Car radio advice

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:31 am

Morning all,

Probably another non starter due to me being mean but I think it's time for the old cd player to go, the player is ok (ish) but my CD collection is utterly fcuked up and skips and jumps all over the place.

I saw my mate the other day with a radio in his Corsa (worth more than the car IMHO) with a neat USB connection on the front and he had a little MP3 player that plugged straight in, no wires or cradles. I'm not after amazing sound, partly cos I'm a bit deaf, (damn you fast jets and de-cat!) and partly cos that will cost lots of money and I'm stingy.

So any suggestions on what to look for?

k12chu · Post by **k12chu** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:15 pm

if u have an mp3 player, why not buy an FM transmitor? so u wont have to change ur CD player (provided it has buitl in FM radio). advantages of having an FM transmitor -
no wires
update mp3 player at home
can connect a laptop in the car
can connect some of the compatible mobile phones as well
a situation where there r a few cars, u can play the same music in all the cars

disadvantage... the sound quality isnt the best!

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:24 pm

No MP3 player, no laptop, phone might do it but only 256 meg. Still stuck in the 1990s back here. I have a minidisk player somehwhere if that helps...

Also FM transmitters are illegal in the UK

Brought one back from USA for my bro but its bust now

I just liked how neat the USB and MP3 setup was. No fuss and all the controls on the radio worked as they should with the MP3 player etc.

Ta
Rich

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:25 pm

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote: Also FM transmitters are illegal in the UK Brought one back from USA for my bro but its bust now

Rich

Not sure if this is still the case? Andy / Shug ?

Titanium S1 111S (gla) · Post by **Titanium S1 111S (gla)** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:27 pm

I understand that you can get head units that will take flash cards with MP3 on them. Means you donâ€™t need wires which is appealing and flash cards cost pennies these day. 2Gb for 25qid.

RDH · Post by **RDH** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:31 pm

Dominic wrote:
RICHARDHUMBLE wrote: Also FM transmitters are illegal in the UK Brought one back from USA for my bro but its bust now

Rich
Not sure if this is still the case? Andy / Shug ?

Not the case anymore - legislation was changed last year!

k12chu · Post by **k12chu** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:41 pm

as far as i am aware... FM transm,itors r legal in UK. but u just might want to cross check elsewhere. may be halfords?
since u have a minidisc player... how about an MD player for the car? a friend of mine is selling his in-dash MD player and 10 CD changer. if u r interested let me know and i could check out the price for u.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:59 pm

FM transmitors legal as of the 8th of Dec 2006 for Mp3 players.

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:01 pm

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote: Also FM transmitters are illegal in the UK Brought one back from USA for my bro but its bust now

Rich

And so it driving on the wrong side of the road at 100 tuts on national speed limit roads ..... point caller

Blaque · Post by **Blaque** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:14 pm

My head unit plays mp3 disks. Around 10 albums to a disk or a 6 hour compliation. This would save you money as you would'nt need to buy an mp3 player or huge memory stick as well as a new head unit. Cdr's are pence, and when there all scratched to fook, you just burn the songs again to a new disk.

Post by **Shug** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:24 pm

Blaque wrote:My head unit plays mp3 disks. Around 10 albums to a disk or a 6 hour compliation. This would save you money as you would'nt need to buy an mp3 player or huge memory stick as well as a new head unit. Cdr's are pence, and when there all scratched to fook, you just burn the songs again to a new disk.

Yup

We've got a whole in-car section on AMP3, have a wee surf through and see if it gives you any ideas

Check here: http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/sho ... cPath=4_94

jason · Post by **jason** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:06 pm

Reading the news commentaries on the new legislation.... I understand that to be legal, the FM transmitter must have the CE mark (which prob rules out USA sourced units

)...

Is that correct?

k12chu · Post by **k12chu** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:17 pm

mp3/wma would be the best bet.

anyone aware of stand alone touch screens, say about 7" size?

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:16 pm

Cheers all,

I have used the burn CD then chuck but they still go the same way, but quicker and I never remember to burn new ones. MP3 disc is a thought, I'll have a surf on Flea bay (Theres a shock!) see if anything suitable pops up...! Of course I did check the AMP3 site for USB headunits, but will look again at MP3 compatible types.

I liked the MP3 player interface as I can take it anywhere with no mincing about, I'll have 1 MP3 player, all my "bangin choons" will be up to date all the time then, no CDs to burn, etc.

The FM tx I got my bro is fooked anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions
Will keep looking!

Ta
Rich

Post by **campbell** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:40 pm

We have had an iPod for 2 years now, with iTrip addon transmitter (now on 2nd version as first was a bit pop n crackle for some reason).

No issue with legality. Totally simple to run the iPod sync with iTunes on your fave computer, then take to the car and spark it up to preset tuned FM channel. No cables, no fuss. We rarely play a CD in either car these days.

Also great when heading off on hols, many hotels/apartments have CD radio hi-fis so whole CD collection comes with you

Oh, and positioned carefully in the house, it can also provide multi-room music if you have enough radios / tuners!

2p worth

Campbell