So now that we have an iPOD Touch, I started thinking about how we can use it through our car stereo? Unfortunately our Pontiac Pursuit’s (which is called the G5 in the US) audio system doesn’t come one of those line in inputs, so there goes that idea. The only other option open to us is to get one of those Universal FM Transmitters.
In a nut shell, you plug your music device into the Universal FM transmitter. Then this runs into the power supply in your car, or the old cigarette lighter if you will. Side note: I’ve been smoke free for 5 months! The transmitter connects wirelessly and syncs up to your car FM band thus allowing the iPODs signal to run through the stereo.
The one we picked up is called the i2! RDS FM Transmitter for iPod from Aerielle. We went searching for reviews on FM Transmitters and found this one to be reliable and fairly inexpensive. The best price was through Tiger Direct.
The i2! is simple to use.
After plugging everything in, you look for the 2 buttons on the front that are stacked together. You hold down both of these buttons at the same time for a couple seconds. Now you will notice on the very small digital display screen, numbers that represent your FM stations, rolling from lowest to highest. This action is telling you that it is scanning for FM signals/bands that ARE NOT being used.
It will then stop scanning and a number will start flashing. This number represents a station or band width that it can use to send the signal from your device into the stereo. You then press down on one of the 3 per-set buttons near the bottom of the unit to save it in it’s memory.
If i2! displays more flashing numbers after you choose the first band that it shows you, then set them up and remember the station/frequency number so you can use it for another time. This might come in handy if later on down the road, the first station you saved is being taken over by a radio station. Now you can tune your car stereo to that location and begin to use your iPOD!
Damn, I can’t imagine driving without it now!
Keep on Jammin’
During the sales pitch by an Apple rep in the store we were in, she brought to our attention (mine actually because my wife, as usual, was light years ahead of me in understanding what wondrous things this product can bring to us) to the options that come with it.