There are a lot of different types of transmitters available for car audio system, each differs in performance and quality.

One is the iPod FM transmitter which uses an empty radio station in your location to play the iPod. Then it transmits the music from the iPod to your car radio in full stereo sound. The actual quality of the audio being played through the transmitter is generally quite good.

Second Most genuine products such as Griffin iTrip FM transmitter offer audio equivalent to a good radio station. Firstly select a signal which is clear of any radio stations, this will reduce the amount of interference heard, secondly if your frequency picks up any in the future simple change frequency. The Griffin iTrip Fm Transmitter for example has 3 pre-set frequencies to change to if you do happen to receive quality issues with the current settings.

A small saying that my granddad used to say to me "you get what you pay for" generally rings true in all walks of life. If you buy a cheap transmitter you should expect the performance to be poorer than other kits, from our experience the griffin tend to offer the best all round performance in the iPod FM Transmitter world.

Technology is continually improving, The design of the iPhone 4 is a perfect example of this. Although it has a few teething problems the improvements in terms of hardware is much greater that the previous iPhone 3GS. It was only a matter of time before manufacturers of iPod car kits & Fm Transmitters developed better ways of offering more from their products.

A prime example of the improvements being made to iPod FM Transmitters is the effort Griffin made creating an Apple App for the sole use with their products. Multiple Griffin products support the new App which allows the frequencies to be changed from the iPhone & iPod Touch. This doesn’t sound too great! However the App means you can took away the connection to the FM transmitter only leaving the iPod wire exposed. Frequencies can be changed at the touch of a button rather than going through the device its self. A much safer way of changing if your driving alone.

Although there are no major hardware improvements that will alter or improve the performance of Griffin products. The software upgrades indicate the products are continually improving and moving with the times, making usability & functionality much easier for all users.

This is another small reason the Griffin brand have the best selling iPod FM transmitters globally.

There are a lot of different types of transmitters available to purchase, each differs in performance and quality. As with everything else in life you get the good and the bad. The problem with transmitters is that the bad are very bad and give the other products a poor reputation on the back of theirs.

FM Transmitters by nature are designed with a slight fault, in that they are prone to interference from other signal frequencies. This can manifest in two ways either the transmitter signal is blocked because the other signal is stronger or interference is received over either audio playback, resulting in echo, buzz or both.

The actual quality of the audio being played through the transmitter is generally quite good. Most genuine products such as Griffin iPod fm transmitters , dexim and or logic3 offer audio equivalent to a good radio station (radio 1 for example) however its generally expected if you use a frequency close to a powerful local or national station you will receive a little interference at some point during connection.

The solution to this problem however is simple. Firstly select a signal which is clear of any radio stations, this will reduce the amount of interference heard, secondly if your frequency picks up any in the future simple change frequency. The Griffin iTrip Fm Transmitter for example has 3 pre-set frequency’s to change to if you do happen to receive quality issues with the current settings.

FM Transmitters are a good solution if you only want a simple iPod input in your car, If for example you don’t need an integrated kit that offers full digital quality, iPod control and text display the Transmitter could be the kit for you.

A small saying that my granddad used to say to me “you get what you pay for” generally rings true in all walks of life. If you buy a cheap transmitter you should expect the performance to be poorer than other kits, from our experience the griffin tend to offer the best all round performance in the iPod Fm Transmitter world.

Its an interesting question considering the general reputation gathered by FM Transmitters over the past few years. The quality of Fm transmitters are undoubtedly poorer than the hard wired equivalent, but too what extend is the quality sacrificed and how does represent to value for money?

The problem with the question is that it is very general, Which FM Transmitters are we talking about and what indicates “good value”. You can get an fm transmitter from £10 to £20 ranging to £60+, Obviously this has an effect on the quality of the product and subsequently the value for money.

How do we define good value for money?

Personally I would define “value” as representing a similar or better standard than you are currently experiencing. Whether that be Radio 1 Broadcast in the UK, Digital Radio in the US or another quality broadcast signal.

With that in mind, which FM transmitters are best value for money and does that represent value for money in general?

Based on quality there several types of iPod FM Transmitters, Griffin have several available which offer good quality one of which is the Griffin iTrip FM, Dexim again offer’s a consistent performance and logic3 offer good performance for the cheaper end of the market. It Is important to remember that you are likely to experience a poorer performance if you live or use the transmitter in an area of high Signal broadcasts E.g Larger cities like London.

Based on our tests the griffin transmitters performed better in built up areas than all the other kits, generally speaking the Griffin option is more a little more expensive. This indicates to me a better value for money when deciding which kit to choose.

Do iPod FM Transmitters offer good value for Car Audio?

In My opinion iPod FM Transmittes do have a place in the market of Car Audio systems. It is correct you can get better quality systems which integrate in to the stereo offering more and performing better. However if you want a simple system providing a decent performance, YES I would seriously look at FM Transmitters as an option for playing music from your iPod in your car

If you don’t want a fully integrated iPod car kit with steering wheel controls and text display, and your not interested in the Dension FM Modulator kit for increased sound quality and charging. Your next best option is the Griffin FM Transmitter range, either the iTrip FM transmitter or the Roadtrip FM Transmitter.

