FM Radio Transmitters

[joey85]

Hello everyone. Let me give you a quick run through of my situation..

I have several podcasts that I listen to (TWiT for example) in my car on the way to school, work, etc. My car doesn't have an input jack for audio, but it does have a CD player with MP3 decoder. Currently I am burning a new CD every week as new podcasts come out, but I would love to get an MP3 player so I'm not wasting so many CD's.

I would prefer not to do any wiring under the dash or anything because a) I don't know how to, and b) the car is a 2007 and the electrical system is still under warranty. :P

I've used FM transmitters in the past, used the stations that have dead air, etc - But all of them have very poor audio quality... The bass tends to break up, static, etc. I think part of the issue might be that I have an in-glass antenna, but again - That can't be changed.

Can anyone recommend a good FM transmitter with great audio quality? I don't know if it is possible to get CD quality sound from one of them, but if I can that is what I'm after in terms of sound quality.

Thanks

[nokomis_fl]

Ever think to use a CD-RW?

I have a couple of Griffin transmitters and one Belkin. What I've found is that none of them have enough wattage for high fidelity, but if I rest the iPod with the Griffin iTrip up next to the radio it's fine enough for podcasts and audio books.

Nothing I've tried has the strength of the built in transmitter in my XM-2-Go satellite radio. That thing has a range measured in feet, not inches.

My brother seems to like his cassette adapter for transfer.

[joey85]

Ever think to use a CD-RW?

I have a couple of Griffin transmitters and one Belkin. What I've found is that none of them have enough wattage for high fidelity, but if I rest the iPod with the Griffin iTrip up next to the radio it's fine enough for podcasts and audio books.

Nothing I've tried has the strength of the built in transmitter in my XM-2-Go satellite radio. That thing has a range measured in feet, not inches.

My brother seems to like his cassette adapter for transfer.
Well a CD-RW could work, but I am hoping to get an MP3 player (I know this isn't a liked word around these parts, but the Zune maybe?)with wifi so it will download podcasts without needing to sync or anything.

The CD's themselves aren't a problem, I just hate burning them every week.

[md2389]

You'll probably have to make one yourself (which really isn't all that hard consider there are dozens of source out there with plans). The transmitters you buy from a retailer are not really that powerful. Honestly, they are so weak, that they are the equivalent of urinating into a gale force wind. The only thing you have to make sure you do is keep the power down so that you don't get busted by the FCC for stepping on traffic.

The biggest step you would have to do would be calculating the value for the proper value for the impedance of the antenna so you won't burn up your transmitter due to SWR (standing wave ratio). (The easiest way to achieve this is to get whatever size antenna you would find convenient, and attach a load coil to the base that matches the proper value of what you need for a given frequency.

[tokenuser]

Hello everyone. Let me give you a quick run through of my situation..

I have several podcasts that I listen to (TWiT for example) in my car on the way to school, work, etc. My car doesn't have an input jack for audio, but it does have a CD player with MP3 decoder. Currently I am burning a new CD every week as new podcasts come out, but I would love to get an MP3 player so I'm not wasting so many CD's.

I would prefer not to do any wiring under the dash or anything because a) I don't know how to, and b) the car is a 2007 and the electrical system is still under warranty. :P

I've used FM transmitters in the past, used the stations that have dead air, etc - But all of them have very poor audio quality... The bass tends to break up, static, etc. I think part of the issue might be that I have an in-glass antenna, but again - That can't be changed.

Can anyone recommend a good FM transmitter with great audio quality? I don't know if it is possible to get CD quality sound from one of them, but if I can that is what I'm after in terms of sound quality.

ThanksIf its a 2007 model, the chances of you having an AUX (auxilliary) input on the back of the head unit is fairly large. It is NOT complex wiring and might be no more than a pair of RCA jacks. This will not void warrantee. Talk to the dealer on the next service if it is an option. Direct wired will be much better than an FM transmiter. You will never get CD quality from an FM transmitter ... the best to hope for is *ahem* FM radio quality.

[joey85]

Thanks for the suggestions, I've been doing some research and here is what I can conclude:

I have a 2007 Hyundai Sonata, Single Disc CD Player... There is no Aux port on the back of the radio. It is possible to turn a multi-disc input into an aux port with the right equipment (You have to buy some device that encodes a code with the audio signal, otherwise the radio won't accept it.) But I don't have a multi disc player, the single CD players do not have the additional plugs.

The next solution I am looking at is a wired FM modulator. People say the quality is alright, but that there is some loss and a buzzing sound? Anyone have any thoughts on them?

Other than that, the only option seems to be buying a new head unit, which, meh. I'd rather stick with the wireless or just CD's...

[xplorer]

The wired modulator is the ONLY way to go, if you are going to modulate.

If you install it and have a buzz its probably a ground loop issue, a ground loop isolator will take care of it.

Super easy to install and a very viable option, it will block all incoming signals from the antenna and just replace them in line...

Good Luck!

[joey85]

The wired modulator is the ONLY way to go, if you are going to modulate.

If you install it and have a buzz its probably a ground loop issue, a ground loop isolator will take care of it.

Super easy to install and a very viable option, it will block all incoming signals from the antenna and just replace them in line...

Good Luck!

Quick question, will it always block the oncoming signals from the radio?

From what I've seen, this (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=251550&i=607FMDA25&tp=1701) seems to be pretty popular, and this (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=251550&i=142FMMOD01&tp=1701), however I would prefer the first since it doesn't require wiring to the fuse box.

[xplorer]

Nope, just actively kills the connection when a signal is present coming in from the source side...Or on a switch, depends on the model.

Most require a standard 12v and Ground (plus trigger wire for switched models)

You are on the right track!

[joey85]

Nope, just actively kills the connection when a signal is present coming in from the source side...Or on a switch, depends on the model.


So, basically if the modulator senses a signal from an MP3 player it will automatically switch the source to that? I would love to have it automatically detect it instead of using a switch. Will the Sirius adapter be able to do that?

Also, I will ask again, I've heard great reviews on these things from a lot of people, but for a few people the quality is so-so, maybe a little better than a wireless FM transmitter. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Thanks Again

[xplorer]

Im not 100% sure about the Sirius one, but my XM one for my skyfi does just that. I'm almost positive that the Sirius one should operate the same. But you may want to look around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Delphi-SA10003-SkyFi-XM-Satellite-Radio-FM-Modulator_W0QQitemZ120231806929QQihZ002QQcategoryZ 71533QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Tune to the set channel, and turn the device on, you'll hear the signal override.

The sound quality is noticeably better than a wireless one but it is still only as good as the best FM signal. (IE in the station parking lot)