Mp3 Fm Modulator

isurujosh · May 13, 2010

My current car stereo does not have a USB input. I found this Mp3 FM Modulator that I plug into my cigarette lighter jack with the USB drive plugged into it that would play the MP3 and other audio in my USB drive on FM 87.7 on my current head unit's radio. Cost is only 800/= and it seems to work quite well. My question is, will playing music on this device regularly have an impact on my car's electrical system?

Any of your experiences with this device will be very much appreciated too.

Thank you so much in advance.

SeanD · May 13, 2010

My current car stereo does not have a USB input. I found this Mp3 FM Modulator that I plug into my cigarette lighter jack with the USB drive plugged into it that would play the MP3 and other audio in my USB drive on FM 87.7 on my current head unit's radio. Cost is only 800/= and it seems to work quite well. My question is, will playing music on this device regularly have an impact on my car's electrical system?
Any of your experiences with this device will be very much appreciated too.

Thank you so much in advance.

No. Aside from battery drain when the engine is off.

Harry (aq) · May 14, 2010

No. Aside from battery drain when the engine is off.

Nothing other than the channel getting reset to 87.7 FM once in a while. I use 88.1 in colmbo since 87.7 is generally distrupting with in the city limit.

I haven't experinaced the battery drain yet.

isurujosh · May 14, 2010

No. Aside from battery drain when the engine is off.

is it even when the key is completely turned off too?

Edited May 14, 2010 by isurujosh

MrCat · May 14, 2010

is it even when the key is completely turned off too?

Hello boss,

No, it won’t drain the battery since power to the cigarette lighter is completely cut off when you turn the ignition off. Even when it`s running, power consumption will be just negligible and the power line to the cigarette lighter is capable of handling much greater wattage so I don’t think there`ll be any issues at all.

One thing I’ve noticed is that the music quality of these devices is just crap. Being just FM transmission it’s like listening to radio, and depending on the quality of the MP3 u playing can even be worse than normal radio. Normally the sound quality depending on media is: FM < MP3 < Audio CD.

esdeez · May 14, 2010

Hello boss,
No, it won’t drain the battery since power to the cigarette lighter is completely cut off when you turn the ignition off. Even when it`s running, power consumption will be just negligible and the power line to the cigarette lighter is capable of handling much greater wattage so I don’t think there`ll be any issues at all.

I beg to differ, as in my car atleast, even with the key off, the lighter still works. Perhaps it depends on the car... Better check it out first...

SeanD · May 14, 2010

I beg to differ, as in my car atleast, even with the key off, the lighter still works. Perhaps it depends on the car... Better check it out first...

That's strange, I thought lighters and 12V outlets do not work until the key is in the first ("accessory") position. Only non-accessories (lights) normally work with the key off. This is more of a safety thing as well. Your car (is it an Euro car?) is probably in the minority, or may be it only works for a short time after the key is out? I know some power windows behave the same way.

Isurujosh, I was referring only to the key being in the accessory position, it's unlikely that your car will power the device without the key in I (accessory). Even so, you'd probably have to leave it on for hours in that position for your battery go to dead.

No comment on the FM<MP3 issue. While Mr. Cat is correct, the quality of most Mp3s (unless you're getting them at 320kbps) will have a generally negligible difference through most modulators when you factor in road noise+body noise in a Japanese car (even if you have "golden ears"). If you're playing classical music or similar using Wav files then that would be a different issue. At least that is my experience. Stuff like interference will be much more likely to be a problem, but if you avoid the frequencies that all our radio stations are jammed at, you should be ok.

Edited May 14, 2010 by SeanD

harshansenadhir · May 14, 2010

That's strange, I thought lighters and 12V outlets do not work until the key is in the first ("accessory") position. Only non-accessories (lights) normally work with the key off. This is more of a safety thing as well. Your car (is it an Euro car?) is probably in the minority, or may be it only works for a short time after the key is out? I know some power windows behave the same way.

Euro cars are more strict in this matter. Not only cig lighter, but some of the courtesy lights/reading lights, glove box light and even brake lights goes off as soon as you switch off ignition. only horn, parking/head lights, door lights and the stereo will work till economy mode activates.. at least on 406 that is

esdeez · May 14, 2010

That's strange, I thought lighters and 12V outlets do not work until the key is in the first ("accessory") position. Only non-accessories (lights) normally work with the key off. This is more of a safety thing as well. Your car (is it an Euro car?) is probably in the minority, or may be it only works for a short time after the key is out? I know some power windows behave the same way.
Isurujosh, I was referring only to the key being in the accessory position, it's unlikely that your car will power the device without the key in I (accessory). Even so, you'd probably have to leave it on for hours in that position for your battery go to dead.

No comment on the FM<MP3 issue. While Mr. Cat is correct, the quality of most Mp3s (unless you're getting them at 320kbps) will have a generally negligible difference through most modulators when you factor in road noise+body noise in a Japanese car (even if you have "golden ears"). If you're playing classical music or similar using Wav files then that would be a different issue. At least that is my experience. Stuff like interference will be much more likely to be a problem, but if you avoid the frequencies that all our radio stations are jammed at, you should be ok.

UK spec 80's Accord.... Even I was surprised when the lighter burned me...

shanX · May 14, 2010

Have been using one of these for like for a year or 2, with no issues. Could be even used to play audio from the phone (if you have compatible ports on the modulator & the phone). Saves you from the hassle of spending 10k on an MP3 unit.

