I was looking at those things you plug cd players, memory sticks, etc... into and they broadcast it into your car radio. I've also heard that some satellite radio devices work this way. My new truck is a base model with just an AM/FM and I don't want to change out the radio (not at this point anyway). Do any of you have experience with these? Are they any good?

1/11/2006 9:55:05 PM

wow not even a tape player? I would go ahead and shell out for a new stereo in this case...

but if you absolutely must, I guess FM modulator's the easiest way to do it.

1/11/2006 9:57:17 PM

I'm cheap, so I bought the work truck model. The radio is the only thing I don't like about it, but I figure for right now I'd rather just buy the 30 dollar modulator if they work well. Since it's a new truck, I don't want to put a cheap radio in it just to have to replace it in a few years.

1/11/2006 9:59:48 PM

ive never seen one that worked well

1/11/2006 10:21:06 PM

They work, just need to find one of the stations on the unit that you can tune to that stays relatively weak anywhere you go.

On a side note, I have an iRock transmitter that I wired to a 12V cord to avoid batteries in it. I got a new headunit and would sell this if you're interested. PM me

1/11/2006 11:06:33 PM

if you're willing to shell out 30 bux why not spend like 100 and get a decent head unit that'll play cds? get one of the ones from best buy that someone opened and returned. you get a good discount, and you'll be able to play cds. just my opinion i guess

1/11/2006 11:08:48 PM

The F-350 Duly Diesel service truck we bought for our electrical business obviously doesn't come with a stereo, so we picked up a radio/cd player unit from best buy for pretty cheap and replaced the unit that came in it. Work trucks don't have the options others do, so you just have to make yourself save up if you would like to make the work worth your while in solving the problem...

1/11/2006 11:23:46 PM

Quote :

"I don't want to change out the radio (not at this point anyway)."

I think he knows that he can install a cheap CD player.

1/12/2006 12:05:17 AM

I use the built in FM transmitter on my XM Radio. It works, but you have to find a good frequency. Also, most of the people yapping about sound quality are just full of shit. When you're driving, the ambient noise is going to corrupt the quality anyway, and FM isn't that bad.

1/12/2006 1:58:51 AM

Yea my Roady2 has an FM modulator I use in my truck driving back and forth to work. With the shit factory speakers my Ranger has, I'm not missing anything in sound quality by not having it hardwired to the head unit. Yes, I can tell a difference though between that and the XM unit in my Camaro which is hardwired directly to the head unit. But I also have the loaded out with nice speakers and shit too. So I really would not worry about wiring a base model truck that your not upgrading the speakers in or anything, just set that fucking modulator to a fairly dead frequency and let it ride. I can't tell a difference for the most part.

1/12/2006 6:49:59 AM

The Queen, The Vatican, The Gettys, The Rothschilds, *and* Colonel Sanders before he went heads up.

1/12/2006 2:04:30 PM

Ihate the colnel with his wee beady eyes.

1/12/2006 2:28:47 PM

If you're talking about those FM transmitter, then don't buy them. I have the Belkin one and it sucks, always get interference.

1/12/2006 3:37:53 PM

I've got the Monster brand FM mod/charger for my iPod, and it works pretty damn well. I got it mostly for wakeboarding out on the boat, but it works well in the truck too. If you do decide to use an FM mod, then the quality (size) of your files is most important. So if you're ripping music from a CD, save it at a medium to high quality, it takes up more space, but will sound much better through the FM Mod.

1/12/2006 4:03:03 PM

I have the belkin transmitter, and I haven't had any problems, the reception isn't perfect, but since the aux port on my HU doesn't work anymore, it gets the job done quite well.

1/12/2006 5:23:31 PM

I think I'll try one of the inexpensive brands and see how it works. If it doesn't, I won't be out much

1/12/2006 9:37:56 PM

my fucking tape player in my car wont work anymore
prolly cuz i havent used it in forever
someone help me fix it plz!!!!
so i can use my ipod with my tape thing and not have to buy a shitty fm modulator

[Edited on January 12, 2006 at 9:59 PM. Reason : ]

1/12/2006 9:54:55 PM

The Monster brand isn't shitty, and it's a charger too. They're listed for like $80-100, but my wife found a deal for one for like 40 or 50. Maybe I'm just lucky, I dunno.

The problem w/ your tape player... have you tried head cleaner?

1/13/2006 9:05:21 AM

The performance depends on how well insulated your cars electrical system is. I have one that works great in american cars, but everytime i put in it my honda picks up awful electrical noise from the ignition system. Also, if you plug it in on the same circuit as a cell phone charger, you pick up additional noise.

1/13/2006 10:03:48 AM

i havent tried a head cleaner or anything yet it makes an awful scraping sound when i first put in a tape
im going to look at it today after class.

if i cant get it to work ill look into that monster brand fo sho!

[Edited on January 13, 2006 at 10:15 AM. Reason : ]

1/13/2006 10:14:49 AM