Here is a rather nifty program you can use on your computer to wake you up - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptalarm.asp
I use as my main alarm, and it works pretty well. Of course, how loud it gets is dependant on your speakers.
I have a television in the bedroom that has a wake up timer. A lot of people are not aware you have this feature.
You set the timer, crank up the volume and BAM…Katie Couric is screeching at you about how friggin’ cold it is in New York and then you hear some horrible interview with some lame-ass actor and you are scrambling to get that remote, which you cleverly placed on the other side of the bedroom.
Lock your radio alarm in a metal box. Put the key for the metal box in a bucket of water in another room. Works best in winter.