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iPod FM Transmitters
David of York
23-02-2010
I am trying to find a reliable FM transmitter to allow me to play my iPod in my car.

Until recently, I was using the Griffin iTrip Auto Transmitter/Charger (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Griffin-iTri...6937969&sr=8-2). This device worked very well in my Citroen C2. Not perfectly, but sufficient enough to transmit my iPod without much hiss and interference in a variety of locations.

Unfortunately, a nasty car crash ruined the device (and my car!). I have since replaced the car but I am still trying to find an FM transmitter.

Initially, I was pleased to see that Griffin had updated the iTrip Auto and added Smartscan technology (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Griffin-6190...6937969&sr=8-1). However, when I purchased this new device, the reception in my new car (a Renault Clio) was dreadful. I won't go into details (you can see my review on the Amazon page if you like!). Suffice to say, my experience with the new iTrip was nowhere near as good as the old one.

The thing is, I'm not sure if it definitely is the fault of the device, or whether it is actually my car / radio that is to blame.

Has anyone else experienced problems with the new iTrip? One would have thought that the underlying technology would be the same (if not improved).

Alternatively, has anyone else experienced problems with a Renault Clio? The cigarette lighter is in a different location (near the handbrake) meaning that the iTrip is in a different position to where it sat in the Citroen C2.

I am happy to purchase the old iTrip (they are still widely available) but I'd like to know whether it was the new device or the new car that was to blame.
chrisjr
23-02-2010
These devices are very low power so anything blocking a clear line of sight between transmitter and the car radio aerial can affect performance. That may have a bearing if the C2 aerial was closer to the iTrip then the Clio aerial.

And if the iTrip was mounted higher up so had a clearer line of sight to the aerial in the C2 than the Clio. Maybe it needs a bit of trial and error to find the best location for the iTrip. The lower down in the car with all the seat metalwork in the way you have it the worse it will perform. Remember it is the position of the aerial relative to the iTrip that is important not where the iTrip is in relation to the radio.
Nasalhair
23-02-2010
We've got two iTrip transmitters in my house - I use this one in my Toyota Auris and my girlfriend uses this one in her Nissan Micra and we've had no problems at all - great sound, clear reception etc. We live in Manchester where the FM range is pretty busy but even when we find a frequency with some interference this seems to get around it. My iTrip doesn't have SmartScan but my girlfriend's does, and both work perfectly. I've also tried hers in my car with no problems at all.

BTW On her car the lighter socket is on the dashboard, and on mine it is in the middle of the car, next to the handbrake.
David of York
23-02-2010
You know when these devices finally became legal, were manufacturers forced to reduce the power of them?

It's just that I purchased the original iTrip when the law was still unclear about such devices. The recent version I tried (with SmartScan) was obviously purchased once the devices had been approved.

I was wondering whether the performance of the iTrip could have worsened between the two versions?
David of York
23-02-2010
Originally Posted by chrisjr:
“These devices are very low power so anything blocking a clear line of sight between transmitter and the car radio aerial can affect performance. That may have a bearing if the C2 aerial was closer to the iTrip then the Clio aerial.”

The position of the aerial is roughly the same in both the C2 and the Clio.

In the C2, the cigarette lighter was towards the bottom of the centre console, below the radio. I would plug the iTrip in here, and rest the iPod in the tray behind the gear stick, with the actual transmitter bit hanging over into the passenger footwell.

In the Clio, the cigarette lighter is underneath the handbrake. I can still rest the iPod in the tray behind the gear stick, but the transmitter sort of dangles beneath the seats.

Do you think this would make much difference?

If so, it is unlikely that any of these transmitters will work in the Clio, unless of course, I go for a battery-powered one...
chrisjr
23-02-2010
Originally Posted by David of York:
“The position of the aerial is roughly the same in both the C2 and the Clio.

In the C2, the cigarette lighter was towards the bottom of the centre console, below the radio. I would plug the iTrip in here, and rest the iPod in the tray behind the gear stick, with the actual transmitter bit hanging over into the passenger footwell.

In the Clio, the cigarette lighter is underneath the handbrake. I can still rest the iPod in the tray behind the gear stick, but the transmitter sort of dangles beneath the seats.

Do you think this would make much difference?

If so, it is unlikely that any of these transmitters will work in the Clio, unless of course, I go for a battery-powered one...”

