (which will begin broadcasting exclusively on Sirius within the next few years).

Disadvantages of Satellite Radio

People talk a lot about the "crystal clear digital" sound of satellite radio, and the fact that it doesn't experience interference like normal FM and AM stations gives credence to that description. For the true audiophile, however, satellite radio does leave a bit to be desired. Since satellite radio broadcasters have to jam dozens of channels into a limited amount of signal bandwidth, they have to compress their signals. To the discerning ear, it's not hard to detect the sound of the compression--which renders music quite a few steps down from CD quality.