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Best FM transmitter![[dnemerick428]](/webx/?30@@1) dnemerick428 (apparently) - 03:31am Jul 8, 2007 PSTvia emailDear gurus,
I need your advice on the best FM transmitter for my iPod. There are many out there some good and some not so good.
Recomendations?
thanks
david
schinder (apparently)
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Jul 9, 2007 11:06 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
Emerick, David N wrote:
> I need your advice on the best FM transmitter for my iPod. There are many out there some good and some not so good.
>
> Recomendations?
I like my Griffin iTrips. I bought the first, powered by the iPod
itself, for my 3G iPod. The second I bought when I got a 5.5G video
iPod, and I decided to get the model that plugs into the car's power
socket. (That may have been a mistake, since my 6 year old likes to
watch videos on the iPod in the car. She doesn't like to use
headphones, and the cord on the iTrip barely reaches the back seat in my
Honda Civic. She sometimes pulls it out, and I have to watch that I
don't knock it out when shifting the manual transmission.) Both work
well here in mostly rural central Pennsylvania, where it's easy to find
an open frequency (except occasionally when sporadic E skip bring in
stations hundreds of miles away, or at the top of a mountain when
distant stations can reach you). On occasional trips to metropolitan
areas, it becomes more difficult to find an empty frequency.
--
Paul Schinder
schinder  pobox.com
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Dan Frakes (apparently)
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Jul 9, 2007 11:06 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
On 7/8/2007 3:31 AM, "Emerick, David N" wrote:
> I need your advice on the best FM transmitter for my iPod. There are many out
> there some good and some not so good.
>
> Recomendations?
We rounded up 30 of them last fall:
< http://playlistmag.com/features/2006/09/fmtransmitters/index.php>
Unfortunately, an FM transmitter is really the "last resort" of iPod/car
connectivity. Anything else -- integrated system, direct cable connection,
even a cassette adapter -- offers much better sound quality than even the
best FM transmitter.
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Nigel Stanger (apparently)
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Jul 9, 2007 11:06 am
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via email - Dunedin, New Zealand |
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Re: Best FM transmitter
On 08/07/2007 10:31 PM, "Emerick, David N" <dnemerick smcm.edu> spake thus:
> I need your advice on the best FM transmitter for my iPod. There are many out
> there some good and some not so good.
Heh, I'm looking myself at the moment :) The Kensington transmitter/charger
seems to be getting good reviews:
< http://us.kensington.com/html/6402.html> (white)
< http://us.kensington.com/html/11207.html> (black)
Also search for "kensington ipod fm" on Amazon. Apparently it provides
better volume than the others, but some have found the plug a bit flimsy.
--
Nigel Stanger, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND.
http://xri.net/=nigel.stanger
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Nik (apparently)
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Jul 9, 2007 11:12 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
I've used many, including two different varieties of Griffin iTrips,
the Monster iCarPlay, some unholy beast from DLO and a Belkin. Of
everything I've tried, the best of all of them is the Kensington
transmitter/charger.
< http://us.kensington.com/html/11207.html>
With every other solution, I either had tons of static or else cars
driving by transmitting on the same frequency (we have precious few
channels that are suitable for taking over with an iPod) would
override what I was listening to.
The Kensington, by contrast, comes in clear and strong. It's
DEFINITELY still an FM transmitter, and if you have other choices,
take them! But if you, like me, are stuck with FM as your only option,
it's a great solution. It supports every possible station to transmit
on, charges your iPod while running, and packs up pretty small if
you're keen on taking it in rental cars.
--Nik
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dnemerick428 (apparently)
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Jul 10, 2007 2:57 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
> The Kensington, by contrast, comes in clear and strong. It's
> DEFINITELY still an FM transmitter, and if you have other choices,
> take them!
Thanks everyone for chiming in. I do have a cassette player (and CD) that I
don't think I have ever used. So you think I am better off using a cassette
adapter?
Cheers
david emerick
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barefootguru (apparently)
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Jul 10, 2007 2:57 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
On 2007-07-10, at 06:06, Dan Frakes wrote:
> Unfortunately, an FM transmitter is really the "last resort" of
> iPod/car
> connectivity. Anything else -- integrated system, direct cable
> connection,
> even a cassette adapter -- offers much better sound quality than
> even the
> best FM transmitter.
