[rant]
There has got to be some stronger transmitters out there because I like to listen to a local public radio station that broadcasts on 88.7. Granted, the recetion is a little weak, but it's mostly talk shows anyway. Every other day, I either pass someone or someone going by is transmitting on 88.7 (which I think is the default channel for most transmitters). It's extremely annoying. Their signal is strong enough to transmit over 2 lanes of traffic and totally obliterate the signal I'm listening to! I wish those transmitters would find a clear channel for you so I wouldn't have to hear other people's music and interrupt my shows! It's so annoying. So if theirs is transmitting such a strong signal, maybe you just need a better transmitter. They've got to be out there because I hear them all the time.

I listen to my iPod, but I do so through a tape adapter. Quality's not great, but neither is my car stereo, and again, I listen to spoken podcasts, not music (usually). I wish car stereos would come with an audio input jack by default without having to buy a kit.
[/rant]

:)

[ Reply to This | # ]

I use a tape adapter, and I find the quality excellent. It's the tape adapter that came with my Philips portable CD player about 6-8 years ago. Poor thing hasn't been used in years, but the tape adapter gets used every few days. Love it. I can plug in my iPod, my smaller i-bead, or anything that has a 1/8" stereo out. If I were shopping for a car audio system, I'd get one with a 1/8" stereo input jack on the front, so I could plug directly from pods to dashboard. Maybe next time.

I like to listen to FM stations at the low, left end of the range, too, so I wouldn't even consider a retransmitter.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Keep in mind that transmitter strength is restricted by FCC regulations; as it is, a number of popular FM transmitters for the iPod are under investigation for putting out signals that are too powerful.

(It's also worth nothing that a cassette adapter will generally offer better sound quality than even the best FM transmitter, so you shouldn't feel back about "settling" for an adapter ;-) )

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Dan Frakes / Senior Editor, Macworld / Senior Reviews Editor, Playlist

[ Reply to This | # ]