XM satellite radio is constantly making improvements to its offers for satellite radio receivers. One major request is the portability of those products. Thanks to advances in manufacturing techniques which have been clearly benefiting electronics products across the board, the new CommanderMT XM receiver is about the size of small cell phone. It is both small and thin, taking the place of larger, bulky units which may look a tad obscene in the dashes of today's rather elegant vehicles.

While the CommanderMT shares a lot of its features with other XM receivers, its crisp four-line LCD display makes reading its contents easy and practical. An included XM mini-tuner means that the unit can work with multiple XM components without having to buy multiple subscriptions or deal with the hassles of running different XM receivers in your home, office and car.

Included with the package are a power cable, thin IR remote, and antenna. With the CommanderMT, you'll want to locate a +12VDC source for your power supply. Unfortunately, the CommanderMT doesn't include an accessory power inlet so that the unit can power up and down with the radio, nor can the accessory line's reduced voltage power the CommanderMT. As a result, we recommend connecting it to a power source controlled by your vehicle's ignition switch. If you don't, the power will stay on and you could potentially drain your battery--not a fun way to start your day.

The unit looks stunning in any of several installation methods. We actually stuck ours just below the main radio with some hook and loop tape, but it can be installed almost everywhere, including the dash or within many "cubby hole" openings found in many of today's cars, SUVs and trucks. The CommanderMT operated flawlessly, and we thought the FM Direct transmitter caught excellent sound through available FM stations. You'll want to use a real hard-wired XM antenna when possible, but you can get up and running pretty quickly regardless.

Overall, the CommanderMT is a great step towards showing consumers what's possible with the new manufacturing processes that are yielding smaller and more powerful electronics. The unit sounds great, looks stunning and broadcasts XM stations with as much clarity as the format permits. With that said, if you want XM radio in a small form factor, you really need to take a look at the CommanderMT.

Pros: Includes FM Direct transmitter, easy to read, XM mini tuner included, remote
Cons: No accessory power/trigger option, no buffer for pause function

Warranty
1 year