Okay, so as most of you have probably heard, we're moving the Paizo offices next week. That, among other things, means a longer commute for we Seattlites. To help contend with this, James has pretty much sold me on audible.com. The thing is that my bare-bones stereo does not have a line-in for my iPhone. So, I'm looking for a new one. Nothing fancy, nothing special, but I'm just looking for links to products that might be up my alley and advice on where to go or not to go to get it installed. I really don't want to bumble into Best Buys and spend a $100+ dummy tax for not shopping around. Soooo... Help!
Okay, so as most of you have probably heard, we're moving the Paizo offices next week. That, among other things, means a longer commute for we Seattlites. To help contend with this, James has pretty much sold me on audible.com. The thing is that my bare-bones stereo does not have a line-in for my iPhone. So, I'm looking for a new one. Nothing fancy, nothing special, but I'm just looking for links to products that might be up my alley and advice on where to go or not to go to get it installed. I really don't want to bumble into Best Buys and spend a $100+ dummy tax for not shopping around. Soooo... Help!
Are you sure the aux port isn't just hiding in a strange place? We bought my father an iPod toy (~$50) that let him charge the player and feed the music through the car speakers at the same time this year. Something like that should exist for the iPhone. I forget what it's called, but any Best Buy/Walmart/whatever should carry it. He took it in a rental out to your neck of the woods to start biking down the Pacific coast. We lost about ten minutes of setup before I thought to look in the compartment between the front seats. So he had his tunes all the way out.
Then he had a heart attack and we had an unplanned transcontinental trip, but that's a different story. Awful way to get one's first look at Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula.
Oh, my iPhone is well prepared to blast noises, my car stereo is simply not a thing that can accept them. I've tried the iTrip method, but the weakness of such devices coupled with the radio-unfriendly topography of this region causes radio stations to fade in and out. So yeah, I just need to know if anyone has had much success with cheap-ish car stereos that have a line-in port and/or where to shop without getting hosed.
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Oh, my iPhone is well prepared to blast noises, my car stereo is simply not a thing that can accept them. I've tried the iTrip method, but the weakness of such devices coupled with the radio-unfriendly topography of this region causes radio stations to fade in and out. So yeah, I just need to know if anyone has had much success with cheap-ish car stereos that have a line-in port and/or where to shop without getting hosed.
Your radio have a Tape deck or CD? If it has a Tape Deck you can always go the cheap option of getting something like this.
That is just an example of one, there are better ones.
That is just an example of one, there are better ones.
Yeah. Sadly my stereo is SO bare bones all it has is a clock and a radio tuner. No fancy 8 track player or tape deck for me. No no no.
I've tried the iTrip method, but the weakness of such devices coupled with the radio-unfriendly topography of this region causes radio stations to fade in and out.
I noticed that when I was up there. *shakes fist*
Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Hey Wes....how about trying some cheaper battery-operated computer speakers? The audio jack is the same, I believe.
We did this kind of thing in the Ryder truck when moving across the country. Hooked in my Discman, and cranked those little speakers up.
Or, I see from Amazon that they make portable speakers for ipods....some in there around $30-40.
Wes, I'm a little confused what you are looking for at this point. If you want a car adapter for your iTouch/iPhone, then I'd go to Crutchfield and search by your car year/make. What I ran into, however, is that I don't have the tools or 'sheenery knowledge and would end up blowing another 100 bucks having someone install it (Maybe I can justify the expense for Xmas). If you want an in-office/at-home dock, then I recommend the Yamaha one, which we just got my stepson for his b-day. Great sound, but much cheaper than the Bose.
The FM transmitter is still probably your best option. You can divide them into 2 types: those powered by the device battery, and those powered by your car battery. I've never used the iTrip, but IFRC, it is device powered, no? Transmitters powered from the car battery will tend to transmit stronger signals: the one I use can overpower an active station. I bought it after the frustration of poor reception with weaker transmitters. I've pulled up behind cars who obviously were using one strong enough that it interrupted my radio listening 20 feet away. What you want is one of the ones that comes with a warning that it is illegal to use in Britain :)
I can't recall the make of the one I've got in my car now. I'll check and get back to you.
So mine is the TransPod from dlo.com. I mount an ipod in it - don't think an iPhone would fit in mine though it has an aux input jack that allows any device to work. Few tips I can offer:
Since you're in a "full dial" area get the strongest transmitter you can find. Check the tech specs for transmitter range - farther range, stronger the transmitter. Try for 27 feet (8 m) or more. Get a transmitter that has wider radio frquency range to encompass more of the dial. Check what "steps" it allows for frequency adjustment. You want to be able to adjust 0.1 MHz per step. If all "slots" really used in your area, find a strong station and backoff by 0.2. You might be able to override there. Having different presets for different parts of your commute if signal strength varies can be useful. As I mentioned above, use a transmitter powered by your 12v outlet. Even better if the transmitter comes with a variety of mounting options to make device location user friendly.
It took me a while to find a setup that worked for me, and to be honest it looks kind of strange (I have a reticulating arm plugged into a waist level 12v outlet with the mount sitting about chest level within easy reach), but it works great.
Good luck!!