Because they are such low power they are affected by every bit of extra metalwork that gets in the way. Which will include the seat frame.If you can get the iTrip module out from under the seats then that will help.

Anything you can do to make the path from iTrip to aerial as unobstructed as possible will help preserve the signal. Use some Blu-Tack or double sided sticky pads to attach it to a more suitable part of the interior if you can.
David of York
23-02-2010
Thanks for the info - much appreciated.

So now I'm toying between getting the latest iTrip and experimenting with its location, getting the older iTrip in the hope that it works as good as my old one, or getting one of these: http://www.techfocus.co.uk/iTrip-FM-...ters/TFM01.htm, which were recommended elsewhere in these forums.

Of course, it could have just been a dodgy item that I had!
chaos77
24-02-2010
weve got a Rav4, and bought an extension for the cigar socket, with double sockets and a usb port, means you can position your transmitter anywhere in the car really! can't remember where we bought it except that it was a filling station and cost a tenner, the transmitter was a cheapo from sainsburys that they were sekking around xmas time, a bit tinny, but it works!
imagegrill
24-02-2010
Slightly different but add argument for the position of the aerial etc.
I have used the FM transmitter in my N97 in different cars as I use a hire car each time I visit the UK.
In some the sound is a clear as can be expected and in others it is like I am listening on an AM signal! Clearly it is the location of the aerial and the shielding the car naturally provides that does this.

To be honest they are all poor quality, have you tried a cable directly from your headphone socket instead?
Nasalhair
24-02-2010
Originally Posted by imagegrill:
“Slightly different but add argument for the position of the aerial etc.
I have used the FM transmitter in my N97 in different cars as I use a hire car each time I visit the UK.
In some the sound is a clear as can be expected and in others it is like I am listening on an AM signal! Clearly it is the location of the aerial and the shielding the car naturally provides that does this.

To be honest they are all poor quality, have you tried a cable directly from your headphone socket instead?”

Not all cars have an auxiliary socket which would be required for this. My car, which was made last year, doesn't have one for example.

As I said in my last post, I've owned a few different FM transmitters and the sound has always been great. Maybe I've been lucky, or maybe it's been down to the cars I've tried them in (Renault Megane, Nissan Micra, Toyota Auris). I've driven all around the country and the only place where the transmitter hasn't been so great has been London, where the FM frequencies are almost all in use, so the transmitter always picks up interference from other stations.
imagegrill
25-02-2010
Buy a new radio
While you at it make it easier and get one with stereo Bluetooth built in.

Oh hang on, not all iPod's support bluettooth and the ones that do don't support AVCTP (I think that is the correct abbreviation). The is for controlling the music remotely (stop, pause, play, skip etc).

David of York
26-02-2010
Originally Posted by imagegrill:
“Buy a new radio
While you at it make it easier and get one with stereo Bluetooth built in.”

Oh, terrific advice! There's quite a difference between spending £20 on a transmitter and £200 on a decent radio!

Originally Posted by imagegrill:
“Oh hang on, not all iPod's support bluettooth and the ones that do don't support AVCTP (I think that is the correct abbreviation). The is for controlling the music remotely (stop, pause, play, skip etc).

”

I don't think any of the actual iPods support bluetooth, with the exception of the Touch. Both that and the iPhone support AVRCP.
David of York
26-02-2010
In the end, I bought a Linex Wireless FM transmitter from TechFocus (as recommended elsewhere in the forums).

It's not the sexiest piece of kit but it was only a tenner. I've tested it out on my driveway and it seems to do the trick! The only drawback is that it is battery powered but this does mean it isn't tethered to the cigarette lighter and can be moved around the car.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice!
Rossall
26-02-2010
Originally Posted by David of York:
“In the end, I bought a Linex Wireless FM transmitter from TechFocus (as recommended elsewhere in the forums).

It's not the sexiest piece of kit but it was only a tenner. I've tested it out on my driveway and it seems to do the trick! The only drawback is that it is battery powered but this does mean it isn't tethered to the cigarette lighter and can be moved around the car.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice!”

Good choice.

I use a set of 2650mAh Ni-MH rechargables in mine:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ef=oss_product

and it goes for weeks on one charge.
luiskero
01-03-2010
why dont you see what you can get off ebay?
Rossall
09-03-2010
Originally Posted by luiskero:
“why dont you see what you can get off ebay?”

Most of the ones on there are cheap Chinese junk.
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