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Remote iPod

Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 11:00

Member - Norm C (QLD)

For some of you smart technical guys, this is old news, but was a revelation for me.
On our recent Kimberly trip, we missed playing music when off the bitumen. We were out of range to pick up radio a lot of the time and the corrugations prevented playing CDs.

We talked about checking out getting a plug of some sort so we could plug in the iPod and play music through the vehicle sound system from that. We have no such plug on the current system.

Well yesterday I saw the solution. For $50 to $70, you can buy a little transmitter that plugs into the iPod. Just tune it to an FM frequency that has nothing on it and then tune car radio to that frequency. What you play on the iPod is now heard through the car radio.

We'll have one before our next trip.
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Not so Grey Nomads. Now travelling this great land full time, towing our home behind us.
Norm C
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ThreadID: 38192 Replies: 8
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AnswerID: 197444   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 11:44

PatrolBen replied:

Out of interest, does this cable or is there another one which does the same thing but plugs into a laptop ???

Hope you had a good trip Norm, wish I was up the Kimberely!
Reply 1 of 8
FollowupID: 455952   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 12:58

Member - Cruiser (NSW) posted:

This is only one of many brands on the market, but it will give you an idea of how the work etc. Site Link

They are very simple to connect and run, and you can connect anything that uses a 3.5mm stereo plug. Some have USB ports as well so you can use a USB/Flash/MP3 device as well.

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FollowupID: 455953   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 13:40

Ray Bates posted:

I baught one off e-bay. Not a Belkin one. Load of crap. Finally filed it in the green wheely bin. I am going for a radio with a USB port and memery card. The i-pod look alike was ok if you want to use headphones
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 197463   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 13:59

Member - Norm C (QLD) replied:

The one I saw belonged to my son's girlfriend. Not sure of the brand. When she bought it, they had cheaper ones, but she was warned off them as they were said to have reception clarity problems.

We tried hers at home for 5 mins and it seemed fine, but based on the info so far here, I'll check out the brand and see if I can give it a longer trial in the 4B.
New 70 Series and Kedron Van Oh What a Feeling
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Not so Grey Nomads. Now travelling this great land full time, towing our home behind us.
Norm C
Reply 2 of 8
AnswerID: 197464   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 14:04

Shaker replied:

I just fitted a Radio/CD that allows me to just plug in a USB Flash Drive, MP3 Player or SD card in to ports in the front ....... works very well.
Reply 3 of 8
FollowupID: 456022   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 22:01

Member - Doug T (W.A) posted:

Well bugger it
I was going to ask what brand you got but because your on my IGNORE list I won't be able too ask you if you gat a JVC like mine so I'll give it a miss.....

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FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 456093   Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 10:50

Shaker posted:

As I am on your IGNORE list, unfortunately I won't be able to tell you that I got mine for $129.00 from Aldi & am very happy with it, it has USB Port & SD Card slots.
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 197465   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 14:31

John R (SA) replied:

If you're after a transmitter for an ipod, this one works a treat: Site Link

It keeps the ipod charged, I've never had any problems with transmission fading in and out (often do with the cheap jobbies) and it clips into the bottom of the ipod, so the connection does not rattle out. I've tried half a dozen (inclding the 3.5mm earphone jack ones), and I think this is the best I've used. It does not get moved about much though.

This one does not clip in. Very annoying. Not good for off road use!
Site Link

(I'll learn how to do those links for next time!)
Reply 4 of 8
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AnswerID: 197488   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 19:07

Member - Norm C (QLD) replied:

Well I've done a bit more researc on these things. There are (88 to 108MHz)and it's own Lithium battery.
Other models draw power from the iPod, which is both good and bad and some have just 4 preset frequencies.

I've looked at a couple of other forums that seem to focus on this sort of stuff a bit more and the two that get the most positive comment are the Cygnett Groove Ride and the Griffin iTrip Auto that John R recommended.

Looks like I'll get one of them.

New 70 Series and Kedron Van Oh What a Feeling
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Not so Grey Nomads. Now travelling this great land full time, towing our home behind us.
Norm C
Reply 5 of 8
AnswerID: 197532   Submitted: Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 22:11

RustyHelen replied:

Hi Norm
We bought our Ipod this year for our 3 month trip, mostly out of radio range. Got sick of carrying/trying to find/damaging CD's. Also purchased a Kensington transmitter unit at (about) $90. You can get cheaper but all my research showed this unit was "best" and Apple sell them along with their own and a couple of others.
Our verdict??
Could become the most useful, non life preserving, gadget in the set up.
We copied audio books as well as music so had a variety of listening choices. The audio books were fantastic for long boring stretches of bitumen like parts of the Eyre highway. We also carry a short wave radio for the news fix occasionally so we have music when we want it while camped without running the risk of flatening the car battery. Of course in a populated camp the volume is way down low.....
We can't speak highly enough of the set up. I know a direct connection to radio is a better option but our ears accept the quality we get.
Rusty
Reply 6 of 8
AnswerID: 197679   Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006 at 20:33

Bros 1 replied:

Norm C,
Got one of those thingos Norm, called an FM modulator. Plugs into ciggy socket for power. Plays off MP3 thingo via cord. Plays off memory stick via USB socket. On mine will only play MP3 format music. Play mine on 87.7.
Cheers,
Bros.

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Reply 7 of 8
AnswerID: 197839   Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006 at 19:18

Grandpa joe replied:

G'day Norm,
If you have a tape deck, you can use an adapter that has a 3.5 audio plug on one end and a tape that you can shove in the deck on the other.
Approx $12 bucks from most dick Smiths or Jaycar etc
This method is better sound than using frequency modulation type transmitters, as there is no possible inteference and no other batteries or power consumption involved.
A new deck with a direct audio auxiliary input on the front is even better as the deck's amplifier receives a full digital audio signal which equals better sound.
Reply 8 of 8