Digital Wireless Broadcasting: the Digiana Audia-x FM Transmitter v2

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.merconnet.com/product_info.php?products_id=426' target='_blank'>http://www.merconnet.com/product_in...products_id=426</a><br /><br /></div>The concept is pretty simple: a small FM broadcasting unit, with enough power to reach a few feet, connected to any sort of media player with a mini jack on it. You tune the FM broadcasting unit to the same radio station as the one your car it set on, and you're listening to whatever is on your media player. I've tried two units like this before, and never bothered to keep them for one reason: it's notoriously hard to get the dials on the broadcasting unit set perfectly to match the car radio station. Modern cars have digital radio tuners, but the transmitters I tried were analog. Until the Audia-x v2, sent to me by <a href="http://www.merconnet.com/">Merconnet</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/audiax.jpg" /><br /><br />I tested this unit with a Creative Labs Zen Micro, Dell Axim X50v, and an Orange C500 Smartphone - it worked well with all of them. The range on the Audia-x is two meters on paper, and while I never moved the unit beyond four feet, it maintained the signal perfectly - which is more than I can say for the other units. The thing that makes this unit really stand out though is the digital tuner - by having a digital tuner on both the transmitter and the car radio, it allowed for a fast and painless signal lock. Audio quality is about what you'd expect - it's FM radio, so while it sounds passable, it pales in comparison to a CD. But that's not a surprise, and the Audia-x does the best it can within the limitations of FM quality.<br /><br />The unit <a href="http://www.merconnet.com/product_info.php?products_id=426">retails for $39.99 USD</a>, and includes an auto adaptor for power and a battery, which is a nice touch - it has everything you need. The audio cable is attached to the unit so there's no danger of missing a piece when you most need it. If you're looking for an FM transmitter solution for your audio device, I can highly recommend the Digiana Audia-x FM Transmitter v2 as a solid solution.

[straysheepie]

Does anyone know how the sound quality compares to the iTrip? I was going to buy one for my iPod mini but I haven't heard good things about it - lots of static interference. I'm not sure if it has a digital tuner or not though since it's controlled by the iPod.

I like the versatility of this FM transmitter and will probably order one - thanks a lot! :D

[beq]

Just ordered one and may order more later (I referenced this site in the order page).

I'm also looking for other solutions. For example, cars with a cassette player can also use a cassette line-in adapter, but can anyone tell me if there's also an equivalent for a car CD player??

[emmfan]

How does the sound quality of an FM transmitter compare to a cassette adapter?

[Jason Dunn]

How does the sound quality of an FM transmitter compare to a cassette adapter?

I haven't used a cassette adapter in about a decade - so I honestly can't remember. :-) The FM transmitter is more prone to interference because it's wireless, and I think the audio quality off the cassette will be better. But the downside is that it will have a wire, and it will only work in cars that have a cassette deck, which neither car in my family has.

[Jason Dunn]

... but can anyone tell me if there's also an equivalent for a car CD player??

If you're asking whether or not there are car CD decks that have minijack inputs, yes, they're out there - I had one a few years back, but they're pretty rare. Your best bet would be to go down to your local car audio store and see what they have.

[emmfan]

Yeah, having wires trailing all over the place with a cassette adapter isn't as clean a solution. But then you have to trade-off audio quality with an FM transmitter.

I guess Bluetooth might be a nice solution, if any of my cars actually had it (but considering they still have cassette players, that kind of indicates that they don't!) :oops:

[beq]

... but can anyone tell me if there's also an equivalent for a car CD player??

If you're asking whether or not there are car CD decks that have minijack inputs, yes, they're out there - I had one a few years back, but they're pretty rare. Your best bet would be to go down to your local car audio store and see what they have.

Hehe I was actually asking whether there's a CD disc adapter equivalent to a cassette adapter mentioned earlier, but I don't see how that's possible physically (I wanted to ask anyway though).

Replacing my in-dash CD changer with a model having a line-in jack is a bigger task, perhaps in the future...

