Buying a Portable XM Radio: Ten Things to Ask

When you get a portable XM radio, you want to make the right decision the first time. How can you make the right decision? By asking the right questions - like these:

1. What services does it receive? And what other music formats will it play? You want to be sure you can receive your chosen satellite stations, and you need to know exactly what formats your portable XM radio can handle: mp3, WAV, AAV, or others.

2. How can you transfer music to the radio? Every XM radio records from its dock, but there are many that can also record and upload audio files from and to your computer. And find out how much room there is on the radio for your music - don't ever assume anything. Even excellent brands can have far too much memory taken up by software and firmware, so talk to the salesperson and get a realistic size quote. Many brands even include multiple versions of the same radio, with higher-end models featuring better battery life and more memory.

3. Does its docking station look good in your home, and are there other alternatives for docking stations, such as a car-based dock? The more docking possibilities you have, the more likely you'll find the perfect look for your home.

4. Will you receive good XM reception for your dock in the places you need your radio? This seems like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of places where you won't get decent reception - like anywhere you can't hook to an appropriate antenna. Talk to the salesperson, and make sure you can return your radio if you can't get reception.

5. How many stations will your radio receive? Because your portable XM radio does not receive live transmissions - only record others to play back between docking stations - more stations gives you more entertainment options.

6. How easy is it to use? You want a one-touch recording and playback system and a simple method for transferring music to your portable XM radio. Ideally, it should do anything you want it to do with a single touch, and without you needing to look down at it. You don't want to get a device with a steep learning curve - but rather one that is simple to use and quick to learn. Pay attention to items like the display, online help services, and customer support; even in a simple device, you'll need to have some questions answered.

7. How does your portable XM radio get software and firmware updates? There are two basic options: your radio could receive updates through a satellite-connected dock, or from your home computer. If you cannot receive updates through a dock, make sure you sign up for email notifications when updates need to be downloaded to your radio. And be sure that your operating system is supported for updates and loading music; many companies don't support anything prior to Windows XP, and some don't support Apple at all.

8. Does the manufacturer of your portable XM radio provide lots of hardware and accessories that you can add at a later date? Or do they allow second-party companies to provide these to you? Look at iPods for an example: the ubiquitousness of this little device has opened up a world of accessories, from surround-sound systems to cars that have iPod docks built into the steering wheel. You're not likely to find this much flexibility with your radio, but at least look for a company with a track record of providing great accessories and of working with other companies to create great accessories. Also, make a list of the accessories you really want and carefully screen XM radio candidates to see if those items are already included with the base unit.

While you're doing this research, check Wikipedia and online technology magazines to see if the manufacturer is coming out with an upgraded version soon. Few things are as frustrating as buying a new toy, then finding only weeks later that the price has dropped dramatically on your model because a newer, better version has been released.

9. Can you broadcast the signal of your portable XM radio to your in-car radio - assuming you don't go for a car-based dock, of course? You may not need this capability, but it does come in handy - for instance, if you ever drive a rental car, you know you'll have your tunes.

10. The most important question of all: how does it sound? If everything else is great and the sound is terrible, it's not worth the investment. Don't compare apples and oranges, however; home receivers generally sound better than portable ones, and are not an appropriate gauge of what to expect out of that little handheld unit.

Keep looking until you find a portable XM radio that suits all your requirements. And before buying anything, compare different brands until you're certain that you have the perfect portable XM radio for you.