Hey all! Well, i had the craziest idea, and i wanna try it. Here’s the scoop.
I know very little ( I<--------this much--------->I ) about electrical components, stuff like that. So bear with me.
My idea is this. I want to be able to play my mp3’s on my computer through my sterio. (laptop inside car). I want it wireless.
So, i came up with the idea for an FM transmitter to do it for me.
I haven’t found a diagram i understand, and i have no idea how to do this. Anyone have any suggestions, or tutorials? thanks!
I need allll the help i can get, and that’s what makes CD great!
i don’t know what the difference between the two is, but they’re the same price. not only can you now listen to mp3’s from your laptop on your car speakers, but you can also listen to them on anything with an fm tuner.
note: i’ve never used this, so i can’t say how well it works. however, it is from belkin and they have a pretty nice reputation.
I picked up an FM transmitter for ~$15 at a truckstop between LA and San Jose, a year and a half ago (coming back from the LA regional). It’s really simple to use, and very useful for trips, as it has an integral 1/8" male phono connector. RioVolt + mp3 cd + transmitter = hours and hours of not having to change the cd.
If finding one of these things is a hassle, might you consider getting a casette adapter? Just a thought of an alternative.
Well, i suppose telling the reason for wanting this is most relevant.
What i wan tto be able to do is broadcast an fm signal from my truck, to about 100 yards around it, so that my car club and i can listen to mps’s while we drive, or stop, or have a meeting.
It’s all about being obnoxious with our $3000+ sterio systems, synchronization (spelling?) is what i’m looking for. I know that a transmitter that powerful is kinda expensive, so is there a way to make one, or modify one?
Not unless you want your local FCC reps chasing you around! The FM modulators in this thread all transmit up to about 10’, give or take. I don’t know the rules, but 100 yards sounds like you’re in the gray area between private transmitter and pirate radio.
The one’s I listed should be good for a couple hundred feet in the open. You do not need a lot of power to be heard. I work ham radio around the world with 5 watts.
I forget the exact power rating, but it’s some voltage level at 3’ is what the ruling from the FCC is.
I have a Neuros, www.neurosaudio.com, and I’ve tried what you’re trying to do, in an attempt to beat out the “homies” who have nice stereos, with 4 cars, two with nice stereos :p. With all the cars next to each other and my Neuros in the middle, we were able to get the signal to all cars, but walking around between the cars pulled the frequency more than we had expected.
One friend actually ran down to the homies, several hundred feet away, and told them to tune in, I believe while something like Barenaked Ladies was playing, and he said that before they said “What is this <slighty more vulgar term of doody>?” he heard the signal coming through, but with way too much static for it to be of any use.
That being said, the transmitters you have will work, if you drive like maniacs. You’d want to get a transmitter that can go at least 500’, probably more, because keep in mind that there will be plenty of stuff to screw up the signal, especially when driving.