[Jason Dunn]

Replacing my in-dash CD changer with a model having a line-in jack is a bigger task, perhaps in the future...

You're asking if there's a way to attach a cable to a spinning disc? 8O Next question... :wink:

[beq]

^ Hahaha you're right :D

[Kevin C. Tofel]

If you have an in dash CD changer unit, you might have a better (but of course, more expensive) option: a digital converter that uses the AUX jack for direct line in. Instead of connecting a changer to the stereo, you connect a converter box with RCA inputs like this one: http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piechryaux.html

No modulation, no signal degredation! :D

I've also used the Belkin TuneCast II for about year; also a digital tuner FM modulator. You can find that for as low as $25. It works OK but there is quite a bit of FM signal crossing in my geographic location.

kct

[ctmagnus]

I have a TuneCast II as well. I bought it purely for the digital tuning, but even then I cannot get a good signal out of it.

[mobilemail]

I've owned a Belkin FM transmitter for several months that has a digital tuner. I agree with Jason, if it isn't digital, its tuning isn't stable enough to mess with. A transmitter is great because it's very portable, but it might not work well if you live in an area with a crowded FM band. In the Florida Panhandle, there are very few openings in the FM spectrum where ambient signals are weak enough to not interfere with the local transmission you are trying to maintain. When you operate at a frequency that has an active transmission on it, you hear hisses, ghosts and other artifacts in your music. The digital tuners give you the ability to tune anywhere in the FM band accurately, and store the frequency. If you plan to buy an FM transmitter, don't waste your money on anything without a digital tuner!

[molecular]

How does the sound quality of an FM transmitter compare to a cassette adapter?

I once bought "the best cassette adapter" (price was in the range of the audia x), but the guy in the shop said "I wouldnt buy it, the quality sux". The guy was right. All kinds of distortions, damping, ...

I bought an audia x some weeks ago and use it a lot. The quality is as good as it can get. A whole lot better than any cassette adapter for sure.

As for the range. I just tested this in-house and I'm getting a perfect stereo lock and quality TWO FLOORS below the transmitter. Must say the conditions are good, though (good receiver, no reinforced concrete in the house, only wood/brick).

btw: this is also a perfect solution when having a party and you want identical sound in multiple rooms.

I still have a question: how can the audia x TX power be boosted to make a pirate radio station, say in the range of a block or small village? (After all youre not getting into jail for this in germany any more, only a fine). Will making an extended antenna help anything? Did anyone open up the thingo, I wouldn't be surprised if the engineers included a little poti to adjust the trasmission power.
I seriously doubt you can get more than twice the energy, though. Maybe on could fix up some analog amp after the "audia x encoder / preamp".

[beq]

OLD THREAD UPDATE

Just curious, is the abovementioned Belkin TuneCast II (http://www.belkin.com/config/Search/SearchResults.asp?var=stemming&amp;stemming=true&amp;var2=num_rows&amp;num_rows=10&amp;var2=query.message&amp;error_query=Go+back+and+enter+some+words+to+search+for.&amp;RowsPerPage=10&amp;RestartFlow=t&amp;prod_attrib=5&amp;catID=1&amp;search=tunecast) much bigger than this Digiana Audia-x?

Some features I like from reading about the TuneCast II:

- "We add a great convenience feature with our unique Auto ON/OFF function. It frees you from having to manually toggle your TuneCast II's ON/OFF switch by simply powering on when an audio signal is detected. If no signal is detected for a period of 60 seconds, your TuneCast II switches off. This innovation preserves battery life while making your outstanding mobile audio experience simpler to enjoy."

- "TuneCast II also features 4 programable memory slots allowing you to save the clearest station wherever you go."

On the other hand, other features I like about the Digiana Audia-x:

- Seems smaller in size (and uses a single AAA battery instead of two)
- Proven performance (as I've been using one)

It's just that the Audia-x's center ON button is too easy to get accidentally pressed in my bag, in which case it'll just drain the battery since it has no auto-OFF function.

Regardless though, I've just placed an order for two more units from Merconnet :)