I have a Kensington Universal FM Transmitter which I plug into the cigarette lighter socket in the car and it allows me to play my mp3 player through the car's stereo. It works by utilising ununsed FM radio frequencies. However, having found a suitable unused frequency for the area in which I live (107.1), I am having difficulties on long journeys. I travelled from Essex to the Midlands last week and around junction 26 of the M25, I started to get interference from other radio stations.

I have 3 presets available on the Kensington Universal FM Transmitter and I wondered if anyone else has this piece of kit and what the best frequencies are to use? Ideally, I suppose it would help to know other frequecies I could flick to in a specific area so that I don't have to endure the dreadful interference from other stations.

Bump.

Any one got any info on this at all?

Trouble is with the FM band being so crowded there is no magic solution to this problem.

I seriously doubt you would be able to find just three frequencies that would be guaranteed to let you use the transmitter anywhere in the UK.

For a clue as to why try downloading the TXParams spreadsheet from the Ofcom website (you'll need something that can read Excel files)

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rb...s/TxParams.xls

That lists every single AM, FM and DAB transmitter in the UK. As you will see on the FM band pretty much every single frequency is being used somewhere!

Thanks for the response - I see what you mean. I guess I'll just use it locally because once I hit the M25 around J26, all hell breaks loose.

Well I've not driven round London with mine, but within Yorkshire/Midlands/South West/Scotland I've always found 99.9 to be trouble free and always use that frequency.

In London that will be wiped out by Kiss 100 on 100.0FM. Unfortunately, on any longer journeys, there will be stations that interfere with the frequency you set. The only way round it really is to use the presets.

Also, you could use the low frequencies reserved for RSL's, such as 87.7, which are normally clear unless an RSL is broadcasting in the area on that frequency (and they don't last more than 2 weeks).

Thanks - that info's really helpful.

one solution that may work..... If you are not planning to listen to the radio is to remove your ariel from the car and place the FM transmitter as close as possible to the ariel cable. It may work!

I don't want to hijack this conversation, I am looking at trying to use this type of system to transmit from my sterio unit in the house to a radio in the kitchen.

I want to use the digital signal from the Freeview box or the Sky box that goes to my stereo and transmit that signal to the radio in the kitchen, is it possible? if so what am I to look for?


Any ideas/comments would be welcome please.

Yes it is possible. You can buy little FM transmitters that are designed to connect to any device via the use of the headphone jack. Just connect your Freeview/Sky box to one of these and it will work.

how do you set 3 presets with this kit?

TIA

I find the best thing is to use a extension audio lead you can get them from Maplin and it will give you better reception and try 94.6 of 94.5