iTrip question

[dante]

Happy New Year! I bought an iTrip to use my iPod wirelessly in the car instead of the casette adaptor that I've been using wired. I use the default 87.9 FM frequency but get a lot of noise unless I position the iPod in direct line of sight with the car antenna (which is not very practical).
To iTrip users, may I ask if you have encountered this problem? And if you have, do use a different frequency to achieve better results?
Thanks!
Dante

[Kelvin]

I heard from freelancer that some iTrip users even have to put their iPods at the back just to get the best sound out of it. I suggest that you have someone rewire your antenna to make it receive signals near the head unit / iPod.

I don't have an iTrip so I wouldn't know if changing frequencies will make a difference

[manilaman2001]

Dante, was in HK and visited NEW VISON, a MAC dealer. This was exactly why he discouraged me from getting these wireless solutions. This, not being the first time i have explored ipod-solution-for-the-car-use. Again, i looked into the ice-link and icruze wire solution. At USD 200 a pop, i would have to spend several hundreds of usd to get to use it in all my cars, hence loosing my fexibility to carry the ipod in any car. These permanent "wired" solutions does not allow quick dismantling, pretty much a permanent solution.

I ventured into the cassette option again.

I found out that there are several, about 6 brands available in his store. After trying out ALL in a friends car in the parking lot, without regret i got one, i recommend the MONSTER brand. Sound quality is good enought for me. I was worried, since i have read in one thread that this solution has been least recommended, well the wireless being the last. But in my opinion this is good, and it does its job.

http://www.monstercable.com/computer/productPageComputer.asp?pin=2182

Now the down side is, you'll have to deal with a wire sticking out of your cassette. And if you drive one of those cars that allow volume control from your steering wheel, then the ice-link and icruze would be the solution.

Now i can use the ipod in ALL my cars.

Tip: try hanging the ipod con itrip with a clip on the sun visor of your car, my friend has it there, and it works. try both sides......

[quicksilver]

Originally posted by dante
Happy New Year! I bought an iTrip to use my iPod wirelessly in the car instead of the casette adaptor that I've been using wired. I use the default 87.9 FM frequency but get a lot of noise unless I position the iPod in direct line of sight with the car antenna (which is not very practical).
To iTrip users, may I ask if you have encountered this problem? And if you have, do use a different frequency to achieve better results?
Thanks!
Dante

i've tried several other frequencies and different positions but i had to keep shifting the position of my iPod+iTrip to get good sound. after a week of using it, i gave up on using my iTrip in the car and got a casette adaptor instead.

[iVinchy]

So far my experience in using my iTrip is good, no reception problems in my car.. i just place it near the car radio or at times in the front passenger seat. Same goes when i use it on any radio fm player.

As for the frequency, i use 87.9 and experience some bad reception only when im near a radio station.

[Slacker]

Position the iPod to be near as possible to the car radio and make sure the iPod volume level is between 50-70% loudness. This was the main issue I had when I first started using it.

[zChris]

i used to use 88.0 and it was the best station for me. it worked exceedingly well late at night when there were no cars on the road and other radio stations had signed off for the day. i used to drive a civic and there was a pocket directly under the 1 DIN head unit which is where i placed the pod.

sound quality is still better when using the casette adaptor that i am using now but at the time all i had was a cd deck so my only option was an itrip.

[elbert]

There are two places in your car where you can obtain optimum reception from the itrip.

One is near the head unit, where you would be sneaking the signal straight into your car stereo (and not through the antenna). This is very possible and is less prone to interference.

The other is within visible range of your car's external antenna. Not easy to do, especially if the car's antenna is on the roof. It's also more susceptible to outside interference.

The iTrip's performance varies from car to car as well as from stereo to stereo. I know some people who swear by it and others who swear at it.

I've been able to compare the iTrip with the Monster iCarPlay Wireless. The latter works way better than the former (on various cars and stereos at that). Since you have a choice of eight stations, and line-out connection (instead of the headphone jack) and the facility for iPod charging, it's ideal. However, with this product, you're limited to car stereos only, because you need to plug it into a lighter socket for it to work (iTrip can be used on home stereos). Also, it's pricey at P5k a pop, but it's the best best iPod FM transmitter that I've tried.

If you can't get acceptable performance out of the iTrip in your car(s), I suggest you try to sell it and switch to the Monster iCarPlay Wireless instead (U2U me if you want a good price).

[Edited on 1-4-2005 by elbertc]

[freelancer]

I haven't had any problems with my iTrip. Works from the back, the frontseat, driver's seat. I use it on a Ford Lynx. Still on the default 87.9.

[pipoyg]

Using it in an Altis. No problems so far with 87.9. I position the ipod at :

1) the space right below the head unit
2) the space in the middle of the 2 seats at front

I also remember that you can download additional stations from the griffin website for your use if the default ones are giving you problems. Sound quality is good enough but not as clear as a direct connection.