FM transmitter for laptops?

[kimchicowboy]

i was just curious if there was anything like the iTrip (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/) for laptops via USB or whatever. i don't have a tape player in my car to use the old tape adapters we used to use with discmans. if i'm driving long distances (like to LA, which is a good 5 hour drive), i can have my laptop's mp3 collection playing the whole time and the battery should last that long as well.

thanks! :)

[CynJon]

I'm not aware of any that use USB, but any of the ones that plug into the headphone jack should work for you...

I use this (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=&pcount=&Product_Id=140984) and I've got no complaints... :)

[Devhux]

I use the TuneCast II (Belkin) and it works great. As with CynJon's Tunecast, mine plugs directly into the headphone port, but the TCII has the benefit of selecting any FM frequency (the original Tunecast let you select only from 4 stations).

As for relying on your laptop's battery, why don't you get a power inverter?

[kimchicowboy]

sweet. just what i was looking for.

now, my antenna's broken. well, i got bent after i attached a balloon to it and the wind caused the antenna to bend. so i just took out the antenna since i hardly listen to the radio. would my CD deck still pick up the signal?

[irwin]

Belkin TuneCast Mobile FM Transmitter $3.40 with free shipping at Tweeter

http://www.tweeter.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1434046

as of 6:50 pm pst

[GilbertsGrape]

Belkin TuneCast Mobile FM Transmitter $3.40 with free shipping at Tweeter

http://www.tweeter.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1434046

as of 6:50 pm pst


Sweet Thank you so much .... it is on back order i hope i still get it

[kimchicowboy]

Belkin TuneCast Mobile FM Transmitter $3.40 with free shipping at Tweeter

http://www.tweeter.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1434046

as of 6:50 pm pst
yeah, i saw this deal earlier. but can anyone still tell me if it'll work if i don't have an antenna? :)

[AlpineJay]

What's the make and model of your vehicle? You could possibly just put in a $20 new antenna mast if you were able to pull out the entire antenna including the teeth.

Anyway from what I know about most car radios I would assume that the sound quality is going to be significantly degraded in the absence of an antenna.

[CynJon]

yeah, i saw this deal earlier. but can anyone still tell me if it'll work if i don't have an antenna? :)

It'll probably work but you may get static or an inconsistent signal. You could always try a hard-wired FM Modulator, like this one (http://www.mp3playerstore.com/stuff_you_need/accessories/FM-02.htm) which is designed to be installed in-line on your antenna wire (antenna wire plugs into unit, unit plugs into stereo head-unit). You'd have some additional wiring to do (it needs power and ground), but this is the same setup that built-in DVD systems use. You'd need a miniplug (headphone jack) to RCA adapter.

I installed one of these in our old van and it works great. Like the post above mentions, however, you only have 4 frequencies to choose from so if you're in a "busy" area, you may have trouble finding one that is unused.

[kimchicowboy]

cool. thanks for the info guys.