IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a compact plugand- play receiver for Sirius Satellite Radio programming, the company’s Starmate is easy to shuttle between home and car.

For $99.99 the device comes with a car kit, and you can also purchase it with a home kit for an additional $39.99. Programming costs $12.95 per month.

At 2.4×4x1 inches and 6 ounces, the Starmate is bigger than an iPod, about the size of a small cassette Walkman. The unit’s compact size has its downsides, though: The station-preset buttons are tiny, and the display is limited to just three lines.

One advantage the Starmate has over other plug-and-play competitors is its FM transmitter’s ability to send the Sirius signal to any of 100 different frequencies. The receiver’s car kit includes a cigarette-lighter adapter, a roof-mounted antenna, a remote control, and a suctioncup mount for the windshield.

I had a tough time getting the mount to adhere, however.