FM Transmitter for car - should I even bother?

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BiggusDoggus

224 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 83087 10-May-2011 12:35
Hey all I have just bought a 2nd car (25yr old diesel) which has a half-way decent Alpine cassette radio. I don't want to spend any more than 10c on it, but I may have to. I would like to listen to my CCR and Kenny Rogers through USB, and was thinking of splashing out on this little beauty on TM - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=374253977 Should I bother? Or would I better off sticking to listening to The Breeze and my Falco tapes? "He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy"

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1068 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 467518 10-May-2011 12:51
I have tried an Fm transmitter off TM (not exactly this one) with OK ish results I guess. Audio wasn't that great (but listendable at a stretch) and I had to keep changing channels when travelling as you could not have any broadcast signals on the same or nearby frequency. For the price of headunits these days I would spend a couple of pennys and get something with an audio jack input. Artificial intelligence is no match, for natural stupidity!

vinnieg

2260 posts

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Reply # 467520 10-May-2011 12:53
See if you can find one of those tape to 3.5mm converter things! They would be cheap as chips now and would sound better than downscaling it through an FM Modulator and can be had for around $5 new or free for second hand off a lot of people http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/iPod-MP3-accessories/Other/auction-374880942.htm plus saves you screwing round trying to do the frequencies, batteries etc I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

alasta

2300 posts

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Reply # 467524 10-May-2011 12:58
In my experience they're generally pretty poor, although some are definitely worse than others.

BiggusDoggus

224 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 467527 10-May-2011 13:00
scuwp: I have tried an Fm transmitter off TM (not exactly this one) with OK ish results I guess. Audio wasn't that great (but listendable at a stretch) and I had to keep changing channels when travelling as you could not have any broadcast signals on the same or nearby frequency. For the price of headunits these days I would spend a couple of pennys and get something with an audio jack input. Yes, I could get a head-unit, but it would be more than I need. The radio works fine already, I don't listen to CD's, so would only be needing some way to listen to music from a USB flashdrive. And the quality doesn't have to be crystal clear - pretty sure I wouldn't notice over the sound of a 25yr old diesel engine (and accompanying car bodywork!). Am I trying to do it on the cheap? Absolutely. "He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy"

Mattnzl

211 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 467534 10-May-2011 13:18
I've got a Belkin FM transmitter and a Sony tape adapter - no comparison, the tape adapter is clearly way better sound quality. I tried a cheapy "yum-cha" tape adapter first, but that kept causing the tape player to auto-reverse all the time. No problems with the second hand sony cpa one I got.

tigercorp

402 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Reply # 467537 10-May-2011 13:19
vinnieg: See if you can find one of those tape to 3.5mm converter things! They would be cheap as chips now and would sound better than downscaling it through an FM Modulator and can be had for around $5 new or free for second hand off a lot of people http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/iPod-MP3-accessories/Other/auction-374880942.htm plus saves you screwing round trying to do the frequencies, batteries etc I second this. I find these much provide much better audio quality than FM transmitters IF the cassette player doesn't introduce a bucket load of hiss.

BiggusDoggus

224 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 467800 11-May-2011 08:45
Sort of on topic (in that it ties in with if a FM transmitter will work or not - which relies on the stero itself working!). Turns out the Alpine wasn't hooked up at all (I had been told it was fine). Up til late at night last night - finally got power going to it, and the display glows, but doesn't actually show anything (such as the frequency, or any symbols at all)? Would there be a generic reason why this would be? Or do I need to spend another night fiddling with the multiple wires coming out of the back of it... "He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy"

wellygary

1244 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 467804 11-May-2011 08:51
BiggusDoggus: finally got power going to it, and the display glows, but doesn't actually show anything (such as the frequency, or any symbols at all)? Would there be a generic reason why this would be.. 1st thought is that the LCD is stuffed, It likely has a independent backlight that is still functioning, but the panel is dead. Will it play tapes when the power is on?, You don't really need the display unless you are changing radio stations,

BiggusDoggus

224 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 467806 11-May-2011 08:54
wellygary: BiggusDoggus: finally got power going to it, and the display glows, but doesn't actually show anything (such as the frequency, or any symbols at all)? Would there be a generic reason why this would be.. 1st thought is that the LCD is stuffed, It likely has a independent backlight that is still functioning, but the panel is dead. Will it play tapes when the power is on?, You don't really need the display unless you are changing radio stations, Well, the tape "goes". But I had to take some pretty WAG's when it came to hooking up the speakers, so I'm not even sure I've got that right. So can't tell for certain at this stage if any sound is coming out. "He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy"

grant_k

2966 posts

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Reply # 467807 11-May-2011 09:07
BiggusDoggus: Yes, I could get a head-unit, but it would be more than I need. The radio works fine already, I don't listen to CD's, so would only be needing some way to listen to music from a USB flashdrive. And the quality doesn't have to be crystal clear - pretty sure I wouldn't notice over the sound of a 25yr old diesel engine (and accompanying car bodywork!). Am I trying to do it on the cheap? Absolutely. We recently bought a JVC head-unit with USB on the front panel. They cost less than $200 from Super Cheap Auto and the like. After having one of these, I have ripped our entire CD library to 320kbps MP3 format, and put all the CDs away in the shed. There simply isn't any reason to bother with them any longer. You can buy a Cassette to USB adapter from Jaycar, which lets you rip the tracks to MP3 format. Problem solved! http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=GE4053&keywords=cassette+usb&form=KEYWORD

BiggusDoggus

224 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 467834 11-May-2011 10:06
After Googling, is it possible I need some kind of security code to get it working? "He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy"

Jaxson

4195 posts

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Reply # 467846 11-May-2011 10:37
I'd say you need some trademeing to get it working. Seriously, just grab something cheap that works and put it in.

BiggusDoggus

224 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 472817 23-May-2011 09:54
Turns out, after finally getting the thing going, that one of the channels is bung which means no output to the left speakers. Grr... So, bought this: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Car-stereos/Tape-only/auction-376410937.htm Can I please just check that using this in the audio-in at the back will let me use my MP3 player? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=377938461 Thanks guys. "He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy"

vinnieg

2260 posts

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Reply # 472829 23-May-2011 10:20
BiggusDoggus: Turns out, after finally getting the thing going, that one of the channels is bung which means no output to the left speakers. Grr... So, bought this: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Car-stereos/Tape-only/auction-376410937.htm Can I please just check that using this in the audio-in at the back will let me use my MP3 player? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=377938461 Thanks guys. Actually on second thoughts, it might work, one of those RCAs could be an input actually The Blue 3.5mm jack is for a remote The other RCAs are for amp If not, you could ask for a refund from the guy? I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

BiggusDoggus

224 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 472896 23-May-2011 11:55
vinnieg: BiggusDoggus: Turns out, after finally getting the thing going, that one of the channels is bung which means no output to the left speakers. Grr... So, bought this: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Car-stereos/Tape-only/auction-376410937.htm Can I please just check that using this in the audio-in at the back will let me use my MP3 player? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=377938461 Thanks guys. Actually on second thoughts, it might work, one of those RCAs could be an input actually The Blue 3.5mm jack is for a remote The other RCAs are for amp If not, you could ask for a refund from the guy? Well, I asked him this morning, and he said he had never used the plugs, so didn't know if they would work with a MP3 player. He used the tape cassette adapter thingie (which I'm not that keen on, but I will use if I have to). And I didn't ask before buying it, so.... "He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy"

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