iCarPlay Wireless Plus

[Cancer Man]

OK, my bro -- being the great guy that he is -- overspent on me big-time this Xmas and bought the iCarPlay Wireless Plus for iPod (in addition to a Best Buy gift card) for me.

I haven't opened it yet -- I think my car's cigarette-lighter has blown a fuse (or worse) and didn't want to crack the iCarPlay until I got it fixed. Since getting back to Dallas (from SA), I've gotten online and read a few reviews on the iCarPlay -- they're a little mixed. Some people love it (4- and 5-star ratings) some hate it (1-star). What gives?

Some of the reviews state that in big metropolitan areas, it's not that great and I live in DFW. What are my options? I've heard rumblings that you can get a relatively cheap attachment that goes into the back of your car stereo and eliminates the FM-transmitter needs but isn't available to "stock" stereos no matter how good they are (mine's quite good).

A little help ... ???

 

[SigPi_Horn]

I got a Belkin Tunecast to go with my Creative Zen Touch. It works pretty well in Dallas, if you put the transmitter on the dash. I don't know anything about the iCarplay, but the tunecast has settings for 4 frequencies (88.1, 88.3, 88.5 and 88.7).

 

[mdmost]

I bought the wife a Monster FM transmitter for her ipod. It has about 8 frequencies. The only one that is worth a damn in DFW is 89.1. The rest all bleed in. It is great on road trips but not so good in DFW. If you have a tape player, then get the tape adapter. Otherwise, you are gonna hear static when you play your ipod.

 

[origino]

just get the "itrip". i got one, works on any frequency. made for ipod, cant go wrong.

 

[Bottlecap]

First, you should know that there are no "great" FM transmitters on the market yet, but many servicable ones, particularly if you make decent sized road trips out in the middle of nowhere. All will have some sort of interference in the big cities, but i decided on the TuneCast II by Belkin because of the LCD screen, and the ability to change frequencies on my own. The iCarPlay FM Transmitter is pretty servicable from what i hear, as i am looking into getting a new FM transmitter for the LA road trip. I might get the new Belkin model, which is also a charger and a mount.

Read some more reviews about the iCarPlay FM Transmitter at iPodLounge, and about other FM transmitters near the bottom of the page.

 

[Cancer Man]

The iCarPlay is a charger as well, and it's the Plus edition -- which I think means you can scroll frequencies as opposed to just having six options in the 88's and 89's.

Anybody gone the direct connect route?

 

[Bottlecap]

well, i want to go the direct connect route, but you will have to have an aux imput on the back of your console. Mine doesnt come with that -- as far as i know, but i need to check for sure. i've heard reports of finished products for the direct connect, and heard its great quality, and it looks very sharp.

 

[jshorns03]

I used mine tonight for the first time in Dallas on 88.7, I think. It worked fine and sounded good. It's really a nice feature that it is a charger as well.

 

[suttree]

Get the tape converter. Putting it through the FM is not going to give you good sound. The tape ain't great, but it's better (and only costs $15.00).

 

[Bottlecap]

I just got the belkin tunebase FM transmitter and i'm pretty danged happy with it.