I have had nothing but problems with expensive and inexpensive FM Transmitters in the past. In my opinion, they're not worth the price or time you'll spend finding a clear signal every 15 minutes or so. However, I used to work for an electronics store, and I learned a lot about iPod accessories while working for the Nazi's at my local Best (and I use the term “Best” very loosely) Buy.
The only person who wasn’t full of $hit at my best buy was our installer for car audio, Floyd. In an act of complete racism, they hired a big black guy named Floyd to connect all systems, radios, screens, and DVD players into automobiles. Where it turns into NOT being racist, is the fact that he was d**n good at his job, and very informative/helpful. (Sorry about the racist bit, I just found it humorous. But don’t worry, I’m not racist! I love Michael Jackson!) (Yes, that was also meant to be a bit of a joke, but I will make it clear that I love Michael Jackson and always have had no problem admitting to it, even before he passed away.)
While working with Floyd, I learned that iPod Docking Stations are available for your automobile with very little effort to install. If you have a working cigarette lighter and or the means to power it via the car battery itself, it’s just as simple as hooking it into your aftermarket (or in today’s cars sometimes even market) CD Player. Mount it to your dash, in your glove box, under a seat, or even in my brothers case, in your trunk. Your best bet is to fill your iPod with all of your music, and dock it for good. My brother docked his 80 gig in his trunk, got a touch screen CD Player that is connected to it, and can literally play anything he wants through his truck without touching the iPod in the trunk whatsoever. I plan on doing this as well, as I have an iPhone and an 80 gig iPod that I no longer use. But the choice is up to you. But this is the best way to go for playing your iPod through your speakers in your car. It’s a full, crisp, clean sound that even an auxiliary cable can’t bring you. Docking it allows full power, while AUX cable can only put out so much wattage.
I hope you find my information helpful, but I will say that it is all up to you. I learned by trial and error, like a lot of people. Some things cost me money, some things didn’t, but along the way, your errors (like mine) might cost you some cash. But the docking stations are the best that I have found in my ventures into the automotive sound and stereo world.
P.S. While they’re were a few jokes in here, I wasn’t joking about the Nazi part and Best Buy. While in training, they are taught how to rip you off, and play word/mind games. They care about nothing but the SALE and MONEY. No, they do not work off commission, however they do get bonuses for meeting their sales goals every 3 months. TRUST ME! With these bonuses being quite large (I received an extra $500 check one quarter period), they will tell you any and everything to make you buy as much product as possible. They’re always forcing bundles on you just to make it that much more expensive. A lot of the product they say you NEED to do something, you really don’t. I don’t mean to go on and on about it, but I will say this in parting… They fired me for NOT lying to a customer and making the sale. Dead serious. They put on my termination papers “Customer Dissatisfaction”. AKA, I didn’t tell them what they wanted to hear to make the sale, and had no clue my manager was watching my every move with the sale.
Go into your local best buy and ask the sales rep in the home theatre department if the new shiny television you’re interested in will also give you a nightly hand job. You might get a chuckle and a “No sir” from them, but even as absurd as it sounds, they’re supposed to say yes to anything that might convince you to buy the TV.
Answered By: Nathan H - 4/3/2011 |