Are any FM transmitters actually good?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=71514
Printed Date: December 03 2024 at 12:49
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Are any FM transmitters actually good?
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Subject: Are any FM transmitters actually good?
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 00:43
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With classes this fall I have about an hour and a half commute in the morning because of traffic, and the classical station just isn't cutting it anymore. But I've used ones that I didn't own before, and I was extremely not impressed with the sound quality, although they weren't all that expensive. My car is 10 years old and doesn't have a line-in jack, and it seems like the cassette adapters are even worse than the FM transmitters. Are there any solutions? Should I just buy music on cassette? There are still new albums being released on cassette, after all!
------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Replies:
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 01:14
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Yeah I've tried a few with horrible results. Seems if you are in a decently populated area with good FM radio coverage the FM transmitters are not good. The freq you tune into is probably too close to a broadcasting station which severely skews the signal and at best sounds like bad AM. I was in the same boat...as my Grand Prix stock system had no Aux input....So I bit the bullet and replaced my system with a Sony Xplod with a Aux input. I don't regret one bit......90% of the time my Zune mp3 player is plugged in playing all the tunes.....I don't listen to any FM radio anymore...Other than NPR news.
Depending on your stock system, you might be able to find an integration module...check out soundgate.com first before you replace your system. -------------   
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 02:12
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I've used them and they work fine as long as you remember where your car aerial is and that your car is a steel-box that acts like a Faraday cage. The only downside to them is they eat batteries and the ones I had would drain their batteries even when switched off. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 03:10
| You can get a car CD/radio with MP3/iPod/USB connection for the cost of 2 transmitters and the gazillion batteries they use up. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 06:06
Priceless advice.  I have yet to get a transmitter that worked well. Even if you can find a reasonably good frequency to use, I believe there are government imposed signal strength limitations, which basically make for a result like listening to a too distant radio station.  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Tony R wrote:Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 06:09
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I don't even understand any of this. I just turn on my radio and listen to stations. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 09:43
| I've only tried one, but it absolutely sucked. Never again. |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 10:30
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I used one on my previous car instead of the cassette player without any problems. As long as you have a range of frequecies to choose from to avoid interference, you should get on fine. Mine cost pennies from an Amazon market place site.
The transmitter came with a USB connector for the power, so I wired it into a 2 way USB adapter (Poundland), plugged into the cigar lighter socket thus powering the MP3 player from the USB too. NO batteries!!
All sounds very complicated and it did look rather Heath Robinson, but it worked well.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 10:36
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^ for the benefit of people living on the wrong side of the pond, Heath Robinson is like Rube Goldberg (or those living on the wrong side of the ditch, Storm Petersen) ------------- What? |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 11:20
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Why do I not know what you guys are talking about? I must be naive. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 11:31
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Do you not have an internet search function where you live Ian? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_transmitter_%28personal_device - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_transmitter_(personal_device ) ------------- What? |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 11:34
| Dean, for a truly snarky response you need this: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=FM+Transmitter - http://lmgtfy.com/?q=FM+Transmitter |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 11:53
Yes, but Dean was more subtle in his snark. Notice how he left a parenthesis out of the link, so that when poor Snow Dog goes to click it, he will get: Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. Please http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search/FM_transmitter_%28personal_device - search for FM transmitter (personal device in Wikipedia to check for alternative titles or spellings. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 11:54
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What the hell's a radio? This has been tech talk for Neanderthals. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 21:31
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My transmitter actually sorta kinda works, sometimes. ------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 00:06
Soundgate is apparently dead. And yeah, I could, but this car has 162,000 miles on it, so I feel like any investment in it won't really be worth it.
The classical station is the only station I would like to listen to since FM rock is intolerably bad, and classical is not helpful when I'm sitting in traffic with road rage. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 00:33
Snow Dog...ur funny dude. -------------
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 04:14
You guys are mean.  Still don't get it though. This device converts your MP3 player to a radio? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 04:35
------------- What? |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 13:09
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Spot on SD. Instead of listening to an MP3 player through headphones while in the car, you plug this device into the MP3 player headphone socket. The device broadcasts the music on an FM wavelength and you tune your car radio to that wavelength, thus playing the music through your car stereo.
It's useful in older cars which have cassette radios, and even newer ones which do not have MP3 players.
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 13:16
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Apologies to SD if you thought we were being flippant. I thought you were joking around. I've tried several models and all were disappointing.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 13:31
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^ That;s OK....I do joke around a bit so maybe its hard to tell when I'm not. I'm like the boy who cried "wolf". ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 13:33
But if you have a car radio to tune into it.........you already have a radio!  Now I'm lost again.  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 13:37
------------- What? |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 13:40
Got it!  Thank you soooo much, I would have lost sleep.  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: himtroy
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 15:59
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The cassette ones are even better than FM. The Cassettes have a little bit of hiss, but in the FM transmitters the low and high end just cut out and get all weird. I finally got a car with a line in though.... ------------- Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell? I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance. |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 16:37
So I found this cassette player adapter which pushed into the 8track slot. So I was able to play my cassettes thru the 8track stereo.....crazy dude -------------
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 18:58
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: September 22 2010 at 21:27
------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: September 23 2010 at 02:14
...unless you wanted to listen to tubular bells cut-up into 8 pieces  ------------- What? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: September 23 2010 at 19:37
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I think my last experience with 8-track was when I recorded 801 Live to cassette so I didn't have to play it on an 8-track. By the way, the remaster of that album is most excellent.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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