Anyway i guess this device is an illegal item lol, coz you can't transmit FM frequencies without proper permits from TRC or whatever authority that handles this. Hope authorities won't come across this useful device

isurujosh · May 14, 2010

Thank you so much gentlemen for your valuable time and feedback. Unfortunately I think my device went bust today. I had it plugged in all the time since last night. Even when I started the engine. I wonder whether that had an impact on the eventuality. I noticed that the first time I started the engine while the device was still working, the device went silent and tried to make a few funny noices too.

Shan, it looks as if you have gotten a quality product than my cheap Chinese device. From where did you source it and how much would it cost?

shanX · May 14, 2010

lol sad to hear that.

Nope same chinese here, but I paid something like 2500-3000/= range at that time

eyepea · May 15, 2010

tried using one of these mp3 fm modulators ( i... something brand) as the car radio only covered upto 90MHz or something and I missed the better radio stations like 99.9 and 104.5 (well personal opinion :rolleyes: ).

At home it was ok as I tuned the car radio and the fm modulator to a frequency that was clear.

But when driving around it was a BIG disappointment as all kinda stations broke in. Tried several supposedly clear frequencies but not satisfactory!.

Of course had a tough time since the car radio fm range was what was used in Japan and the fm modulator range was what is used here.

Also the radio came with the car - year 2000 or so and may be something cheap and not be able to tune sharply to weak transmissions.

My car antenna sticks out middle of rare roof. Wonder if that has anything to do with it too.

Perhaps the modulator you used is of better quality <_<

Nice if people can post the brand of modulator they use (if ok with forum rules) and the frequency they use successfully

88.1 not ok for me. :angry: 89.9 worked ok a few places in colombo. :blink:

As for current consumption the packaging said a few mA, so I guess that should not be a problem.

shanX · May 15, 2010

89.1 here. No brand i think, coz all these are ChingChong make

isurujosh · May 15, 2010

actually the device started working again! i am loving every second of it. there is a small play between the jack and my device. when i press it a little hard, it works fine.

SeanD · May 16, 2010

tried using one of these mp3 fm modulators ( i... something brand) as the car radio only covered upto 90MHz or something and I missed the better radio stations like 99.9 and 104.5 (well personal opinion ).
At home it was ok as I tuned the car radio and the fm modulator to a frequency that was clear.

But when driving around it was a BIG disappointment as all kinda stations broke in. Tried several supposedly clear frequencies but not satisfactory!.

Of course had a tough time since the car radio fm range was what was used in Japan and the fm modulator range was what is used here.

Also the radio came with the car - year 2000 or so and may be something cheap and not be able to tune sharply to weak transmissions.

My car antenna sticks out middle of rare roof. Wonder if that has anything to do with it too.

Perhaps the modulator you used is of better quality

Nice if people can post the brand of modulator they use (if ok with forum rules) and the frequency they use successfully

88.1 not ok for me. 89.9 worked ok a few places in colombo.

As for current consumption the packaging said a few mA, so I guess that should not be a problem.

Upto 96MHz is the most crowded area in FM in Sri Lanka, so guess it's your bad luck, you'll be better off above 100MHz

isurujosh · May 17, 2010

i also noticed today that only USB drives formatted in FAT32 are being read by my device. but that's not a big issue at all. sound quality isn't too bad, especially in low volume. i anyway get to hear music low volume 95% of the time becuase wife is not ok with loud music. for just 800 bucks the device is great.

rameez · May 21, 2010

sean,,,

I cannot understand what you exaclty mean by the car not in line with local channels. Can we make the existing Japanese set that comes with the car to recieve local channels with this device.I thought this for only hooking up your USB and Ipod to the current radio you got rather than go for a new system.

SeanD · May 21, 2010

sean,,,
I cannot understand what you exaclty mean by the car not in line with local channels.

Hm? He has an OEM Japanese radio that goes up to 90MHz (I think it's usually a little more). While the band upto 90 is crowded in SL, you'll still miss out on a lot of radio stations. That's what I meant.

Can we make the existing Japanese set that comes with the car to recieve local channels with this device.

What device? This is a device for transmitting stuff from your iPod wirelessly to your car radio. As his radio only goes up to 90MHz, the transmitter is obviously going to be fighting with all the local channel that are under 90MHz when their signal is stronger.

I thought this for only hooking up your USB and Ipod to the current radio you got rather than go for a new system.

I think you misunderstood what I said. What I was suggesting that if one wants a more interference free reception of this iPod transmitterin SL, then it's good to have a radio that can tune in above 90MHz. There's plenty of whitespace above that in SL, so that you don't have to keep changing the frequency and crashing your car in the process, but not much below that.

Chris0628 · May 22, 2010

got myself a carina on rent... gonna go with this for a while ...only issue the car stereo is crap.... anyone know where i can maybe get a proper second hand audio system ?

rameez · May 22, 2010

got myself a carina on rent... gonna go with this for a while ...only issue the car stereo is crap.... anyone know where i can maybe get a proper second hand audio system ?

Chris .....dont want to sound rude.......but I think some owners dont like messing with the car ...and maybe putting another stereo can be a problem right...........how are you going to match the speakers and stuff.Are you going to use the existing wiring