When you open the box, you may actually be overwhelmed by the number of different pieces. The receiver itself is a good-looking handheld unit about the size of a PDA. The box also includes a rechargeable battery, a home accessory kit including base and antenna, and a vehicle accessory kit including antenna, charger, and mount. Also included are headphones, remote control, belt clip, and carry case.

In spite of the seeming complexity of the equipment, it is fairly easy to set up the MyFi. At home the receiver goes in the base. The antenna is set in a window or outside with a clear view of the Southern sky. The sound comes through a stereo or radio that you provide. In the car, the antenna goes in a window or on the roof and the receiver plays through the car radio. The automobile mounting system is good, but installation takes a little time and effort.

When set up, what you get are 150 channels of satellite radio including music, sports, talk, entertainment, traffic, and weather. Whatever type of music you like, the XM service that plays on this receiver will have a channel dedicated to that genre.  The music channels are commercial-free. There is music from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, etc. as well as jazz, country, Christian, rock, blues, Latin, and more. XM has broadcasts of major league baseball and currently also has NASCAR coverage. XM also has unique programming of their own creation, specials including guest artists and performers, as well as broadcast of several television news stations.

In addition to the purchase of the receiver, you will pay a monthly service charge of $12.95. Since the programming is beamed from satellites, no matter where you travel in the United States you can get the same stations. In fact, satellite radio gives you the ability to drive across the country and listen to the same clear radio station all the way from New York to California.

The MyFi unit is filled with additional features. It has a memory. You can record up to five hours of XM programming to listen to at your convenience. Once you have made a recording, you can remove the receiver from the base, plug in the earphones and listen to the recorded programming during your daily walk, at the gym, or just about anywhere. The unit can also display a personal stock ticker or sports scores and can act as an alarm. You will need to read the directions to be able to handle all of the different functionality of the MyFi unit, but it will be time well spent.

The MyFi receiver is a joy to use. It is slightly curved to fit in your hand. Although there are many different buttons, each is clearly marked, and the good-sized screen is illuminated and can display up to six lines of information. All-in-all, MyFi will give you good solid entertainment wherever you go.

Manufacturer:  XM Radio

Price:  $249