Driving with the Stars: Satellite Radio in Your Car

Satellite radio is a good tool when you're in your car. You don't have to station-hop as signals fade, and you don't have to surf around to avoid poorly recorded local ads. Best of all, you won't be limited to the "top" 40 songs. You can find
what you want to listen to, at any time, and
from just about anywhere you drive. We'll help you figure out the best way to open your car's doors to satellite radio. Many new cars have XM or SIRIUS compatibility (and a free trial subscription) built in. If you're shopping for a new car anyway, make satellite radio a priority.

If a new vehicle isn't in the budget, consider a car stereo receiver with satellite radio capability. The Pioneer DEH-P2900MP $120, for example, replaces your current receiver and connects to your existing speakers. It works with either XM or SIRIUS, requiring a Pioneer service specific tuner and antenna (the GEX-P920XM for XM or the SIR-PNR2 for SIRIUS; $100 each). With a Car Deck Interface Adapter ($49.99), the DEH-P2900MP is iPod-compatible, as well. Professional installation is one way to set up a new head unit. Best Buy's service starts at $51.99. Satellite radio subscription fees aren't included in the cost of the hardware or installation. For XM or SIRIUS, you'll pay $12.95 per month to subscribe on a single radio and $6.99 a month for up to five additional radios.

Portable receivers, on the other hand, don't require changing your car's hardware and often adapt to home, office, or "wearable" environments with simple kits. The Delphi SKYFi3 $199.99, for XM is a sleek receiver, sporting a legible display; it includes a docking cradle, charger, antenna, dash mount, and remote control. Set up the cradle and antenna and insert the SKYFi3; the FM modulator sends XM signals through your car's FM radio. The SKYFi3 also has a MicroSD slot for adding MP3 and WMA files and internal flash memory for recording and time-shifting live XM radio. To keep cables out of sight, Best Buy offers antenna and portable cable installation starting at $41.99.

Portability vs. Expense