OT: HELP! Stupid IPOD Question

[jeanadave]

Yes, I am totally behind the times (and am technology-challenged)! I know absolutely nothing about Ipods. Heck, I don't know how to use all the functions on my CD player and I still have a turntable But I want to buy an Ipod for my DS for Christmas and need to know if there is some way to connect it to his car's stereo system or to portable speakers that can be used in his car. Are there extra accessories that I need to buy for this? Also, are there any "must-haves" that I need to buy? Thanks for any and all help!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

what you need is an iPOD FM Transmitter. It hooks up to the iPOD and then transmits what is coming out of the iPOD to an FM radio frequency so it is heard over the car stereo.

They sell them at Target, Best Buy, Wal Mart -- all the usual places

 

[budbeerlady]

The way to play it on his car stereo is to buy a FM transmitter. It then will play on the fm channel that he selects. I have seen them $20 -40. Some work better than others so read the reviews. I have an I-home in my kitchen, my Ipod sits in it and plays my music out on speakers while it also recharges my Ipod.

 

[sk!mom]

Yes, you can buy a car kit to use the ipod in the car. Some car stereos are ipod ready and you only need to plug it in. If his isn't, then you can buy the car kit. My DS uses a plug in car kit- bought it for about $20 at Best Buy- it works great. They sell more expensive ones but the cheap one has worked well for 2 years.

As far as accessories, there are many but it really depends how your DS will use it. My DD has a great dock that she uses to play her ipod in her room. She uses the dock more than headphones. My DS has an alarm clock dock that he uses.

 

[jeanadave]

Thanks for the replies. Does anyone know if it matters how old his car is? He has an early 90's Honda Accord (still going strong).

 

[kittycatalina65]

Does his car have a cassette deck? I have both the FM transmitter and the cassette adapter and the adapter works so much better, especially if you are in an urban area.You can buy one at best buy for about 15 bucks.

 

[5 for WDW]

I have the FM transmiter that plugs into the ciggarette lighter and plays through the radio. Usually a channel like 94.7 or so.
Mine is by Maxell (P25 is the model number I think) and goes for $40 or so. We bought cheaper ones before this one and none of them worked at all. We had no luck at all with the cassette player transmitter.
It works so well we bought one for my DH's truck and an extra just to keep in the closet in case something happens to one of ours..lol.

I have the iHome dock in my kitchen and that is great too. I have a small portable dock with external speakers that I bring to the beach too.

Can you tell I love my iPod???

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Thanks for the replies. Does anyone know if it matters how old his car is? He has an early 90's Honda Accord (still going strong).

As long as he has a FM radio and a 12V Inlet (cigerette plug) tis will work.

The nice thing is you can use it from car to car and even in the house with another small adapter.

 

[Rigel Kent]

I use the cassette adapter in my old car. It works great, and it lasts a few years before the wire (from the cassette to the mp3 player or ipod) starts to develop a short from repeated bending. Then I buy a new one. Supposedly it has a lifetime warranty, but ha ha.

I bought it at Target or WalMart (can't remember which).

 

[Cindy B]

I don't use the cassette adaptor OR the FM transmitter.

The FM trans. was too spotty for my taste and my car stereo does NOT have a cassestte player.


I had an newer radio that was taken out of one car and placed into my car when my DH got rid of his car. This newer radio (which wasn't that expensive) had one input jack. Of course you could do anything with that input jack.

So.. DH bought the smallest input cable he could find and placed one end in the stereo input jack. At the other end of the cable he placed it into a Belkin cigarette lighter power Ipod jack. The Belkin went into the cigaretter lighter and is attached to the Ipod for power.

So-- in essence, one small black cord to Belkin power thing. Belking power thing to Ipod.

I have an older car, so this works well for me.

 

[Cindy B]

I use the cassette adapter in my old car. It works great, and it lasts a few years before the wire (from the cassette to the mp3 player or ipod) starts to develop a short from repeated bending. Then I buy a new one. Supposedly it has a lifetime warranty, but ha ha.

I bought it at Target or WalMart (can't remember which).

Take advantage of the lifetime warranty. I'm on my 2nd Belkin car adaptor due to the same thing.

Belkin was wonderful about taking it back. I mailed it to them in pieces (literally-- pieces!) and got a new one--no questions asked.