iPod with Belkin Tunebase FM & AUX

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HairyScot

182 posts

Master Geek

#132236 14-Oct-2013 13:59

Some months back I purchased a Belkin Tunebase FM & AUX Handsfree unit so I could play music from my iPod.
I didn't have a chance to try it out in NZ as I was going on holiday to the UK, so I took it with me and tried it out in my rental car.
It worked perfectly; good reproduction and no interference.
On returning to Auckland I set it up in my Rav4 which is a direct import from Japan and has an FM Expander fitted to the radio.
I've found that I cannot find a frequency that does not suffer from sporadic interference when I use the Belkin.
Consulted the guy who fitted the expander to check if the problem might lie with the car radio or the FM extender.
His opinion was that it is probably due to the proliferation of FM stations in NZ.

I would be grateful for any help or info.
Thanks in advance.

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#914834 14-Oct-2013 14:39

The FM band in Auckland is pretty busy, What step band expander do you have 10,12 or 14 Mhz?,

You might be lucky with something really low down, i.e 76 on your imported Radio, but if you have a 14 mhz expander that is gonna dump you hard on 90 which is a fairly busy neighbourhood,

I have heard a number of people say they have given up on using FM transmitters in Auckland, because there are simply so many FM stations stomping all over the frequency band....

HairyScot

182 posts

Master Geek

#914844 14-Oct-2013 14:52

The expander I have seems to using a differential of 20. For example I get Coast on 85.4 instead of 105.4.
The best result I've had has in fact been with 76 on the radio and 96 on the Belkin, but even then I get sporadic crackles.

I have heard that some lucky souls use devices like the Belkin with absolutely no hassles.

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#914866 14-Oct-2013 15:53

NZ's FM band ends at 108, so if you have a 20 mhz expander, (which seems odd, as it will mean you get nothing under 96, but no matter)
there should not be much between 108 and 110 ( 88 and 90)

HairyScot

182 posts

Master Geek

#914868 14-Oct-2013 16:00

I can only tell you that most of the stations on my car radio are in the 80s.
As I said, Coast is on 85.4, Hauraki on 89, sumaat else on 88.2, 83.4, etc etc.

HairyScot

182 posts

Master Geek

#916167 16-Oct-2013 16:04

wellygary: NZ's FM band ends at 108, so if you have a 20 mhz expander, (which seems odd, as it will mean you get nothing under 96, but no matter)
there should not be much between 108 and 110 ( 88 and 90)

Looks like my expander uses 10 and 20. Haven't checked what I get on 88.2, perhaps it's Radio Sport and The Flea might be on 78.2.
In any event I have to have a preset for the Belkin/iPod so not really worried about that one.

My
Radio     Actual
Freq     Station
82.6       92.6 Concert FM
83.4       93.4 The Breeze
85.4       105.4 Coast
87.4        97.4 Classic Hits
88.2        88.2 The Flea FM / 98.2 Radio Sport (haven't checked which one I get)
89.0        99.0 Radio Hauraki

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#916174 16-Oct-2013 16:12

My advice is to dump the band expander and get a decent stereo. They're the biggest piece of junk ever created.

You can get a decent stereo for under $100 with a proper iPhone connector.

trig42

5809 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#916175 16-Oct-2013 16:12

Something strange going on there with the Coast, otherwise you have a 10MHz difference.

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HairyScot

182 posts

Master Geek

#916188 16-Oct-2013 16:53

trig42: Something strange going on there with the Coast, otherwise you have a 10MHz difference.

Has to fit in the 76-90 range, so I guess offset has to be 20 since 10 or 14 would be no good.

HairyScot

182 posts

Master Geek

#916189 16-Oct-2013 16:54

sbiddle:

You can get a decent stereo for under $100 with a proper iPhone connector.

Please, please, tell me where.

But bear in mind I have an iPod.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#916264 16-Oct-2013 18:51

HairyScot:
sbiddle:

You can get a decent stereo for under $100 with a proper iPhone connector.

Please, please, tell me where.

But bear in mind I have an iPod.

All the usual sources of cheap Asian products - sites such as Aliexpress, eBay and Dealextreme.

If you want something basic with just USB and aux inputs you'll get something pretty good for NZ$25 incl shipping.