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Belkin TuneFM for iPod - Digital player FM transmitter / charger for car - black | 
 enlarge | Brand: Belkin
Category: CE
Buy New: £3.99
New (20) from £3.99
Rating:  32 reviews
Media: Electronics
Fragile: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 73.2 x 50.4 x 23.6
Legal Disclaimer: Layer One UK does not offer any warranty other than the one imposed by the manufacturer. Consequently, the warranty conditions proposed by Layer One UK will be an exact copy of the manufacturers.
MPN: 1277021
Model: F8Z075eaBLK
UPC: 722868591222
EAN: 0722868591222
Availability: Usually dispatched within 3-4 business days
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| Features:
| • | Uses the iPod display for quick and easy FM tuning | | • | Delivers best-in-class audio performance | | • | Features 4 single-touch, programmable preset buttons | | • | Includes auto power cord to power and charge your iPod in the car |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The F8Z075EABLK FM transmitter enables you to connect your iPod to the autoradio of your car or to your music system. Thanks to an extremely high-performance wireless technology, the F8Z075EABLK restitutes awesome sound quality. It comes with a power supply cord and car charger. The F8Z075EABLK transmitter has 4 buttons that enable you to access all the functions of your favourite iPod. Please note: this product is subject to French Law. It is awaiting authorisation from the relevant body.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 27 more reviews...
 Brilliant most of the time December 11, 2006
MM Turner (Birmingham, England)
170 out of 172 found this review helpful
On 10 December 2006, low power portable transmitters like this one became legal for the first time in the UK.
Nice, and just in time for Christmas.
But how good actually is it?
Well, the answer is, brilliant, most of the time. That is, if you plug it into the car cigarette lighter with the adapter (supplied), find an FM frequency that isn't in use, and spend a very little time tuning it in, you get what is effectively FM radio quality audio.
Most of the time.
If you are driving (which, if you are in a car, you probably are) then you can quite easily move into an area where your previously empty frequency is in use by local radio. At the very best you will get rumble and crackle. At worst your signal will be overridden by a nasty, crackly local radio station (nasty and crackly because your iPod is interfering with it). The TuneFM has four nice buttons for memorising frequencies, so if you travel the same route to work every day you can switch to the correct frequency at the correct moment, but, otherwise, you have to accept that reception will be variable.
If you use the unit without the power supply, using the iPod's own battery to power it, you'll find your signal is not as strong, and your iPod will drain quickly. Why would you use it without the power supply? Well, for example, if you had a TomTom or a mobile phone or something using it. Of course, you can invest in a splitter, but you are filling up your car again with extra cables, which is what this particular gizmo is partly trying avoid.
Also, this unit only really works well if your original music is LOUD. Evanescence, the White Stripes, even Dire Straits and Suzanne Vega are all fine. In fact, any rock, dance or pop song recorded in the last thirty years is going to be fine. Classical music, though, which has a much greater dynamic range than popular music, is prone to interference, which you will hear very strongly in the quiet bits.
Compared to one of those cassette thingies that goes into your cassette player at one end and into your iPod at the other, this is a big advance in quality. When it's not being interfered with, the quality really is the same as FM radio -- except you get to pick the tunes. For most people driving along in their cars, this is really all you need. After all, with road noise, wind noise, and engine noise, you are hardly in a finely tuned listening environment.
However, this is nowhere near as good as CD -- like most other FM radio, it doesn't offer anything above 15khz, thereby smoothing off the sound and losing 'air' and 'crispness'. Likewise, it doesn't have anything like the 96db dynamic range of CD, so it's not a great choice for classical music. Nor is it as good as directly connecting your iPod into your car stereo, if such an option is available. This of course would mean another wire, but it wouldn't require you to plug your iPod into the charger, so you wouldn't be losing anything.
Verdict: there are lots of devices like this on the market, and, now that it's legal in the UK, expect to see more. The limitations of this one are really the limitations of short range FM radio, so don't expect to find another one with better audio quality. There are others out there which have worse audio, though. Otherwise this is a neatly packaged unit which integrates well with the iPod. If you don't have the option of wiring your iPod directly into the car stereo, then this one, or one of its Belkin siblings, will serve you well.
excellent sound quality October 30, 2006
sienna_b (shropshire)
31 out of 31 found this review helpful
when I recieved this as a gift, I was a bit dubious as I've had similar type of thing which was lousy. but when I plugged and tuned this in I was very impressed by the sound quality and by the fact that I didn't crackle like AM radio- it was much more like listening to a CD. I am not able to change the stereo in my car so this is a godsend. I was given and nice holder for my ipod too, so I couldn't be more pleased.
Excellent money saver March 7, 2007
P. Mowforth
36 out of 37 found this review helpful
Having looked at various 'wired in' iPod attachments for our car I found this on Amazon. The reviews convinced me to buy and I have not been at all disappointed. As the reviews said, this is easy to use and takes minutes to set up. The sound quality is good for us - not noticed any difference from the CD player in the car.
I have had no problem using it in the car (so far we seem to have found a frequency not used in the UK but not travelled everywhere yet!). Also great in the home (saves loading up CDs which will probably now gather dust!), and we took it on holiday recently and used with the apartment's hifi. Being able to have our own music wherever we are is great!
I recommend this piece of equipment. It is excellent value, especially against the wired in options.
Fantastic August 20, 2008
Dino (UK)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
You know how it is when you see an item at a low price, read the reviews, check it out somewhere else, come back again, should you, maybe the more expensive one?? UMmmmm. Let me tell you this is an absolutely fantastic gadget. Took a while to get a open frequency and had my doubts. Not for long. I travel from Swindon Wiltshire to Somerset and back just about everyday and all the time on 105.0 no problems. Get it you'll love it, especially for the price you pay. If you can't find a clear line ask about like I did.
Cant fault it March 26, 2008
Mr. C. G. Bourne (UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I can imagine if you live in a very urban area or big city then you may have problems locking into a particular frequency for any length of time but I have had no problems whatsoever. Sounds great and as I drive a car that would alter the whole look of the dash if I changed stereo it's the only solution for me to be able to have my ipod whilst driving. I highly recommend this product. Great sound and probably the most user friendly item I own
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