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beverson · Jan 14, 2002, 11:30 PM

Thinking hard about getting an iPod. And if I do, I want to be able to use it in my car. My stereo has only a tuner and CD player, no tape deck, so a tape adapter is out (I never liked those much anyway...sounded crappy). What I'm really interested in are these wireless adapters that are tiny FM transmitters, which I think (hope) would work better than a tape adapter anyway. Does anyone have any experience with such a device that he/she can recommend? I'm specifically looking for use with an iPod, but really feedback on using one with any mp3 player or any device at all would be helpful.

Thanks.

hardcat1970 · Jan 14, 2002, 11:40 PM

IROCK !!!

BTP · Jan 14, 2002, 11:46 PM

The tape things worked ok, but that's not an option.

There was a long thread about the FM tuners, where I can't say at the moment, my brain is failing me at the moment. Anyway, the end result was that the FM tuners were on the market, then they were found to be too powerful and they were taken off the market. Later they were reintroduced at a much lower power, not working as well. Radio Shack is the easiest place to find one of these, though there are other places on the net.

However, just last week I was told about a CD converter. That works much like the tape converter. I can't find it but I will see if I can find something for you.

Good luck.

beverson · Jan 15, 2002, 07:34 AM

Yeah, I was surprised at how little I could find on these types of devices on the Web...only tracked down a couple or three different models (including a Radio Shack one). I was hoping there were others out there too.

I'd be quite interested in this CD-adapter deal as well. Thanks a ton.

kulverse · Jan 15, 2002, 08:31 AM

http://www.everythingipod.com has what your looking for. $28

cacarr1 · Jan 15, 2002, 08:42 AM

Stay away from the RadioShack one...really disappointing. I hope that all of these aren't made with the same standards, because the RadioShack one just didn't work. What a bummer...as I have no tape deck, just a CD player.

Jan 15, 2002, 09:04 AM

I've tried a couple of these things. They simply sucked.

I always wonder why really only the high end decks have an audio in. It would simplify matters greatly.

Jansar · Jan 15, 2002, 09:16 AM

I like the iPod store. I've been looking for similar types of devices, and now I'm deciding to purchase the FM transmitter. Also, I'm a DJ at a radio station, and I'm still looking for a good device that lets me play my iPod songs on the air (rather than a scratched CD).

beverson · Jan 15, 2002, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by kulverse:
http://www.everythingipod.com has what your looking for. $28

Awesome...great link. Thanks a bunch!

phantomdragonz · Jan 15, 2002, 05:26 PM

i wanted to do the same thing so i did some research and i found this one and it works great. it goes across a medium to small sized room and the quality is AWESOME if its in the front seat other wise there is a very faint hiss. and it looks alot like the computer generated pictures on the site. it small too. the ONLY down side is that it is easy to turn on, too easy. and you can only chose from 88.1, 88.3, 88.5, and 88.7 there is a radio station in my area that is on 88.5 and bleeds through the others except 88.1 so that is the one I use. what i use it for is in study hall for sharing my mi=usic with the others in class but i also bought a 3 way headphone splitter that works GREAT!
here is the link again

Kima Link-It

P.D.

Jansar · Jan 15, 2002, 07:07 PM

This alternative is basically a "nicer" version of what they had at the iPod store. Whatever works, though. To tell you the truth, I'm probably going to get the Link-It from the last post. It goes with my computer

(450th)

mrchin · Jan 16, 2002, 08:09 AM

Originally posted by kulverse:
http://www.everythingipod.com has what your looking for. $28

Nice that this one tunres from 88-108Mhz. But what's with the 3 wires? One is the adapter, one for the iPod. But where's the third wire go? Also, do you need to use the adapter. Doesn't look like you can unplug it and put it away. I'd like the choice of using batteries.

To the Kima Link one, how long does a set of batteries last?

phantomdragonz · Jan 16, 2002, 10:06 PM

i've used mine for about 3 weeks now and never had the batteries die. it has been turned on in y backpack for hours i bet but its still working great. a small transmitter like that does not use much power. we had a 1 watt pirate radio station and it went for like 5-10 miles. this one only goes in a classroom (maby)

P.D.

I highly reccomend it. itwould be nice to select the frquency but the link it works so i dont care. and if you bump the dial on the other one good luck finding the frequency again. this one is just a flick of a switch.

SeSawaya · Jan 17, 2002, 01:19 AM

just a note, I used one of these transmitters for about 4 years now. I know they have them at good ole WAL MART for $25 or less. Battery operated, and one wire intot he iPod. Just tune your stero in and your good!! They work for about anything. Play your computer easily over your big stereo!!!! NO WIRES!!!

BTP · Jan 17, 2002, 01:58 AM

I still haven't forgotten about the CD adapter. The guy that had it quit/was let go, so I'll have to track him down. If any of the FM transmitters are good, I would tend to be interested, as they might have more functionality for me.

ajbaker · Jan 17, 2002, 08:03 AM

On a related note, I too was thinking about iPod's and in car entertainment. Anyone know of a in-car system (tape or cd or mini-disk etc.) with an in-built Firewire or USB connector??

It would be REALLY nice to plug an iPod into the system, and use the headunit itself to skip tracks/control the playback of the iPod. Any ideas?

Andrew

SeSawaya · Jan 17, 2002, 10:36 AM

I dont know about fire/usb all though maybe soon! but my semi cheap sony CD player has an AUX in jack. perfect for about anything. I wouldnt want a car stereo without one.

tooki · Jan 17, 2002, 11:16 AM

Before I got my new car stereo (a Blaupunkt San Francisco CD70 I got for a steal), I got a $20 FM transmitter from Best Buy, and promptly returned it because it was so bad. When you did get it to tune, it would drift out of tuning in about 10 minutes (I don't know if it was the vibration, or the temperature shift from the heater warming up the car), but in any case, I wasn't about to start fiddling with hypersensitive knobs while driving down the road.

So I'd just throw in the towel and buy a car stereo with an auxiliary input (FYI: practically every stereo that has a CD changer input can be used with an auxiliary input cable instead of a CD changer). www.crutchfield.com has excellent detailed specs on everything, so that might be a good place to start.

tooki

-Q- · Jan 17, 2002, 11:17 AM

Originally posted by SeSawaya:
I dont know about fire/usb all though maybe soon! but my semi cheap sony CD player has an AUX in jack. perfect for about anything. I wouldnt want a car stereo without one.

Exactly. And most AIWA in-dash stereos come with them. I've been runnin my iPod through that connection for a week and it's worked out nicely.

Chris_G · Jan 17, 2002, 01:12 PM

That Kima Link-It looks amazingly familiar to this product I found at CompUSA http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...ct_code=286756 . Don't know if the sound quality is the same or not.

Cheers!
Chris

phantomdragonz · Jan 17, 2002, 03:31 PM

thats exactly what it looks like. i have noticed one thing with the link it. if yor going to use it across a room you need to orient(sp?) it the same way as the recievers antenna is. or how the headphone cord is oriented, as it is the antenna for cd/small fm radio recievers.

P.D.

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: phantomdragonz ]