Radio Coast to Coast

Exclusive: How to Tune In

The satellite promises to do for radio what cable did for TV. But as you sort through the many brands and various gadgetry, it can all start to sound like static. If you're thinking of getting sat radio but need information on the hardware, the two available services, and the installation protocol, here's the lowdown.

If you happen to be in the market for a new car, you can get satellite radio built-in. XM-compatible radios will be a feature of Cadillac Sevilles and Devilles by the time you read this, and will make it into 20 other GM models next year. Sirius-compatible radios will debut next July in the BMW 3, 5, and X models, and in several as-yet-unannounced Ford brands.

But radio heads needn't shell out $50,000 to enjoy booming satellite sound. There are other ways to get your ears on one of the two coast-to-coast providers.

The simplest (and cheapest) route is to morph the radio you already have into a satellite-capable one--with an all-in-one converter unit. Sony's Plug-and-Play, for example, picks up the signal and plays the tunes through an unused FM radio frequency, and can also be used with a home stereo. Other units work the same way, but they convert the signal through your cassette player. Depending on the device, you may need to buy a special satellite antenna. Converter units feature dash-mount displays that name the artist and song title. Unfortunately, listeners will have to forego the promise of supersharp sound quality because converters change the satellite's digital signal into a normal analog one.

Hard-core audiophiles out there, therefore, may want to forgo the converter and buy a genuine satellite radio head unit. Only the real thing will provide that crisp, clean digital sound. Bare-bones radios with only AM, FM and satellite channels are priced at less than $250, while deluxe models with MP3 players and 12-CD changers cost nearly $1,200. The two satellite radio providers have each signed up with specific manufacturers: XM, for example, is having its radios made by Alpine, Pioneer, and Sony; Sirius has contracted with Clarion, Kenwood, and Panasonic.

But the expense doesn't stop there. To use a dedicated satellite radio, you'll need to buy a separate satellite tuner and antenna; both XM and Sirius are putting together packages to make sorting through the numerous models and compatibility issues easier. Pioneer's XM-ready radio and receiver combination costs $450, plus the cost of an antenna.

Antennas range in price from $80 to $120 and come in different styles. All antennas perform equally; the cost difference is all about aesthetics.

Once you've bought all the hardware and either installed it yourself or had the dealer install it, signing up for service is a cinch. Both XM and Sirius provide online or phone activation; you can charge it to a credit card.