[BTP]

I use my iPod in the car a lot, I drive different cars and putting in new stereos (with audio in) in any of them is out of the question. Now I have a Kima iLink and it is decent but even with fresh batteries, it has some fade and the signal waxs and wanes even when I am not moving, me or the car.

I have read the previous threads, but there was nothing in there for me. There was that one that recommended the one that is sold at everythingipod, that plugs into the lighter, but every review says it sucks because it can't hold a station. It is called the Soundfeeder, I just remembered.

There are a bunch of kits that have higher power, but they are a) ugly b) big and c) I am a retard with a soldering iron. I would love to 'hack' my iLink to increase the range, just 5 feet! However, I have no idea how to do that.

The last thread on this was a while ago, so I am hoing people have found good solutions. So, thanks FCC. Since your 'crackdown' on the FM transmitters, I can now buy a transmitter that can barely reach from the drivers seat.

Someone please help me out. Any EE students out there..?

[Roxie]

By far this little gem has worked best for me and my three iPods in different cars, and I am in a very FM station dense area.

<a href="http://www.arkon.com/SF121.htm" target="_blank">http://www.arkon.com/SF121.htm</a>

Not to be confused with the Sound Feeder 120 or 100. These, although made by the same manufacturer, do not work nearly as well. In fact the 120 and 100 work like shiite

I keep my iPod on a suction cup padded cell phone holder and the SF121 is placed behind the resting iPod on the supporting cell phone holder's shaft and kept in place by a large black electrical tie. Not the most elegant solution but highly portable. None of the suction cup cell phone holders I have found are designed to be left in place on the inside windshield for days on end while the car is parked under the hot sun or driving over really bumpy terrain. It simply gives way over time so use with caution. But for long trips and even short hauls while your driving, this can work really well.

Rox

<small>[ 06-30-2002, 12:54 PM: Message edited by: Roxie ]</small>

[BTP]

The only thing I don't like about that is the dial tuner. Maybe I'll give it a shot. How is the reception? Does it fade at all?

I have a lot of luck with the Link-it when it is in my lap or some other place that the reception gods smile upon. But there are times I can't get decent reception, so I turn the iPod up so I an cover the hiss. Sometimes it is annoying to listen to like that and I just have to turn it off.

I kept looking and it seems like the best thing I can find is <a href="http://www.ccrane.com/fm_transmitter.asp" target="_blank">this</a>. I know the company and their products are quality, but not inexpensive. If it comes down to it, I will end up spending $99 on it (and likely another $25 for the auto power adaptor).

[Roxie]

Frankly, there are no perfect solutions short of having your stereo hard-wired with a mini-jack input plug. Hiss or drift has really not been an issue for me, but it really depends on your stereo and vehicle. Some digital stereos are designed NOT to easily tune into a dead spot. The only drift I get is every few hundred miles when my dead spot might come alive with a strong FM station coming into range. The other Soundfeeder tuners I mentioned were horrendous in this regard.

Take a look at the link below with others asking about your issue.

<a href="http://www.ipodhacks.com/article.php?sid=140&mode=thread&order=0&am p;thold=0" target="_blank">http://www.ipodhacks.com/article.php?sid=140&mode=thread&order=0&am p;thold=0</a>

Rox

[Roxie]

Kind of pricey @ $130.00, but an alternative to an FM transmitter.

<a href="http://www.ipoding.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=arti cle&sid=478" target="_blank">http://www.ipoding.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=arti cle&sid=478</a>