Ipod to Car radio

Subject: Ipod to Car radio
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 03:28 AM

What is the best system for listening to an Ipod through the car radio?

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 04:56 AM

I use an iTrip which is fine if the FM frequency I'm tuned to is "free" for my whole journey. So it's ok around home and for short jaunts. On longer journeys I get interference on the FM frequency and so have to retune both iPod (Nano) and car radio. There is alos the problem of running the iPod batteries down.

On Easyipod.co.uk they have a system which is plumbed into the car radio system, like a proper mobile phone charger / holder user. This gets rid of the wires from one of the cassette type players and doesn't need a lead from the cigarette lighter to recharge it. It's a bit pricey though but I might go for this option in the long run.

I'll be interested to see what other ideas this thread brings up.

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Cath
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 05:50 AM

I have an iTrip and would echo the comments of BusyBee Paul. You can't go far without having to change frequency which isn't terribly convenient on a long journey. As I have the option of playing CDs or the radio I'm not going to go to any further expense as my use wouldn't justify it.
I have found it very useful on holiday in France where I could play through just about all of my collection through a portable radio in the house.
Cath

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 05:57 AM

So are we looking at the beginnings of the MP3/iCar Stereo?

LTS

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 07:43 AM

They are illegal in Britain.
All transmitters need a licence. Apple had to stop selling their own add-on.

I have an MP3 that Tx's but it had to come from the US. Mine Tx's about 1 metre which offends only my equipment and I don't switch it on and leave it on! I have heard people transmitting over many yards in a convoy of cars. They thought it was fun - the other road users may not have!

the quality of Tx is variable. If you still have a cassette radio you can get the cassette attachement - it looks like a cassette with wire & plug. It is powered by the movement of the tape drive wheels. I have seen MP3's that look like cassettes but not recently.

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: GUEST,Elfcall
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 08:09 AM

I use a cassette shaped converter with my iriver and that works perfectly well. The converter was originally designed to run a cd through the cassette/radio. If you have a posh car with only a cd then it will not help i'm afraid.

Elfcall

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 08:43 AM

I have an mp3 player that transmits - bought quite legaly in the UK. Whether it is illegal to use it or not I do not know but what are they going to do about it anyway? Anyhow - legalities aside I have it tuned to 87.9 and on recent trips from Manchester, both to the East coast and to Hampshire, I had no interference at all! Mine ain't an Ipod though so I don't know if the Ipod add-on is either as powerful or as clean.

Another couple of alternatives are get a radio with an input socket - One of my sons has one - or a radio with blue tooth capabilites. Eiter way you would need a car socket driven power supply to stop battery wear. Mine is via the USB plug and works fine.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: nutty
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 12:07 PM

I have a pair of convertible speakers (Bought from Aldi) that everything plugs and plays to. eg CD player, cassette walkman, mp3 player/recorder. They work with anything that has an earphones socket.

The unit sits on the passenger seat when I'm driving.

Main advantage is that you don't get any interference when you go under bridges.

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 12:23 PM

My new car (2007 Toyota) has a stereo system that can handle mp3 files on a disc (with multiple folders), and also an input socket that you can plug your ipod into and listen via the car's speakers.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 12:33 PM

So some kind of plug in to the Radio? I guess this charges the pod as well?

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 12:50 PM

I have a stereo transmitter, bought on Ebay for £7.00 which plugs into the cigarete lighter socket and transmits on a fixed frequency of 107.7 FM.   I think you can also get multi frequency versions to overcome regional problems with different stations. It plugs into the headphone socket of the IPod (or CD walkman if you still have one of those old fashioned devices)and the quality is excellent, unless as already mentioned the IPod battery level is low. On long journeys to and from festivals with three children in the back of the car I connect the transmitter to the laptop so they can watch DVDs complete with four speaker surround sound..!

Chris

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 01:09 PM

Thanks Chris,
Does the connection to the cigarette lighter mean the pod is being charged?

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 01:55 PM

The plug in to the radio is only for outgoing signal, but there's an extra conveniently-located "cigarette-lighter" style power plug as well, if you need electric charge.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: alison
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 03:12 AM

I've tried iTrip, and various other FM transmitters, all of them collapsed in heap after a while, either refusing to broadcast or being unable to play without a lot of static. since then I have bought a car CD / radio with an auxillary socket, you can plug the iPod straight in, great quality of sound.

now I'm wishing I had bought a radio which was iPOd friendly (in that the track playing displays on the radio screen) - maybe next time...... but this is definately the best for sound quality.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 03:32 AM

Les, the Ipod still needs to be charged seperately. I think the integrated units will do that via the USB connection. The system I have is strictly cheap and cheerful - but it works.

Chris

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Barb'ry
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 10:36 AM

Think my car stereo must be like Charlie's. I have a power plug which goes into the cigarette lighter socket and then a connection which goes from the earphone socket on the mp3 and into a hole on the front of the car stereo. You can press an 'aux' button and everything seems to work. Marvellous, this new fangled stuff!
Before I got this, I tried all sorts of wiring around the car, which meant a quick exit from the passenger seat was a nightmare!

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Jun 06 - 07:10 AM

Thanks for much good advice.

It seems that for £100 -£150 I can have something fitted to my radio that will both charge the pod and enable it to play through the car's system.

But I can buy a cigarette lighter charger for £10 - £15 and a currently illegal Itrip for around £30.

Is the second option reliable?

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: cyder_drinker
Date: 25 Jun 06 - 04:23 AM

You could always just use the headphones that came with it :-)

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Jun 06 - 06:06 AM

I am not alone

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 06 - 01:22 PM

Buy her another ipod, it could still be cheaper than option 1

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Jun 06 - 03:33 PM

Their are still some things we do together!

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: GUEST,Kenny B Sans Kuki
Date: 25 Jun 06 - 07:01 PM

I have recently purchased a radio/cd/sd/usb which is great for making up your own "listen to's" £99UK
Used the cd once to make sure it worked and have used the usb and sd ever since. The radio is good too but since I have all the music i like on a SD ie 125 tracks, who needs radio?
Emperors new clothes syndrom?

Subject: RE: Ipod to Car radio
From: Terry K
Date: 26 Jun 06 - 02:56 AM

I've had a nightmare trying to get a solution to this - it seemed so easy at first sight. I went the cassette converter route (several friends had had trouble with the transmitter system) but I get what radio buffs call "feedback" i.e. I get to hear changes in engine revs through the speakers.

So I investigated the plumbed in solution; they tried two different units but neither was suitable for my car. I am still waiting for the official factory approved model as it isn't available yet. When it is, I will have iPod readout through the car stereo system and automatic charging, but apparently will lose the CD autochanger function.

Terry