ipods and car radio

Shadow WarChief · Post by **Shadow WarChief** » 2006-01-01 05:27pm

So I got an ipod for Christmas and I was curious about a feature I'd thought I'd seen other people using.

I'm pretty sure I once saw one of my friends play their ipod on the car radio. They set the radio to a station that had nothing but static, then did something to their ipod and then their music came clearly through the car speakers.

So, how do I do this on my own? Do I need additional hardware that I didn't see my friend using, or am I completely demented and you can't do this with an ipod and only some other kind of mp3 player?

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2006-01-01 05:27pm

you need a piece of hardware, its illegal in some countries and i can't for the life of me remember what its called...

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2006-01-01 05:42pm

You're looking for the Griffin iTrip
The problem with all of these devices is that the quality is that of an FM radio, in other words not very good.
If you can swing the cash, you're better off replacing your current car stereo head unit with one that has an input jack that's specifically meant for use with portable players like the iPod.
If not, or if you need to move it among several vehicles, then the iTrip is certainly fine for that, just be aware that it's FM radio quality and not near-CD quality sound.

Boyish-Tigerlilly · Post by **Boyish-Tigerlilly** » 2006-01-01 05:42pm

You can do it, yes. I just bought the attatchment for it. It connects to the top of my Ipod and runs through the radio. I saw one of my friends had it, so I had to be trendy and go out and purchase it

It's not terrible expensive, and I don't think it's illegal in New Jersey, anyway. I see so many people have it, and they sell it here. It wouldn't make much sense to sell it at the store for that purpouse, but then again, I could be wrong and it could just not make sense.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2006-01-01 05:49pm

You either need a short range transmitter that plugs into the iPod, or a cradle that the iPod plugs in to that connects to your head unit. Some models of the latter will allow you to control the stereo from the iPod controls.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2006-01-01 06:42pm

If you have a tape deck, just get one of those cassets with a stereo input.

Post by **Dalton** » 2006-01-01 07:39pm

If you get the iTrip the trick is to find a station that will be reliably static-filled, which is quite difficult around New York City.

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2006-01-01 07:58pm

Zac Naloen wrote:you need a piece of hardware, its illegal in some countries and i can't for the life of me remember what its called...

How the heck is that illegal in some countries? What's the rationale for that? O_o

[edit] I posted that before I actually clicked the link, and saw that that thing needs to actually transmit radio waves in order to function. May I say, what the hell? Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just use that cassette-thingy?[/edit]

Post by **Dalton** » 2006-01-01 08:19pm

Yeah, and the sound quality is much better. Regarding the iTrip, I don't think the range of the device is quite large enough to get FCC notice.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2006-01-01 08:31pm

Molyneux wrote: How the heck is that illegal in some countries? What's the rationale for that?

Just a guess, but its Proubabbly because you need a license in ordered to broadcast anything on the radio, unless you’re using a specifically designated frequency for its designated purpose, as in say HAM radio. Though the transmission power of these devices is so low, they aren’t likely to cause any interference, which could be why its not illegal everywhere.

A-Wing_Slash · Post by **A-Wing_Slash** » 2006-01-01 09:17pm

Dalton wrote:Regarding the iTrip, I don't think the range of the device is quite large enough to get FCC notice.

I'm pretty sure that the manual for mine had some disclaimer saying it complied with some regulation limiting its range to 30 feet or so.

The iTrip is just as mobile as the iPod, provides good enough sound quality if you pick the right station, and its too expessive, so its a good product.