Both are now available with smart-scan mode, which is a device that automatically scans through available frequencies and picks three with the lease interference. This system allows you to pre-set three frequencies in your stereo, so switching between them is easy when or if you hit an area with a high signal in the frequency your using. Push the Next button and select the appropriate button the stereo and you’ll begin on the new channel.

Do People experience Problems with Audio Quality of FM Transmitters?

There is a general consensus that the quality of audio produced by the FM transmitters are poor, this is actually false in most cases. Obviously certain kits do perform worse than others, as the audio played through the stereo depends on the quality being broadcast from the kit and received by the stereo. If the kits broadcasts a poor strength signal or there is another signal with greater strength than the kit, the quality is going to be decreased. The key is to select a frequency with no or minimal other broadcasts and the transmitter will work well.

Previously charging iPod / iPhones from a FM transmitter was very difficult, it required an alternative device to connect in to the Cigarette lighter port which then connected into iPod, meaning the FM transmitter had to work on the AUX (head phones socket). The new griffin products come with the same connection however as its an all in one kit so the iPod / iPhone connects into the griffin via the docking cable.

FM Transmitter with the Dension Unimount.

The advantage of using the Unimount with a transmitter is it holds the device in a usable position when driving. Making selecting albums, artists and tracks much more simple and convenient as you are unable to cycle the tracks from the stereo or steering wheel controls.

What did we do before the invention of the iPod? Its like Mobile phone, how did we communicate before we had these? Back in the dark ages (10 years ago) we had to play music on tape and had to be at home to make a phone call. Just like most things in these times, we want everything on demand. Instant Music, Instant TV, Instantly contactable. Well the good news is Music is now just that, even in your car.

Digital Media Vs Radio, which do you prefer? Your own choice of music, albums and play-lists available for you to browse through at any point or tuning in to a radio broadcast and listening to the DJ. Not always, but usually making an anecdote about a story that really isn’t worth listening to, and playing a predetermined play-list dependant on weekly budgets rather than playing good music. Most people choose playing music from their iPod. Or at least have the choice to do so.

Your Music is available on your iPod when ever you want it, and presumably you like all the music tracks you have on there? Otherwise they wouldn’t be there right! Well combine the music you love and with the iPod car kit and you have the perfect solution for the long and tedious drives when your usually either reduced to tears or subject to road-rage before the end of the journey. I’m not saying that these are a miracle cure for road-rage but they may help reduce stress a little?

When Wanting Music in your vehicle the most convenient and easiest way of doing so is usually an FM Transmitter. Its a simple process to get music playing, which usually entails taking it out the box, setting a frequency and pressing play on your iPod (The process couldn’t be simpler). Music is played through the stereo via an FM frequency, providing the frequency isn’t used often you’ll receive a good quality audio signal through stereo and subsequently the speakers.

So you have weighed up your options, realised you want access to more music when driving and decided you want to listen to your iPod / iPhone in your car as pretty much everybody with an ipod does. All you have to do now is decide how you want to connect it.

There are a variety of ways to connect your iPhone / iPod into your vehicle. From a simple AUX input into a 3.5mm jack to a fully integrated iPod car kit connecting into the CD changer port and numerous kits in between.

However one of the most popular kits available on the market are FM Transmitters, this is mainly down to two reasons. Firstly the price, secondly the ease of use. However there are other advantages of using an FM transmitter over other kits available for your vehicle.

If you want access to music in all the vehicles you use, the FM Transmitter is the kit for you, it isn’t physically attached or integrated into your car, this means you can take out and use in any car you drive or are driven in. It might be your Wife’s, Friends or other family members. What ever car your driving it you can swap and change as suits. This is obviously a benefit over other kits as it increase ’s the usability.

The other major advantage of the FM Transmitter is the compatibility. Hardwired kits usually have a complex compatibility list of vehicles and stereos. FM Transmitters do not have any compatibility with stereos (as long as has an aerial input). Just select an unused frequency match the stereo frequency and press play. Simplez.

The problem is, which Transmitter to choose from, there are loads of different types and brands offering FM Transmitters. However Griffin and Dexim are the market leaders and offer better quality over other FM kits. The Griffin iTrip FM transmitter is one of our favourites as it combines good value for money ans usability.

There are a lot of different mp3 players on the market today, but Apple are the leaders of the market with the numerous variations of the iPod. Initially the iPod was successful due to its styling and functions, however the current rise of popularity is also down to other factors including additional accessories and add-ons to the ipod to make it more functional and or usable.

