iTrip vs. cassette adaptor

ionapaul · 10-08-2005 10:40am #1

Just got myself a new car, with a radio / cassette head unit rather than a CD player. Want to listen to my iPod tunes on the go. Which is the best option, this iTrip type solution:
http://www.everythingipod.co.uk/item--Pod-Gear-Cardock-FM--podgearcardockFM.html
or an iPod cassette adaptor and car charger kit.
The costs of both solutions are similar.

Thanks for any advice

Makaveli · 10-08-2005 12:38pm

I'd go with the cassette adaptor.
iTrip results are flakey at best. Sometimes it would work well and other times it just won't pick up the frequency at all. Also in Dublin there is far too much interference and the iTrip just isn't powerful enough.

ubu · 10-08-2005 12:43pm

The only advantage the itrip has is that it's wireless, apart from that the sound quality between both is ok, the cassette adapter more consistent, the itrip can work fine and it can be dodgy it's less reliable.

daveirl · 10-08-2005 2:10pm

This post has been deleted.

long_b · 10-08-2005 2:36pm

Don't go with an "iPod" cassette adaptor - there's nothing special about them. They all use a standard headphone jack. Peats do a reliable one for 10 euros.

Random · 10-08-2005 4:14pm

But the IPOD ones are WHITE long_b

Yeh, don't buy the official IPOD branded ones, they are the exact same as the other ones with a half-eaten apple on them.

Goto Peats or Maplin or somewhere .....

Inspector Gadget · 10-08-2005 4:30pm

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

The Tunecast II's aren't that fantastic either; the power output is crap, and they eat AAA's if you don't power them from the lighter socket... and if you do power them that way, they "forget" their tuned presets if there's even a momentary interruption to the power supply (even if there are batteries in it too)

Gadget

ubu · 10-08-2005 8:37pm

so which one is the best fm transmitter out there?

Makaveli · 10-08-2005 8:57pm

Probably a DIY one.

Something like this maybe http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000083037741/ .

tman · 13-08-2005 9:14am

Anyone know of a good place to buy the Belkin Tunecast II?
how much would they usually cost new?
€40 on ebay once you take postal insurance and p&p into account seems a little steep...

Inspector Gadget · 13-08-2005 5:35pm

I'm afraid I don't. However, unlicensed FM transmitters (irrespective of power output) are illegal in this country, I'm told, possibly even in Europe as a whole, so I'm not sure where you'd get one.

Gadget

Rew · 13-08-2005 5:42pm

tman wrote:

Anyone know of a good place to buy the Belkin Tunecast II?
how much would they usually cost new?
€40 on ebay once you take postal insurance and p&p into account seems a little steep...

Unless u go to the US and buy one, EBay is your best bet, thats where I got mine. Be sure to buy one with a car power adapter as they munch through batteries.

CuppaCocoa · 15-08-2005 1:49pm

Bought my Belkin Tunecast from this guy on Ebay: 1olemule
Cost me $3.23 plus postage!

Inspector Gadget · 15-08-2005 2:18pm

lilybarlean wrote:

Bought my Belkin Tunecast from this guy on Ebay: 1olemule
Cost me $3.23 plus postage!

Is that a version I or II?

(AFAIK the version 1's are grey, and only do about five frequencies, whereas the version 2's are sort-of-white and do the full FM band in increments of 0.05 MHz...)

Gadget

CuppaCocoa · 16-08-2005 9:08am

Version 1. Picked up a station straight away.

ionapaul · 16-08-2005 10:32am

I ended up ordering a cassette adaptor plus iPod charger (via car lighter socket) from an English website. The sound quality is really excellent.

iTrip vs. cassette adaptor

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