Why Would You Want to Pay to Receive Satellite Radio?

You have probably heard about satellite radio by now and you know it is a paid subscription service. So, why would you pay to receive radio channels in your car when you can listen to AM/FM radio for free? In this article I will go over some of the benefits of satellite radio so you can judge if it is worth paying a monthly fee.

The Costs Involved

First of all, if you want satellite radio for your car then you may already have a tuner in your car if it is new. If it is an older model then you have a few options; you could decide to buy a complete in-dash entertainment unit that includes satellite radio as well as GPS navigation, video playback, and Bluetooth hands free phone. These units typically sell for anywhere between $300 to over $1000.

A cheaper alternative is to buy a satellite tuner that plugs into your car's power adaptor socket and works through your standard FM radio. These devices start below $100 and with the aid of some accessories you can also use it at home or with audio systems.

So, apart from the tuner, you will obviously have to pay for a subscription. There are several packages available from XM or Sirius; actually Sirius acquired XM Radio so there are some good deals available with a combined package that includes both providers' channels. For example, if you sign up with XM, you can get all the XM channels plus the best of Sirius - over 180 channels - for only $17 a month.

Cheaper options are available depending on your preferences. For music lovers, you can get over 60 channels of mostly music for $10; for sports fans you can get over 50 channels of sports plus news and talk shows also for $10; plus you can choose family friendly packages. As it is uncensored, there are many channels that are not suitable for children, like Howard Stern and Playboy Radio.

Some Benefits of Satellite Radio

As you can see from the packages above, you can enjoy over 180 channels which should keep anybody happy no matter their preferences. Apart from being able to listen to every music style imaginable, you can listen to the likes of Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, or The Grateful Dead 24/7 as they all have their own dedicated channel.

Sports fans can listen to all the NFL games plus football and NASCAR talk shows. Plus you will find ESPN radio, golf, college sports, and even Spanish language sports. Other channels include adult entertainment, politics, news, traffic updates, weather, comedy, religion, and family entertainment shows.

Of course, most people love the fact that it is commercial free - that is why they are paying a subscription in the first place. The sound quality is crystal clear without the annoying static you get from AM/FM radios. If you are driving across the States, you can continue listening to your favourite channel all the way without having to re-tune every 100 miles or so.

With the use of local repeater stations, you can even get a good reception in major tunnels and underground parking. Also, most major metropolitan areas receive local weather, news, and traffic conditions. In fact, many people have said that they don't mind being stuck in traffic as they are so entertained by their satellite radio.

If you don't yet have satellite radio, would you consider paying for this service when you can receive AM/FM radio for free? Considering all the benefits that I mentioned above and the fact that you can get the full 180 channel package for only about $0.50 per day, then you would have to agree that it is indeed worth paying for.