The iPod’s primary use is for music play back, Although current iPod and iPhones are capable of so much more. Accessories that increase the functionality of the iPod are now seen as a business in there own right. A perfect example of an iPod accessory is the iPod car adaptor. Its primary function is to allow you to listen to your music while in your car. This has obvious advantages over other forms of entertainment systems in your vehicle, first and foremost you can listen to the music you love rather than what happens to be on the radio at the time, secondly the quality is far superior to the radio as they provide a digital connections into the cars entertainment systems. There are many other advantages depending on which kit you choose to purchase. However these advantages largely depend on your vehicle.

Other iPod car accessories can be found in a lot of local or online stores and include simple charging cables from the cigarette lighter, Ideal for when your iPod loses battery charge, FM transmitters, a more basic version of the Digital iPod car kit. The quality can be poor on Transmitters so its important to choose a good brand and if you live in a built up area its likely you wont receive a good reception. Ipod cases aren’t specific to car accessories however they can and will stop your iPod from being damaged while left in your vehicle.

Ipod car accessories can provide a useful extension to your iPods functions, Its likely that you love to listen to music. Driving is the perfect opportunity to cycle through track’s you haven’t heard for a while. The iPod car adaptor is the perfect means of doing so.

If (like many of our iPod Car Kit customer) there isnt a fully integrated kit for your vehicle then previously your outlook was bleek. You had to settle for a poor transmittion system which sent your iPods audio signal via airwaves to your car stereo. This method is very basic and simply asking for nearby radio stations to use their stronger signals to interfere with your iPod Car Kit. The result of this was very pooe quality audio – if any at all!

The answer came around a year or two ago when Dension decided to make their first HARD-WIRED FM kit. It worked by sending the iPods audio via a wire, insterad of through airwaves. This was a huge success and improved the quality of audio no end.

Since then, a few brands have jumped onboard using the same design but evolving it slightly. Dension made a second version called the Dension Ice Link One which had a clever auto-switch inside the unit which electronically unplugged the cars aerial when the iPod was playing and when the iPod stopped playing it would reconnect the aerial. This would make interference impossible.

Dice Electronics came next with their Dice FM-RDS, promising to revolutionize the universal iPod Car Kit. They had been developing a system which uses the same base model as the Dension but took advantage of the radios ability to display RDS information. Dice Electronics adapter their kit to allow the iPods Track Information (ID3 Tagging) to be sent through to the cars display! What a great idea!

Connects 2 have delved back into the fold now with the Connects2 iPlug-RDS TX MK2. They have evolved the Dice Electronics kit even further by creating a similar kit which has all the great features but also includes a remote control! This allows you to skip tracks from the device instead of from the iPod! Not only have Connects2 managed to create such a cracking peice of kit, they have also managed to roll it out at a cracking price! Coming in at only £110 RRP (iPod Car Kit Direct Price – £79.97) it stands to compete with the Dension Ice Link One and the Dice FM-RDS kits all the way!

We have been hitting stumbling blocks recently with misconceived ideas about FM Modulation when connecting an Apple iPod into your vehicle. Understandably, people get confused between Modulation and Transmission. We are here to set the record straight as these thoughts couldn’t be further from the truth.

Here are a few questions that we get asked and our answers:

Will I receive interference?

Absolutely not, no. There are a number of features that make sure this isn’t possible with Modulation;

·         It doesn’t transmit through airwaves as it is fully hard wired so radio stations signals cannot be received by your iPods signal.

·         As it’s fully hard-wired, the iPods signal is being sent down a wire, just like you would expect from an Auxiliary wire or a CD Changer wire.

·         The Modulator kits have a electrical "on/off" switch which physically block out your cars aerial when the iPod is connected to the kit, meaning that your aerial isn’t even connected.

Does it charge the iPod?

It does indeed. All the iPods will receive a full charge from the iPod car kit.

How hard is it to install?

Installation takes about 30 minutes at the maximum. The kit just needs to plug in to the rear of the stereo, it’s that simple.

How good will the audio quality be?

This will be similar to what you would expect from DAB, very close to CD Quality. On 99.9% of installations, you won’t be able to tell the difference between the iPod and your CDs, especially when you take into account the road noise coming from the car.

Why can’t I have a fully integrated kit like the Dension Gateway devices or the Dice Electronics Car Kits?

There are a few things that might stop you being able to use a fully integrated kit:

·         Your stereo doesn’t have a CD Changer port, therefore not being able to connect into the cars stereo

·         Your stereo simply isn’t good enough, this could be due to the lack of processing speed, the lack of software support or even because it is too advanced!

·         You just might not want to spend the amount of money that a fully integrated car kit costs

Are there any advantages of having a Modulator over an integrated kit?

There are a few, yes. Firstly the price, the Universal Modulator kits from Dension and Dice come in at £69.97 and £79.97 respectively. This can be a saving of around £40 over a fully integrated iPod Car Kit. Secondly, the kits come as standard with the iPod connection, unlike the integrated kits where you have to add the cable or cradle into the kit. Thirdly, the installation can be easier; it could save you an hour of labor!

We hope this might clear a few things up for you guys, if not then you are more than welcome to contact us at anytime.