Cellular Innovations Tune Free FM Transmitter for MP3 Players

• Works with all ipods , plays music from any portable fm-equipped audio device, wirelessly transmits audio on fm frequencies,
• Tune-free transmitter plugs into audio device, set the transmitter & a stereo to the same fm frequency
• 9.84-FT Operating range, up to 15 hours of operating time, standby time: 45 days, requires 2 aa batteries, 1-year war

I've had a car with a broken tape deck and sporadic power supply to the lighter outlet, so I have always needed a battery-powered FM transmitter for listening to my iPod in my car. This one is the cheapest one I've ever had and so far the best. The signal is strong. I recently drove from Minneapolis to Detroit and back and only had to mess around with changing the stations once each way--waaaaay better than any of my other transmitters (the Griffin iTrip was the worst). The sound quality is adequate, but not perfect. As other reviewers have said bass can get distorted. I remedy that by turning the volume on my iPod down and turning up the volume on my car stereo. Every once in a while there is extra static, but it's almost exclusively when there is someone in my passenger seat. It may just be a combo of my car's FM receiver and the TuneFree transmitter, but it's not a huge deal. Battery lasts much longer than I expect it to. The only other drawback is that the blue light is super bright. It's a good way to gauge how low the battery power is getting though--if it doesn't hurt to stare directly into the blue light, you should keep some spare batteries around. I give this 5 stars because it works better than most more expensive devices and the slight drawbacks are not that much of a problem, especially when considering the face that this is under $20. I will also add that the device feels very cheap and flimsy, but I have had mine floating around in my purse for over a year and it's still working as well as it did when I got it.

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I replaced a $8 piece of junk(bought only a week ago) with this and I made a awesome choice... Connected this to my computer and I am rocking crystal clear songs from my stereo system. It transmits clear waves, static-free tunes. This is definitely a 5-star product and worth the money. This product comes with a 1-year warranty also. As mentioned by others, it has a very bright blue light and I am thinking this sucks most of your battery. I have not tested the battery life as yet. But if you have rechargeable AAA batteries, don't even think twice to buy this product. You will love the clarity this showers you with. The only short fall is, it comes with a short cord and not with a coiled cord. But if you are not bothered about having short cord, this product is awesome in all ways. Just follow the instructions on the small user guide this comes with. Don't worry, instructions are also crystal clear and you will figure it out.

UPDATE after more than 1 year (on 31-July-2010):

Still fully functional and really nice. No regrets on this. Battery life has been staying for over 10 hours easily.

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I plugged this into my laptop in my home so that I could hear my MP3s or an audiobook on A) the kitchen radio and B) my cheapo shower CD player radio. It works GREAT! I don't even have the volume cranked up much on my laptop not even 20% of 100% volume. Maybe around 15% or so. I think if you put the volume up too high on your device that it is transmitting from, then you will get more distortion at the receiving radio. Also, the instructions say, "Note: for best results, select a frequency that has the weakest or no signal from a radio station." I chose the last / highest one 107.9. Works like a charm!!! Yeah, it stinks that it uses 2 x AAA batteries instead of an AC adapter, but for just $16.00 and change, it is more than worth the purchase. Plus, rechargeable AAA's go for only $9 $10 for a 4-pack, so it's not like it's going to break anyone's bank.

Also, to transmit to my bathroom's shower radio, if I drew an imaginary line through the 3 walls, I would say it is about 17-20 feet away. To get to the kitchen, that is also going through at least 3 walls, and I'd say it's closer to 20-25 feet away. Pretty sweet! :)

One final note when I first plugged it into my laptop, I had it actually sitting ON my laptop just to see what would happen. I got a lot of static / loud hum from my kitchen radio. But the instant I took it OFF my laptop and set it a whopping TWO INCHES away, it worked perfectly. Just a hint for non-tech people who don't understand interference. Both my laptop screen AND my 26" widescreen external monitor were on, but some people with older monitors might want to turn theirs off to keep any possible hum and/or interference down.

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This is a very good FM transmitter. I always use to have static interference with my old plug-in transmitter. This one has not had any static problems and works flawlessly. You can take it anywhere and make use of its very good range. One time I used it to make my own radio station that my roommates could listen to on their radios.

Cons:

It needs battery replacements every 15-20 hours. (last me 3 weeks at the rate that I used it.)

Blue LED in the front is WAY too bright.

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I was hesitant to buy it, but I'm pleasently surprised !

Pros:

Transmitted Music from my laptop to my home theatre system, which is about 5 meters away. When I hit pause on my music, I hear absolute silence .. it's amazing ! No hiss.

Great transmitter basically, I'm keeping it although it has it's draw backs.

Cons:

Packaging feels kind of cheap.

No digital controls or display, frequency is selected using a a set of switches according to the combination.

No fancy electronics in there to condition the audio input. You have to pick a good volume for the audio you send to it: if it's too loud, it will saturate and beats start to sound bad, and if it's too low you will have to turn your radio receiver up, and you start to pick up hiss from FM.

I still love it.