Best FM Radio Adapter/Transmitter?

[MotionMan]

I am looking for a FM Radio Adapter/Transmitter (FYI - for an iPhone).

What have people's first-hand experiences been?

What is the "best" one?

MotionMan

 

[wirednuts]

ive been wondering the same thing, because most transmitters are terrible.

this is what i would do

buy this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-PLL...ansmitters&hash=item3cc9899bfd#ht_1374wt_1037

then buy this kit- http://electronics-diy.com/product_... / VHF Transmitter Amplifier / Booster (Parts)

so you end up with a 1/2w PLL fm stereo digital transmitter for about $50. its pricey, but i would imagine it would be FAR better then anything your friends have.

 

[notposting]

I like my Motorola T505 which seems to be discontinued, of course. Works flawlessly with my Windows Phone and wife's iPod Touch.

 

[wirednuts]

I like my Motorola T505 which seems to be discontinued, of course. Works flawlessly with my Windows Phone and wife's iPod Touch.

that looks nice. like the bt function

i ordered that amplifier kit. i found my old digital transmitter, ill try to use that with the amp.

by ordering this kit, i will find out what ic they are using and i will be able to make more for cheap. i have always been fond of fm transmitting, but i hate when the signal fades. it has nothing more to do then fcc limits on tx power.. which is about 30ma. sometimes, thats not even enough to go 1 foot properly.

1/2w goes a half mile with great ease and clarity. also, this kit claims if you add a couple transistors you can make it a 1 or 5w transmitter... which at that point i would be worried about being caught!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

that looks nice. like the bt function

i ordered that amplifier kit. i found my old digital transmitter, ill try to use that with the amp.

by ordering this kit, i will find out what ic they are using and i will be able to make more for cheap. i have always been fond of fm transmitting, but i hate when the signal fades. it has nothing more to do then fcc limits on tx power.. which is about 30ma. sometimes, thats not even enough to go 1 foot properly.

1/2w goes a half mile with great ease and clarity. also, this kit claims if you add a couple transistors you can make it a 1 or 5w transmitter... which at that point i would be worried about being caught!

You only get caught if someone complains about their frequency being stepped on. Then and, only then, they might send a truck.

 

[lothar]

ive been wondering the same thing, because most transmitters are terrible.

this is what i would do

buy this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-PLL...ansmitters&hash=item3cc9899bfd#ht_1374wt_1037

then buy this kit- http://electronics-diy.com/product_... / VHF Transmitter Amplifier / Booster (Parts)

so you end up with a 1/2w PLL fm stereo digital transmitter for about $50. its pricey, but i would imagine it would be FAR better then anything your friends have.

Transmitters are crappy due to FCC regulations.

 

[dagamer34]

Avoid wasting your money and find a way to connect to the stereo directly, most likely by replacing the stereo.

 

[MotionMan]

Avoid wasting your money and find a way to connect to the stereo directly, most likely by replacing the stereo.

The cost to replace the stereo is far higher than using one of these transmitters, no?

MotionMan

 

[Sheep]

The cost to replace the stereo is far higher than using one of these transmitters, no?

Yup. The tradeoff is MUCH improved and consistent sound quality over any FM transmitter made in the past few years (they're intentionally gimped to have a very limited range). It's your call.

 

[wirednuts]

thats why i suggested the $20 amplifier. if you have a pll digital transmitter, its probably good but just needs to be amplified. the american transmitters are limited to 30ma and that is just not enough.

but even when you get a clear signal, its still fm quality. however, most people are just fine with it and the convenience is too great.

 

[RockinZ28]

I've been using this one for a long time:

http://www.amazon.com/Coby-CA-745-Wi...fm+transmitter

Worked great with my 07 Chevy 2500, but now in my 2010 F-150 it seems to get quite a bit of static often times. And also my Galaxy S3 is retarded and can't do BT headset audio for calls when something is plugged into the audio jack.

So I'm going to try this:

http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Inte...ds=livio+radio

Was $35 on slickdeals a couple days ago. Hopefully can do BT media audio to FM, and then I'll have phone audio to my BT headset.

I'd definitely invest in a head unit if it's your car though. Only reason I'm not is because it's a company vehicle, and the mount/adapters for it are around $100 it seems, plus $60 or more for a decent unit.

 

[MotionMan]

I stopped by the Best Buy near my office and bought what looked to be the best FM transmitter. I tried it out in my car.

What a piece of crap.

I did not have time to walk it back in, so I am going to return it tomorrow.

I guess she will either continue to go without or I will have to replace the stereo.

MotionMan

 

[jpiniero]

Yeah, that's pretty much what i've heard about FM transmitters. I looked into it about 4-5 years ago and decided that I was better off using a tape deck adapter. My new car's stereo has line in, so I use that.

 

[wirednuts]

guys, it has already been said. its not that the transmitters are bad. even the cheapest fm transmitters work well. they are underpowered because of fcc regulations. you need to amplify them to make them work as you would expect. line-in or tape-in is always a better option, but fm modulation done right is pain free and wireless.

 

[zerogear]

I don't know if there are really any "good" ones. I think at the end of the day, pulling out your head unit and replacing it with one that supports Aux-In/Usb/Bluetooth AD2P would probably be best.

 

[wirednuts]

I don't know if there are really any "good" ones.

most of them are. they are just severely 'underclocked'. many of them you can make better by just bumping up the voltage you feed them... but its always risky to do that of course.

 

[vshah]

what sort of car is it? see if usa-spec makes an ipod adapter that can connect to the factory head unit.

 

[dagamer34]

I stopped by the Best Buy near my office and bought what looked to be the best FM transmitter. I tried it out in my car.

What a piece of crap.

I did not have time to walk it back in, so I am going to return it tomorrow.

I guess she will either continue to go without or I will have to replace the stereo.

MotionMan

Honestly, if something doesn't work like you really want it to, it's value is zero because you'll never use it.

Like someone else suggested, I would just replace the entire car stereo with a new head unit that has USB/AUX/iPod/Bluetooth A2DP/AVRCP controls. It makes life so much simpler. What I hate about newer cars is they no longer have double-DIN slots and the built-in radios are such crap. GPS unit is crap (there's no reason it should be $700!), UI is crap, design is crap. I honestly wish Apple would just come in and scare Kenwood and other radio makers shitless. TERRIBLE.

 

[Chocu1a]

I use a Motorola t505. Sound quality is great, no static or distortion at all. I can get all my phone calls through it & stream music as well via Bluetooth to fm.
Picked it up off NewEgg last year for 40 bucks. Seems it is not in production anymore, but there is the Motorola Roadster, which is the newer model. Most reviews say it improves on the t505