Sonnet Announces PODFREQ FM Transmitter for the iPod

[MacBytes]

Category: 3rd Party Hardware
Link: SONNET ANNOUNCES PODFREQ FM TRANSMITTER FOR THE iPOD (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20040426150434)
Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)

Approved by Mudbug

[BernieC]

Dude, $100?!?! I hope they're kidding.

April 1st was quite awhile ago. Nice design, but yikes, what an insane price for a FM transmitter + firewire port shell (firewire port optional, by the way).

[mainstreetmark]

The six inch telescoping mast antenna is probably quite an overkill for a device capable of broadcasting from "10 to 35 feet".

[jbembe]

The six inch telescoping mast antenna is probably quite an overkill for a device capable of broadcasting from "10 to 35 feet".

I dunno, one of the significant limitations with these transmitters is the very weak signal that can hardly be recieved on a clear channel. When driving it is especially irritating to continually search for a clear channel, so much so that I've abandoned two different transmitters altogether. If this one gives a significant signal that can be clearly recieved, it could be very worth it! That way I can still use that darn CD player and not purchase a new car radio just to have a MP3 port, and I can broadcast the signal at work and to the home stereo... Hmmmmm.

[nagromme]

I wonder of a stronger signal would be illegal? This says ~30 feet, same as other Fm transmitters, so I doubt the single could be "stronger" or more able to drown out other stations.

PS if you haven't already, download the station finder app from Griffin and follow the tips in the readme. They are good advice even if you don't use the station finder app.

Also lower or remove your car's external antenna to reduce interference.

[mainstreetmark]

Yeah, but the signal strength doesn't (necessarily) come from antenna design, but by transmitter power. If the iTrip transmitter has the same watt rating as this one does, it may not improve.

of course, iTrip's antenna can easily be blocked by crap like seatbelt buckles.

The antenna itself doesn't even *need* to be over a cm long at FM freqs, but sticking the tip way up out of the way of everything might actually help.

until you bend the crap out of it.

[TheT]

if you haven't already, download the station finder app from Griffin and follow the tips in the readme. They are good advice even if you don't use the station finder app.
I downloaded it, but there's just the app, no readme :confused:

Regarding the PodFreq: I always wanted a FM transmitter that uses the Line Out and has its own buttons, but $100 is just way to much...