Completely agree but I still went the iTrip route ;-)
My first choice was a direct connection but that wasn't an option for
our car (without spending $$$). I went with the FM transmitter over
the cassette adaptor because I decided I could live with poorer
quality sound for the trade-off in versatility: sure enough, I've
used the FM transmitter capabilities in other people's cars, a
relative's house, and even a cheap motel alarm clock. I was also
worried about the useful life-span of a cassette-based product (i.e.
our next car prob. won't have a deck).
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hkaufman1 (apparently)
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Jul 12, 2007 2:53 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
On Jul 10, 2007, at 5:57 AM, David Emerick wrote:
> Thanks everyone for chiming in. I do have a cassette player (and
> CD) that I
> don't think I have ever used. So you think I am better off using a
> cassette adapter?
Unless you live in a rural area with few FM stations, you would be
better off with the cassette adaptor.
Regards,
Howard
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Jochen Wolters (apparently)
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Jul 12, 2007 2:53 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
> The Kensington transmitter/charger seems to be getting good reviews:
>
I've been using one of these for a few months now, and it works just
fine. Apart from its three-station memory, the major benefit is that
it also recharges the iPod, whereas some other transceivers are
actually powered off the iPod's own battery.
The sound is very decent. However, the location of the car's antenna
seems to have a noticeable impact on the overall sound quality: in
some vehicles, hissing sounds are so distorted that it becomes
annoying, especially when listening to podcasts that may have a lower-
than-usual audio quality to begin with. Setting the iPod's EQ to Flat
helps to some extent, though.
All in all, if you have to resort to an FM transceiver for pumping
your iPod's tunes over your car's stereo, you should definitely add
the Kensington to your shortlist.
Regards,
Jochen Wolters
jochen polytropia.com | http://polytropia.com | jochenwolters (Skype)
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Nik (apparently)
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Jul 12, 2007 2:53 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
On 7/10/07, David Emerick <dnemerick smcm.edu> wrote:
> Thanks everyone for chiming in. I do have a cassette player (and CD) that I
> don't think I have ever used. So you think I am better off using a cassette
> adapter?
Yes, absolutely. You will get much better sound quality and eliminate
all possibility of interference.
--Nik
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dano (apparently)
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Jul 13, 2007 2:34 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
At 2:53 AM -0700 7/12/07, Nik Friedman TeBockhorst wrote:
>> So you think I am better off using a cassette
>>adapter?
>
>Yes, absolutely. You will get much better sound quality and eliminate
>all possibility of interference.
I have a cassette adapter and when inserted into the deck the
autoreverse function goes into constant cycle, essentially shutting
off the audio and rendering the devices useless. I'm reluctant to buy
another to test whether the cause is the adapter or the cassette deck.
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Harro de Jong
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Jul 14, 2007 10:23 pm
(#11 Total: 19)
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Re: Best FM transmitter
dano wrote:
> I have a cassette adapter and when inserted into the deck the
> autoreverse function goes into constant cycle, essentially shutting
> off the audio and rendering the devices useless. I'm reluctant to buy
> another to test whether the cause is the adapter or the cassette deck.
Other adapters probably show the same behaviour. The deck measures the
speed of the two spools, and uses this to decide when to reverse. Since
the spools in the cassette adapter aren't connected by tape, the speed
measurements are off, causing the cycling.
Harro de Jong
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hkaufman1 (apparently)
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Jul 16, 2007 9:34 am
(#12 Total: 19)
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Re: Best FM transmitter
> Other adapters probably show the same behaviour. The deck measures the
> speed of the two spools, and uses this to decide when to reverse.
> Since
> the spools in the cassette adapter aren't connected by tape, the speed
> measurements are off, causing the cycling.
I have a Sony Cassette audio adaptor and it does not exhibit this
behavior at all. Works great!
