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If you haven't explored Internet radio, it's worth a listen. Besides online-only stations, vast numbers of over-the-air stations are available via the Net. You can probably find your childhood hometown station and your college radio station, not to mention obvious ones like BBC World Service. And if you prefer a specific genre, like blues, Internet radio gives you a worldwide selection.

But not everyone wants to listen to radio through a computer. The Ira Internet Radio connects to a home stereo, TV or boom box – anything with speakers and audio inputs – and tunes in a wide range of stations from around the world. It requires a broadband Internet connection and a home wireless network (there's no connection for a network cable, so wireless is the only option).

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The unit is also compact, so travellers can carry it with them and use it anywhere a wireless internet connection is available.

The Ira comes pre-programmed with an extensive list of stations, including just about any Canadian radio station you can name that is available online (which seems to be most of them) and an international selection that ranges from Andorra to Zaire, plus a good selection of podcasts as well. Its menus let you search for stations by genre and location, and save up to 40 presets to make it easy to find those you like again. Sound quality is very good and setup is straightforward.

The only minor weakness is the tiny remote with membrane-type buttons. Though the buttons are slightly domed, so you can feel when you've pressed on, they're not as responsive as the mechanical buttons on most full-sized remotes, and scrolling through the menus of stations is awkward.

Myine Ira Internet Radio ($179.99) is available at Future Shop and The Source.