Gear Diary Reviews Belkin TuneBase

[David Tucker]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geardiary.com/2007/07/27/the-belkin-tunebase-fm-transmitter-for-zune-review/#more-3514' target='_blank'>http://www.geardiary.com/2007/07/27/the-belkin-tunebase-fm-transmitter-for-zune-review/#more-3514</a><br /><br /></div><p>Judie over at Gear Diary just reviewed the Belkin TuneBase. I&rsquo;m really glad she did, too, because I&rsquo;ve been thinking of buying it. I&rsquo;m not thinking of buying it anymore <a href="http://www.geardiary.com/2007/07/27/the-belkin-tunebase-fm-transmitter-for-zune-review/#more-3514">after reading her review</a>. You can read the whole thing here, but the essence of the review can be summed up with the final paragraph.</p><p align="center"><img border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/zt/auto/1185865987.usr307.jpg" alt="" /></p><p><em>&ldquo;I wanted the Belkin TuneBase to work so badly because it is exactly what I wanted and needed, but I have to say that I was disappointed. I am confident that the stations I set were as empty and ready to be used as was possible, but the TuneBase just didn&rsquo;t seem able to transmit with a strong enough signal to overcome any kind of interference, and therefore I found it too finicky for regular use.&rdquo;<br /></em><br />It sounds like a glorified charger, unfortunately. </p>

[Dyvim]

I had the iPod version of this and had the same issues. It basically was just too awful to use. Since then I upgraded cars and got a stereo with an auxiliary audio in jack, thus eliminating my need for an FM-based solution.

[David Tucker]

Yeah that's the far superior solution. I honestly can't think of a reason I'd rather have an FM transmittor over a line-in.

[tbird]

Have to agree.
Could not wait to get this and when I did I was very disappointed.
It looked great in my car, but honestly I could not get it to sound good at all.
And belive me I tried.
Took it back the same day I bought it.
Have since gone to the old standby, the cassette adapter and am not really happy with that option either.
I guess my only option, is to either upgrade my sound system in the car or live with the adapter. Or I guess just use the head phones which I really dont want to do ....

[onlydarksets]

Or I guess just use the head phones which I really dont want to do ....

It's also illegal to drive with headphones on in many jurisdictions (just FYI).

[ale_ers]

I have this product and completly agree. When I bought it I didn't plan on using the FM modulator because my car has an Aux port (as a matter of fact I have never even tried the FM on it), but I did plan on using the line in at the bottom.

I got a great price on this and I wanted it as a mount/charger and line in so I could just drop my zune in and play. Well the line-in is even horrible making me think that the problem might be with the connection, not the FM modulator.

I still use it though because it makes a great mount/charger in my car. I just have to plug my aux port into the headphone jack instead of the line out on the Belkin. So it adds a step that I was hoping to avoid. It works for what I need, but I would never reccomend it to others.

[Damion Chaplin]

That's very telling, isn't it? I was considering getting one of these until I read the review and the experiences of our readers here. :eek:

Bullet: Dodged!

[tbird]

It's also illegal to drive with headphones on in many jurisdictions (just FYI).
Got it, thats why I really dont want to use that option.
Sure wish this device would have worked out though.....
Looks cool, but sorry to say looks arent everything.

[Paladin27]

So for those of you with line inputs on your radios... have you found any device that lets you have both charge and audio over the dock connector in your car? I really hate having two cables going to my audio player.