HOT! Car MP3 Player FM Transmitter with SD Slot and IR Remote (SD/MMC/USB Port/MP3) NOW 6.89 Free Shipping!

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Soundmanred
Here's the unit disassembled.
I plan on installing it in my G6 with extension cables to a USB plug, an IR eye, and a line in jack on a panel so I can use either a USB drive or line in and use the remote for any functions needed. Once it is tuned to a frequency, I can hide the main unit near the antenna and leave it there and just plug in whatever drive I want to it, turn on the FM (I never listen to the radio, only CDs) and listen.
Edit: I'll be hardwiring it to the same circuit as my radio since it has almost zero power draw. (Also, the radio doesn't shut off with the key, just when you open the driver door, so I don't want it to shut off prior to that.)
The G6 has a Driver's Information Center in the stock radio, and although there are aftermarket replacements (built into a dash kit), I am sticking with the stock stereo. The speaker outputs are fed into a Fosgate 400.4 amplifier, then out to the fronts (CDT's) and a single sub (Treo TSX 12") in the rear. The real system is in the other car.
As promised, here are the pics...
Pic 1
Pic 2
Here's a tip - never turn the volume on the transmitter over 10 (out of 15). I hooked it up to my main receiver in the house and tested it for a while, and setting the volume at 10 stopped the distortion problems completely. They are very noticeable at 15 (the max), and gradually decrease from there. You just have to turn your radio up higher.
I hope this helped/informed someone.
Or at least satisfied their curiousity.
A few more pics...
Pic 3
Pic 4

Quoting this awesome post! Curious, how do you add text to your photos? Can you do this in photoshop?

 

[Muse]

Seen several inquiries in this thread about whether SDHC cards work in this but no answer. My biggest SD card is 256 MB, so I'm shopping for bigger card and would like to know if SDHC will work in this. A hint about if it will work in my Samsung Digimax V3 digicam would be appreciated, too. I don't know anything about SDHC.

Also, is there a limit to the size of memory in a flash USB drive that this will accommodate? My biggest is 2 GB. Shopping for that too.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Denithor
Got mine last week and got everything setup just fine. Sounds great, although I have to push the volume up to 2/3 max on car stereo to have adequate noise level. Totally static free, and I've already been two hours from home through three different cities with no issues.

Anyone know if SDHC cards will work with these players? I'm using a 2GB Kingston SD right now but would like to get a 4-8GB card so I can copy the rest of my CD library and have all my tunes along for the ride, without having to swap memory cards.

Updates:

I have now ordered four units (1 then 3 more for family) and all work great. My original is still playing fine four months later.

SDHC cards seem to work, at least up to 4GB microSD through an adapter.

Mine seems kinda flakey with USB drives, doesn't want to restart smoothly after the car is turned off & back on. I have to pull out the USB stick then reinsert it before it will play again. But flawless when using SD/microSD cards.

 

[Muse]

I tried mine out yesterday for the first time and was disappointed. I heard a lot of background noise playing my 128 kbps bitrate, 32,000 sampling rate constant bitrate stereo (not joint stereo) MP3s. Also, sometimes the channels didn't sound balanced. The same MP3s sound far better on my portable MP3 player, although one would expect a lot of improvement using decent headphones. However, my car stereo is pretty high quality and sounds much better with a decent source, say the stock FM/Cassette player. I tried a variety of channels with no improvement. The FM radio and its antenna system is very good. I get FM stations well that I can't begin to pick up in the house with any of my receivers. I received mine about 2 weeks ago. I tried listening to an MP3 on a 2 GB USB flash drive and a few MP3s being played on my portable MP3 player connected with the supplied cord. None sounded good. I tried adjusting the volume of the player between 10 and the top limit of 22 and making compensating adjustments with my car's stereo. That didn't particularly help. I haven't tried an SD card. The biggest I have is 256 MB. Would an 8 GB SDHC work?