Regards,
Howard
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Dan Frakes (apparently)
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Jul 16, 2007 9:34 am
(#13 Total: 19)
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Re: Best FM transmitter
On 7/14/2007 10:23 PM, "Harro de Jong" wrote:
>> I have a cassette adapter and when inserted into the deck the
>> autoreverse function goes into constant cycle, essentially shutting
>> off the audio and rendering the devices useless. I'm reluctant to buy
>> another to test whether the cause is the adapter or the cassette deck.
>
> Other adapters probably show the same behaviour.
Not necessarily. We've tested many cassette adapters, in a number of
different cars. The results are hit-and-miss. One adapter will work in some
cars but not others. A different adapter will work and not work in different
sets of cars.
In other words, if one adapter doesn't work in your car, another might.
Conversely, if you have good luck with one adapter, that doesn't mean others
will work ;-) We generally recommend that you buy a cassette adapter from a
store with a good return policy just in case.
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TheCooks2000
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Jul 17, 2007 2:31 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
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home444
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Jul 17, 2007 2:31 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
I've used a DLO adapter, probably the same one mentioned by Nik, for a few years. It's unwieldy, not very sturdy and definitely not appropriate to carry in luggage. However, it has good power that suffers little from interference. With some luck and continued careful handling, I expect to be able to use it for years to come. More recently, I bought a Griffin RoadTrip for my wife. It's much smaller and more sturdy. Also recommended.
Although I expect to continue using the units I have for as long as possible, there is one irritating aspect to both of them: It's hard as heck to read the digital displays, to say nothing of the iPod displays. That's the one thing I'd like to see improved. Anyone looking to buy a new adapter should consider this matter in their purchase.
Ted
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Jeffrey Harris
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Jul 18, 2007 2:39 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
The Kensington is quite good. http://us.kensington.com/html/11207.html I used one during a trip to Bulgaria last month in a 20 year old Peugeot with an analogue radio. I used it in Sofia, Plovdiv and through the Rhodope Mountains without a hitch, even thought he radio tuning was hair trigger with accuracy up to the ear and a steady hand.
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ebchi
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Jul 18, 2007 2:39 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
I had a Belkin transmitter for my mini iPod that got a lot of interference since I couldn't find a good empty FM station in the Washington DC area. Since I don't have a casette player, when I got a new video iPod I needed a new FM transmitter. After reading lots of reviews I got a Griffin 9501-TRIPCB iTrip Auto FM Transmitter and Auto Charger for iPod, which I am very happy with. It came already tuned to 87.9, which is a band not used by FM radios, so that there is no interference and the signal is very clean. Around $32 at Amazon.
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ray (apparently)
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Jul 18, 2007 2:40 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
On 17-Jul-07, at 2:31 AM, TheCooks2000 wrote:
> Has anyone looked into these units from Britain (or similar from
> elsewhere)?
>
> Dension ice>Link FM Modulator < http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/
> iPod_Car_Kit/Universal_FM_Modulator/Dension_ice%3ELink_FM_Modulator>
>
> My Accord with the GPS radio setup has a rear window aerial and
> using the Belkin II unit requires some channel changing to keep a
> decent sound. I mainly listen to my podcasts and not high class music.
I started by trying an FM device that plugged into the cigarette
lighter, but it had the big problem of working itself loose over
rough roads, and it also had the standard problem of finding a quiet
spot in the FM band.
I then got a Dension and I love it. It connects directly to the
antenna input to the radio and easily overrides every station near
the frequency it is set at. They didn't have a mount for my car
model, but it was fairly easy to make my own. The big disadvantage is
that it is mounted permanently in your car, so can't be easily moved.
I got it a few years ago from Germany (I live in Vancouver) and it
was a bit pricey, but I think it is almost perfect.
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Roy Jones
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Feb 15, 2008 4:55 am
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Re: Best FM transmitter
I have just bought a new DICE RDS FM Modulator for my Audi. I found it to be better than the Dension one as it display the artist and song information on your radio display as RDS text which I think is a great feature because now I dont even need to look at the iPod to see what tune I am playing. My iPod can stay in the glovebox out of the way. I got mine from these guys: < http://www.incaripod.com/> Ordered and recieved it next day.... excellent service. I think they ship worldwide too?
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