American radio frequencies

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blackjack17

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#261771 14-Dec-2019 09:56

I have a massive American road trip coming up and was wondering if my Bluetooth fm transmitter would work on an American car stereo. Are the frequencies like nz or are the different like Japan?

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PeterReader

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#2375187 14-Dec-2019 09:56

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Bananabob

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#2375194 14-Dec-2019 10:22

As I understand it the gaps between FM frequencies in the US are different than the gaps here in NZ - thus when an automatic tuner tries to find stations it will miss them.

nitrotech

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#2375195 14-Dec-2019 10:23

Same frequencies but the pre/de emphasis is 75us vs 50us.

for your purpose it will not make a practical difference just adjust the tone to your tastes.

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#2375196 14-Dec-2019 10:31

Bananabob:

As I understand it the gaps between FM frequencies in the US are different than the gaps here in NZ - thus when an automatic tuner tries to find stations it will miss them.

I think you'll find the gaps, 10 kHz vs 9 kHz, relates to AM.

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nitrotech

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#2375197 14-Dec-2019 10:33

Bananabob:

As I understand it the gaps between FM frequencies in the US are different than the gaps here in NZ - thus when an automatic tuner tries to find stations it will miss them.

Um really, it's true that the band plan in the US is divided into 0.2mhz segments (orignally it was 0.8mhz) but that's a regulatory decision rather than any issue with the OP using his FM TX in the US

Bananabob

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#2375198 14-Dec-2019 10:36

Well hush me mouth 😀

This is interesting a wikipedia page on US FM

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Technofreak

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#2375225 14-Dec-2019 10:52

blackjack17: I have a massive American road trip coming up and was wondering if my Bluetooth fm transmitter would work on an American car stereo. Are the frequencies like nz or are the different like Japan?

I presume you want to stream your own music to the car stereo..

If so I'd suggest almost any car your hire will have a USB input to the stereo. I think your best bet would be to either connect your music device by a USB cable and or bluetooth, or probably better still make a copy of your on a USB stick that you can plug into the USB input.

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Kiwifruta

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#2375260 14-Dec-2019 12:35

or buy the FM transmitter stateside

blackjack17

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#2375280 14-Dec-2019 13:44

Technofreak:

blackjack17: I have a massive American road trip coming up and was wondering if my Bluetooth fm transmitter would work on an American car stereo. Are the frequencies like nz or are the different like Japan?

I presume you want to stream your own music to the car stereo..

If so I'd suggest almost any car your hire will have a USB input to the stereo. I think your best bet would be to either connect your music device by a USB cable and or bluetooth, or probably better still make a copy of your on a USB stick that you can plug into the USB input.

Hopefully the RV will have bluetooth. I have never owned one so it would be nice.

One of the drives I have is a 7 and a half hour drive from salt lake city to reno and i don't really want to get stuck with no sounds.

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blackjack17

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#2375281 14-Dec-2019 13:45

Kiwifruta:

or buy the FM transmitter stateside

But I have one that I could take, if it works then why waste the time and money buying one over there?

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#2375287 14-Dec-2019 14:06

Technofreak:

blackjack17: I have a massive American road trip coming up and was wondering if my Bluetooth fm transmitter would work on an American car stereo. Are the frequencies like nz or are the different like Japan?

I presume you want to stream your own music to the car stereo..

If so I'd suggest almost any car your hire will have a USB input to the stereo. I think your best bet would be to either connect your music device by a USB cable and or bluetooth, or probably better still make a copy of your on a USB stick that you can plug into the USB input.

Most/many hire cars also have an AUX-in socket on the stereo and you could use a 3.5 > 3.5 phono cable.

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#2375294 14-Dec-2019 14:48

Bananabob:

As I understand it the gaps between FM frequencies in the US are different than the gaps here in NZ - thus when an automatic tuner tries to find stations it will miss them.

In the US they tend to use say 97.1,3,5,7 where NZ uses 97.2,4,6,8. I've imported a couple of car stereos from the US before that are locked to skip the .2, .4, .6 etc.

Long as your FM transmitter does can do the correct .1 stepping you should be fine. But as others have said if the car has USB etc, use that it's much better audio quality.

Kiwifruta

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#2375530 14-Dec-2019 22:22

blackjack17:
Kiwifruta:

or buy the FM transmitter stateside

But I have one that I could take, if it works then why waste the time and money buying one over there?

You’re right.

I mean you won’t know what a rental’s radio is capable of until you are there, so if your NZ one doesn’t work try USB or buy a US FM transmitter.

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#2375550 15-Dec-2019 07:23

@blackjack17 Just saw this little gizmo online. It can operate as either BT transmitter or receiver. $100 delivered from Apple Store. I know you wish to use your FM transmitter but thought this is interesting.

https://www.cultofmac.com/671744/airfly-pro-review-airpods-wireless-adapter/

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