I have a mp3 player, and I was looking around at the FM transmittors for them, so i can play it through my truck's speakers. I bought the Belkin one, (which had a 5 star rating), and it sucks. In about 90% of the places I go, it is really statticy. I have tried almost every available station, yet no luck. I am going to return it, and was wondering if any of you have one that you think will be better. (i also want it to come with a plug for the cigarette lighter). Thanks.

~..Josh.

 

I bought the Belkin too, with the same results, so I'd like to see what you come up with...

 

heh, the belkin is packaged up, ready for return.

 

It costs more, but I got a cheap head unit with an input plug in. Then I just plus in my MP3 through its headphone jack. Even made an insert to fit in the hole left by switching out my factory head unit. Flat black primer matches the interior perfectly!

 

Pretty much all FM modulators suck ***. Your best bet is to somehow hard wire it to your radio. Then it will sounds as if you were listening to CDs.

 

Hrmmm.....good idea, thx.

~..Josh.

 

Well, new head unit isn't an option here. If I want to listen to MP3's in my car I just burn them to a CD. I usually take the MP3 player/FM modulator on trips in my GF's car or other people's car, so I'm still curious if there's anything out there that works somewhat decent. I recently put a Sirius reciever in the GF's car with a wireless FM modulator built in, and it sounds great, but also can work on any frequency, where-as the Belkin will only work on 4...

 

I had the Belkin at first too.... the only way I could get a clear signal was if I was in an area without a close station (hard to find around here) and was physically touching some part of the modulator.... As long as I was touching it, I got great reception. At all other times it was a little fuzzy.

I have yet to find one that works well. Still searching.....

-Joe

 

Go all out and get a P.I.E. aux adapter....it will be well worth it!!!!

(check out the P.I.E. thread in 2004-2006)

 

Man, that looks awesome, kinda involved though. Thanks

~..Josh.

 

I'm a little confused.... I surfed their site a bit and couldn't quite figure it out...

I have a '00.... which unit would I need to use a simple MP3 player on it? (i.e. anything BUT an IPod)

I have the factory single-disc in-dash with changer controls in it. I suspect that if it's a simple line-in I won't be able to control the music selection from the dash, correct?

Aside from that, the units they sell look pretty neat!

 

I'm not real familiar with stock Ford radios from 97 to 03, but the PIE that stahlm refered to utilizes the AUX channel in the 2004's. You might check out the PIE website and research if they have something for your year. You may or may not have the AUX option with those radios, again I don't know.

The PIE is not Ipod specific, it will work with any input as long as you have an RCA cable or mini-jack from the said MP3 player. Now that will only give you the signal transmission for sound only, no controls.

I have also seen adapters for the CD changer input for aftermarket radios to incorportate either the RCA cables or the mini-stereo jack. Don't know if they are available for stock radio controls, I would assume that they are out there.

Hope that helps.

 

After browsing the PIE web site a little more, I think I need to contact them to be sure I get the correct one....

They also make one that IS IPod-specific that allows you to control the IPod through the OEM Head Unit or the Steering wheel controls on the '95-'05 models as long as you have the controls for the CD Changer in the head unit.... basically it takes the place of the 6-disc changer as far as I can tell.

They've got a pretty extensive selection... I'll definately have to look into it a little more....

-Joe