FM modulator? Anyone ever used one? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Nate · #1 03-19-2010, 03:03 PM

Hey everyone.

I have a VERY serious issue with the van I'm assigned to drive, and nobody's about to order me a spare part to fix it... Need a little help

So, I'm assigned a newer ford van, with a jammed CD player that couldnt take the roads here. Cd player's down for the count (makes a ratteling noise when you hit eject) The rest of the van, minus a TPMS sensor, is holding up fairly well. I'm averaging between 3 and 4 hours per day in the thing, only radio choice is the Military one, or, snake charming music. Neither one is exactly my style, so, I'm thinking I should get a cheap FM modulator to plug into the outlet so I can play some of my own music... I dont have an ipod, nor would I leave said item in the van...

I need something that I can plug a jump drive into, and use. It needs to have the ability to play music without skipping, over rough gravelish potholly conctete roads. I'm wondering if

THIS would cut it, or am I just SOL?

tks alot,
~Nate

KarTek · #2 03-19-2010, 03:10 PM

A friend had something similar and it worked great! It should never skip since it's all solid state. The only thing I can see happening is that it rattles out of the lighter socket.

AustinsCE · #3 03-19-2010, 03:14 PM

I used one with a mp3 player from the headphone jack. The reception was only OK, and the controls on the MP3 sucked. Getting the volumes synched was a problem, quality loss if it was set too high on the MP3 device. If it's all you got, it's fine. But don't expect much.

300SD81 · #4 03-19-2010, 03:37 PM

If you use a FM, get on that actually plugs into the antenna port on your radio. The wireless ones suck. Mine keeps working even when theres a station on that frequency near by (set it to a frequency you never listen to). I wired mine and installed a headphone jack in the tray under the ashtray, looks like a factory AUX jack.

okyoureabeast · #5 03-19-2010, 03:43 PM

Does the vehicle have a cassette adapter? Those are way better than FM modulators.

On the flip side if you get an FM modulator make sure you get one that lets you set the frequency where ever it is on the dial. I always picked a station at 107.1 since I rarely ran into interference up there.

You'll get distortion at a high volume on the mp3 player. Keep it at a 1/3 below and crank the tunes on the radio inside.

Where abouts in the world are you right now???

Angel · #6 03-19-2010, 03:45 PM

Every radio shack / best buy has something that would work just fine.....I know that this does you a lot of good in the sandbox =) Does the BX/PX have anything ?

Every modulator that I've seen looks like it is built to the lowest price, so I'd be surprised if one works better than another.

All of them are very limited in RF output power (range <10m)
Any small/cheap MP3 player will have solid-state memory - so it'll be skip free.

I have a creative Nano - runs on 1 AAA (one battery lasts 6 to 8 hours depending on how loud you set hte volume.

Most all modulators will have a headphone input, some will let you set the frequency (some will only give you 2 choices) in remote parts of the world this is not a problem (more of an issue in US cities where the FM band is more crowded)

Personally - I'd hit the PX and buy the cheapest MP3 player they have, (which will be battery powered, but the small ones last ok) and then buy just an FM modulator that is 12v powered. That way, you can use the MP3 player when you run/workout/chill in your room. Most of those just USB to your computer like a hard drive and you just copy and paste files on there easy peasy.

short answer - the one you cited in the Ebay ad wil require a jump drive or SD card, but will work fine for what you want.

Nate · #7 03-20-2010, 11:54 AM

the BX/PX doesnt have squat under $150, and, I dont listen to music when I workout or anything, I'd be for trans only. Good to know about the limitations they have. The van doesn't have a cassette player, just a CD player. 300SD81 I havent created a ford radio remover yet, but, I dont think that's the way I want to go. Thanks for the info tho.

I'm in Iraq currently. Looks like I'm buying the one off ebay.
Thanks for the ideas
~Nate

MS Fowler · #8 03-20-2010, 12:53 PM

OK, I am definitely OLD!
My first thought when seeing " FM modulator" was of the Converters they sold in the '60 to allow people to receive FM through their Am car radios. They worker, ,,sort of.
More to the point, I have used a wireless FM modulator for connection a CD player in a car not originally equipped with one. Depending on the frequency you select and the local radio stations they work anywhere from Very well to sort of OK. It helps if you can adjust the FM frequency as you travel to different area.

davidmash · #9 03-20-2010, 01:00 PM

I have one I bought from Fry's. The name on it is "VR3". Looks like the one you linked without the wires. I love it. It will accept flash/SD and it works greati n my car. I have a Kenwood head unit though in mine. We tried it in the 300 with the OEM head unit and it did not work great. the stations would bleed in and out. Not sure why. I put a 1G flash in mine with 130 songs or so and love it.

LaughingGravy · #10 03-20-2010, 03:14 PM

I have an irock Fm modulator that works great, but others have apparently not had much luck with them.

There's another, called iriver, which seems to have good reviews, and is under $14 at Amazon as of today.
It's powered off the lighter socket, so no batteries, can use the electrical system of the car itself as a kind of antenna, and seems to be much more flexible in the number of frequencies it can use.

If I didn't already have what I need, I'd pick up one.

Medmech · #11 03-21-2010, 08:37 AM

I have one crammed in a glove compartment for a rainy day but its yours if you want me to put it in the mail.

Nate · #12 03-21-2010, 09:47 AM

Thank you very much for the really offer, I really appreciate it. Ive got that one en-route now, no need to send yours.

Thanks for the info everyone
~Nate