Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector (Black)
by Belkin
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List Price: Our Price: $37.99 You Save: $42.00 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Buy Used: from $5.99 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector (Black)
Customer Review: Convenient and worth the price
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this FM transmitter/charger 6 months ago, and am still happy with it.
What makes the Tunebase convenient?
The flex-neck
The flex-neck holds up well. It hasn't fallen out of position despite bad potholes and driving over construction. It also re-positions easily. Its great to not have wires all over the place. Plus, the flex-neck holds the iPod in one place, so I don't have to hunt for my iPod when I want to skip a song.
The Pre-Sets
The tunebase comes with four pre-set buttons. You chose a channel with the up/down arrows, then press the pre-set button and hold.
Auto on/off
When you put your iPod in the unit, it will automaticly turn iPod on. When you remove it from the unit or turn off the engine, it automaticlly pauses iPod.
Charges iPod
I don't worry about my iPod battery running out on me on long trips because the Tunebase charges it.
Broadcasts on even numbered channels
Good reception quality
Its free of static unless the channel I'm using has a clear radio station.
The Tunebase does have a few drawbacks:
Changing or checking channels with the pre-set operation is not as convenient as other FM tranmitters (like the Monster Cable Radio Play). When you chose a button, first the button name is displayed for a momment, then the station number is displayed. So, if you forget what station is programed on a button, you have to wait to find out. Plus, you have to keep taking your eyes off the road to check it. If you wait too long, it will revert back to iPod's usual display.
A few months after I bought my unit, the auto-pause feature stopped working.
The flex-neck isn't very long. So, if your cigarette lighter is low (or high) on your car's console, it could be tricky to position it in a useful place.
Customer Review: Lots of Static But Some Great Features
Summary: 3 Stars
I drive an Acura TSX, and own not only this unit, but similar products from Griffin and DLo. This unit gets WAY more static than either of the other two. I'm on my third one - Belkin Tech Support's response? "That shouldn't happen. Send it back and we'll get you a new one..."
Same issue with the next two units. Another reviewer mentioned the same problem, and that his antenna was on the back of his vehicle. My antenna is in the back window. Maybe that's the issue. Read through to the end before you give up, though...I was also getting horrible static everytime I went through a traffic light, and had to turn the radio off if I was caught at a red light. Oddly, the static went away if I touched the gooseneck. Very Strange!
So, why a 3, you may ask? The problem I've had with my other two units was that the volume was way too low. I could not listen to the Pod with my windows or sunroof open. I was disappointed every time Sweet Home Alabama came on and the guy said "Turn it up!" (I'm old - that's a classical reference :))
This unit has something no other one does. VOLUME CONTROL! You CAN turn it up! Where I was listening to my Pod at 35-40 on the radio's volume - and it only GOES up to 40 - I'm now usually content at 20 until Highway Star or Roll With The Changes come on - more classical references - and even then I hardly ever get past 30 or so. Can't wait for summer and open windows!
Oh, the static? I twisted about a foot of speaker wire around the goose neck. No Static At All (OK, I'll stop...) I really think the sound quality is exceptional as well. Esthetically not so great (with the speaker wire, that is), but I really like the gooseneck and swivel design, the fact that the Pod goes to Pause when you pull it out of the unit, the great sound, and most of all, the ability to adjust the VOLUME!!!
Customer Review: the worst I've tried -- inoperable in d.c.
Summary: 1 Stars
I've tried two other transmitters -- the original iTrip and Griffin RoadTrip. Though flawed, they both performed eons better than this waste of money. The gimmicky holder seems nice, but you can't move it around enough to improve static, and other people you're traveling with can't check out your songs as easily. Adjusting the songs / frequencies is more dangerous than the other transmitters i've used (you sort of have to hunch over, depending on the position of your cigarette lighter). The reception it gets is TERRIBLE (compared to other transmitters in my area) And it's SO SLOW to try to change stations unless you're using pre-programmed ones. Unfortunately, there's not a SINGLE station in my area (Wash D.C.) that's even remotely usable (yes, I tried all their troubleshooting tips). The other devices I've used could find at least 4. The Griffin RoadTrip's great but mine started doing sketchy things to my ipod -- so I bought this, which doesn't work. Overall, using an fm transmitter in an urban / suburban area is annoying, but I really really do not like this one and wish I hadn't bought it.
IMPORTANT: The best frequencies in my area, and perhaps yours, are under 88.1. I don't know what Belkin was smoking when it insisted on not including these frequencies. This is a major set back for me. Of course they say what frequencies they cover right on the box, but, having used belkin products to my deep satisfaction before, I trusted the brand. Oooops!
Overall I'd recommend getting one of the cheaper ones -- none of the products are great, the the smaller ones have the convenience of size and price.
Customer Review: Well Designed but Not For Everyone
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros: Compact, stylish. Simple: one connection. On-screen station management. 4 station presets. Firmware remembers where you were in what playlist when you plug it in, and starts you there. It also pauses the play when you unplug the tunebase or turn off your car (so your iPod won't keep playing silently away until you notice and turn it off). Comes with adapters for just about every iPod but the Shuffle, which fit snuggly and hold it securely in place.
Cons: Broadcast signal is fairly quiet, so you might have to turn up your volume (can't do so on the iPod, since it pulls the volume out the base, not the audio out). Quiet signal allows for more interference in some vehicles, especially if you live in Big Fat Cityville, where empty airwaves are harder to find. The really snug plastic adapters that hold your iPod in place are really snug so . . . If you have any kind of skin on your iPod, you probably won't be able to use this accessory. FM transmitters are always a poor substitute to an auxilliary input into your stereo if you have one.
Conclusion: I haven't used but two FM transmitters, and this one seems average as a transmitter. You just have to decide if you want to put up with the hassle/flexbility of a bunch of wires, or deal with the one-spot, compact set up that is the TuneBase FM. I enjoy mine, but my iPod barely fits due to some BestSkinsEver skins, and it occasionally feels in the way of my stick-shift. As always, if you have a tape deck, get a tape adapter. If you have an auxiliary input, get some savy friend to wire you in. Happy Shopping!
Customer Review: Surpassing my expectations...
Summary: 4 Stars
The Belkin Tunebase FM far surpassed my intitial expectations. After reading several reviews (I tend to do extensive research on virtually everything I plan to purchase) I was somewhat skeptical. However... this product does exactly what it intends.
The sound is as good as you can get from a device of this nature. Yes... there will be some static, especially when driving through more metropolitan areas. I live in Western Maryland where there are only a handful of radio stations. So fortunately, there are more than enough frequencies on the dial for me to resort to for clear audio from my iPod.
I have noticed when passing vehicles with XM or Sirius service, my Tunebase FM occasionally picks up the signal. But this only lasts long enough for them to pass me or vice versa.
The overall design of the Tunebase FM is highly functional. But there is a major dependency on where your cigarette lighter is located. The unit comes with some adapter rings, so it should fit snug in most all lighter outlets. However, if your lighter is in a pull out ashtray or surrounded by other consol items, the Tunebase FM may be difficult to position. The flexible arm is great... but it doesn't exactly "flex" as much as you would wish. The cradle that the iPod sits in has to always be in an upright position. Otherwise, the iPod will fall out after a couple bumps in the road.
All in all, this is a great product and probably the best purchase I have made in years (next to my iPod).