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Belkin debuts TuneCast II FM Transmitter

updated 10:30 am EST, Mon January 5, 2004

TuneCast II FM Transmitter


(booth 1229) today announced its TuneCast II FM Transmitter, an enhanced version of the TuneCast I that broadcasts iPod music to any car or home stereo using FM radio waves. TuneCast II scans all FM frequencies 88.1-107.9MHz and selects the best frequency (memorizing up to four FM frequencies). The battery-powered device features an unique Auto on/ff function for up to 10 hours of battery life on 2 AAA batteries. It will begin shipping later this month in North America and is available in two different models: the $50 gray version (F8V3080) ships with a Belkin Mobile Power Cord (car adapter) and DC power cable, while the $40 white version includes only the DC cable for iPods with Dock Connector.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. MacNN.com Reader

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

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    01/05, 10:56am | report spam | Reply |

    Can't wait till AM band

    is used by one of these. Where I live all the FM bands are occupied by other stations making it impossible to transmit a different station to the car stereo since you get interferance from other stations. Yes I know AM is monoaural, but one could make it stereo.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 11:41am | report spam | Reply |

    There will never be AM

    There are always open FM Frequencies no matter what market you are in. This version seems to be much more versatile, allowing you to select up to 4 station locations for your Ipod broadcast to.

    Since AM does not have the bandwidth needed for quality sound, you will never see AM used for these types of products.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 11:49am | report spam | Reply |

    why would...

    anyone buy this product? First you have to use batteries. It seems these companies don't get it.

    1. Consumers don't like buying AA batteries
    2. It's still not better than the iTrip.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 11:59am | report spam | Reply |

    scanning could be good

    I like that it can scan all the frequencies, though. We'll see how it works, but if it does that well, then that is definitely something it has over the iTrip.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 12:08pm | report spam | Reply |

    i dont get it

    why announce a product and NOT update your website?

    i have a tunecast 1. you get about 10 hours+ out of 2 AAA's.
    stupidly, for about the price of a tunecast, 2 sets of AAA rechargeables and a charger, i could have gotten one of those aux in adapter boxes for my car stereo. most of the places that sell satellite radio accessories sell them for about $70.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 12:18pm | report spam | Reply |

    batteries = bad idea

    10 hours is basically 2 days worth of music for serious listening.
    so it costs 1 AAA a day to use.
    not good.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 03:58pm | report spam | Reply |

    iTrip = iCrap

    Simple. The iTrip doesn't work. Multiple people report not being able to get it to work. I couldn't get it to work despite reading the directions several times, AND trying many many times to get my car's stereo to receive the signal.

    I sold it off to someone else and bought a TuneCast, which actually works. But the 88.1-88.5 range is clogged in my area, so along with a new iPod it's time for a new transmitter with a better transmission range.

    Consumers "get it" that the device that looks cool often tries harder to look cool than to actually work right.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 04:12pm | report spam | Reply |

    iTrip works fine for me!

    Yeah, it's slightly static-y, but it certainly WORKS. I don't think you played/paused the frequency selector properly.

    My next car will have a AUX IN jack though. That should put all these issues to rest. ;)

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 04:31pm | report spam | Reply |

    btw

    F**k the Windows Moble ad on the MacNN front page.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    01/05, 04:55pm | report spam | Reply |

    Itrip

    I use the iTrip every day and it works. In my case at 106.5. The real issue is some of the more powerful FM stations seem to bleed into the other freqs so it harder and harder to find a clean one. I live in a MAJOR city so it wasn't an easy thing to do. I also had trouble setting it up. The directions suck and don't say it can take up to 30 seconds, which is a long time if you're waiting and have never done it before, for the thing to start transmitting. I think I wasted a lot of time thinking it wasn't working when I just needed to give it a few more seconds. I am going to get a jack enabled stereo in a few weeks. JVC makes one and I'm going that route.

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