Gone are the days of fiddling with FM radio dials, and desperately changing stations to avoid those commercials! If youre fed up of pre-programmed channels that juggle music you love with music you cant stand, maybe its time to consider getting yourself a satellite radio!

How do you get started with satellite radio service? Once youve decided you want one, the first essential step is to pick a service provider. Satellite radios were both cumbersome and expensive (around $600) up to a few years ago, but today you can buy a state-of-the-art set for about $200.

XM satellite radio is the best satellite service you can find, with over 170 channels of music and talk. The Delphi XM Skyfi is probably the best adapter you can get in the market. Its palm-size and a featherweight, and can be easily used in conjunction with your home or car adapter.

An XM receiver will cost you $30 to 400. You can also choose a monthly subscription plan, for which you need to pay a fee of $12.95 per month. Purchasing an annual package will lower the fee to less than $10 per month. XM radio installations and service are very easy to install. You can activate your radio service via the XM website for less than $10, and over the telephone for just $15! Features of XM radio online include over 150 channels of digital music, with no commercials to disturb your listening pleasure.

XMs main competitor is Sirius satellite radio. Sirius began its operations less than a year after XM was established in November 2001. However, Sirius has been facing allegations of using more powerful FCC transmitters than are currently allowed. Sirius has announced the implementation of a new model in the third quarter of 2006, which might help solve the problems theyve been facing. Listener comments seem to indicate that Sirius has greater clarity. Both services have their pros and cons; check out their sites at www.xmradio.com and www.siriusradio.com respectively for more information on which service is better for you.

Satellite radio accessories and home docking kits are also available. The S50-TK1 offered by Sirius is a plug-and-play device with a built-in FM receiver. The set includes 1 GB of memory storage and a remote control.

Commercial satellite receivers are available for hotel and other retail establishments, which include user-programmable events and channel blocking. These are ideal for playing over public access systems in stores and restaurants. The Antex XM100, which costs $299 and comes with free shipping, is the best option if youre looking for a commercial service.