Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

If you're like me, you don't like hearing advertisements. They interrupt, they're annoying, and you have probably asked yourself, "I'd pay to not listen to any commercials". Well, XM and its main competitor, Sirius, have filled this niche with satellite radio. While not all stations are commercial-free, the overwhelming variety of entertainment is well worth the "extra" cost over so-called terrestrial radio.

I recently acquired a Sirius Sportster 4 and so far I have had little to complain about.

Design

I believe the Sportster 4 is one of the nicest-looking radios on the market. Thin, light and compact, the silver-trimmed device screams sleek and high-tech, with blue backlighting emphasizing the ultra-modern look. It's easy on the eyes, and looks like it's extremely expensive, too. The device really costs $120, though there are many less expensive Sirius radios available, some as low as $70.

The screen takes up about half of the unit's size, located left of the easy-to-use tuner knob. Surrounding the knob are four directional arrows. Underneath are five more buttons and underneath that still are 11 buttons ranging from 1 to 0 (1-9, 0 and a Jump button) so the user can easily change stations.

Overall, the design is clean, simple, and intuitive.

Sirius Subscription

In order to use the Sportster 4, you have to call Sirius directly (or go online to their website, www.sirius.com) and subscribe to their service. If the radio is being added to an already active subscription (the standard charge is $12.95/month) the extra subscription only costs $6.99. Initially there will an added activation charge, though. There are a few minutes of waiting time before the radio gets the satellite signal, and once detected the radio can then be used. Want the Playboy station as well? Just let them know and they'll add that free of charge.

I have found the customer service to be extremely pleasant, and the people there are friendlier than one may expect. In fact, J.D. Power and Associates awarded Sirius for "Outstanding Customer Service" in 2005. While the person I talked to acted like his lines were rehearsed, he quickly explained in lay-man terms what to do and how everything works. He even asked if there was anything else he could help me with.

Sirius Service

There are 69 commercial-free music stations that cover almost every music genre possible, as well as nearly 70 talk stations including two from the infamous shock-jock Howard Stern.

Features

There are many features that are included in the Sportster 4, some that surprised me. For example, the user can pause, rewind and fast forward in case they may want to hear a particular section again. Or, if the user is interrupted by something, they can pause and then return to it later. This works almost exactly like that of Tivo, except the user cannot save anything.

The user can also save up to 33 stations using the numbered buttons and a "Jump" button that can allow them to swap between two frequently listened-to stations. I use it to switch between the current station I'm on and one of the two weather stations included in the subscription.

Hear a song you like? Pressing the down arrow below the tuner knob allows you to save either the artist or the song itself. You can save up to thirty songs/artists. If a song you like popped up on another station, the radio will alert you and tell you what station it's on. Then you can push the tuner knob and it'll automatically take you to the station.

Viewing the radio from a distance? Press the up arrow and the screen lettering will enlarge.

Like football? The Sportster 4 is so-named because you can save your favorite teams. Then, you can be reminded whenever they're playing.

There are many features that this radio has, and it would be impossible to list all of them here.

In The Car

The radio comes equipped with a car antenna, a radio base with suction cup, and a plug to insert into the cigarette lighter. Basically you put the magnetic antenna on the roof of your vehicle, attach the antenna cord to the base, put the base on the bottom of the windshield using the suction cup, adjust the base angle, insert the radio onto the base, plug it in, and you're all set to go. The radio also allows you to adjust the FM frequency so that your car radio can accept the radio signal without static.

I have found the device to be really easy to use in the car, however it may be hard to reach from the driver's seat. At night you can adjust the brightness so that the screen does not intrude on your vision.

Signal

The car antenna is extremely powerful. Only when driving under a covered bridge or tunnel does the signal "cut out". I have driven in harsh weather, and even in those conditions the signal meter reads strongly.

However, the home antenna is weak. It is included in the home kit (sold separately). I can only use the radio in one location at home, and even then the signal may occasionally cut out. I would recommend buying the $50 outdoor antenna. The home kit also includes a base, plug, and two audio cords so you can use it with a home sound system.

Overall

With the wide variety of channels, impressive versatility, stunning design and useful features, the Sportster 4 is a great radio for those who are new to Sirius and Sirius experts alike. I have found myself listening to it for hours on end. While I like the electronica/dance stations, others will enjoy listening to hip-hop, Martha Stewart, Fox News, CNN, country, latin, classical, Jazz, and all the other diverse stations that make up the Sirius world. If I may quote Howard Stern myself:

"I am never going back to terrestrial radio." (August 2, 2006)

~Scott