 

[Soundmanred]

Wow, this is a forgotten thread.
Yes I used Photoshop to add text. Most image programs will I believe, but I'm most familiar with PS.
Like Denithor, the biggest I've used it a 4GB MicroSD with an adapter. I assume if it will accept a 4GB SDHC, anything bigger will work as well.
It took some work to find a sweet spot (which station, transmitter volume level, stereo volume level, etc) and it will never sound great, but it should at least sound good.

 

[highpoint]

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/vacant


Find Unused FM Frequencies in Your Area

Do you have a satellite radio or MP3 player that transmits sound to your car radio or home stereo?
There are many great audio gadgets available today that include a small FM transmitter and work by sending a signal to any nearby radio that's tuned to its frequency.

These devices work best if you choose an unused frequency on the FM dial. It's also best not to pick a frequency that's too close to a strong FM station. You can use this page to find vacant frequencies in your area that are best suited for use with your audio device.

 

[Muse]

Thanks for the great posts, Soundmanred and highpoint.

I'm wondering if it's possible a big SDHC MicroSD card with an adaptor would work whereas a big SDHC SD card wouldn't. I have only two 256 MB SD cards (and one 32 MB that came with my 5 year old digicam) and a 5 year old SD only card reader. I'll do some more experimenting with the transmitter in an attempt to get better sound. What I was getting didn't sound good when sitting in the car with the motor off, at least for some music. Driving, with a lot of music I probably wouldn't notice. I'll experiment further with different frequencies and volume settings. I don't have any other FM transmission equipment, IIRC.

 

[Jokersmoker]

Jiminy Crickets They are now 7.50

 

[jlee]

cheep! :Q

Mine was still working fine, last I checked.

 

[ShreddedWheat]

I bought one before and the sound quality through factory speakers was much better than expected. I would say equivalent to the radio. Though mine broke after about 2 weeks from pushing it in and out of the cigarette holder. Would definately buy again!

 

[Robert Munch]

Does anyone know how the USB feature works? Am I able to hook up my USB G1 phone to the FM transmitter's USB port and play the MP3's from the phone or is it for USB thumbdrives?

 

[Dead3ye]

Originally posted by: Robert Munch
Does anyone know how the USB feature works? Am I able to hook up my USB G1 phone to the FM transmitter's USB port and play the MP3's from the phone or is it for USB thumbdrives?

Flash drives only. It does include a cable to connect to a 3.5mm headphone jack.

 

[moro310]

Maybe I'm an idiot, but mine is stuck on "no media." I put a bunch of mp3's on both an sdhc card and a usb flash drive, and get nothing.

 

[Krynj]

Bah, flash drives only huh? No iPod connector then? Booooo.

Still might be in for one though. Almost too good to pass up.

 

[jlee]

I can't find the 3.5mm cable that came with mine..I know it's somewhere..blah!

 

[GHacker]

Maybe you can get one of the guys who got a dud to send you theirs.

Has anyone found a way to make this thing shuffle / randomize MP3s from an SD card? I have several Pink Floyd songs on mine which are great in their own right but if I listen to too many consecutively I start to become depressed / suicidal!

 

[Kato]

"Has anyone found a way to make this thing shuffle / randomize MP3s from an SD card?"

Goes into shuffle play by holding the play button for few seconds.

 

[Kato]

"Bah, flash drives only huh? No iPod connector then? Booooo. "

SD card slot and Ipod, mp3 player, or any other audio device through the headphone jack using supplied cord.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: GHacker
Maybe you can get one of the guys who got a dud to send you theirs.

Has anyone found a way to make this thing shuffle / randomize MP3s from an SD card? I have several Pink Floyd songs on mine which are great in their own right but if I listen to too many consecutively I start to become depressed / suicidal!

I monoprice'd a couple for about 3 bucks.

 

[Jokersmoker]

Now 6.89

 

[Denithor]

Three of the four I've bought still work great, one has been in near constant service for like six months now. One died within two days of first use. Got flaky, had to reposition in car socket for it to play - then it just quit working altogether, wouldn't power on or anything.

 

[jlee]

Found my cable.

Mine is still working!

 

[Jokersmoker]

Updated to reflect new design/product