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| Macally PodFM Transmitter for iPod (White) | 
 enlarge | Brand: Macally
Category: CE
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $31.30
You Save: $18.69 (37%)
New (17) Used (1) from $31.30
Avg. Customer Rating:  65 reviews
Color: White/Gray
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4
Dimensions (in): 11 x 4 x 8.5
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: 2136-PDFM
Model: 2136-PDFM
UPC: 701107485966
EAN: 0701107485966
ASIN: B0002R5Y5M
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New, in retail box. Ships same day. Macally authorized delaers. From the Mac & iPod Leaders Since 1988. Our shipping charges are lower.
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| Features:
| • | Listen to your favorite tunes in iPod through any car or home FM stereo receiver | | • | Frequency: 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz giving you the full FM spectrum to choose for the clearest channel | | • | Charge your iPod in your car with included charging cable | | • | Compatible with iPod, iPod Mini, MP3 player, CD player and any audio playing device with 3.5mm headphone jack | | • | Powered through car cigarette lighter adapter/holder on the road or AC Adapter (included) at home |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
With Macally FM transmitter, you can enjoy your music through any FM radio in your car or at home. PRODUCT FEATURES: Listen to your favorite tunes in iPod through any car or home FM stereo receiver; Frequency: 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz giving you the full FM spectrum to choose for the clearest channel; Charge your iPod (for ipod with 30-pin dock connector only) in your car with included charging cable; Compatible with iPod, iPod Mini, MP3 player, CD player and any audio playing device with 3.5mm headphone jack; Quick switch frequency button at 88.1, 94.1, 100.1 and 106.1MHz; Power On/Off button, frequency Up and Down buttons; Powered through car cigarette lighter adapter/holder on the road or AC Adapter (included) at home; Tangle free retractable audio cable; Frequency memory at power off; Large backlit LCD display with easy to read characters.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 60 more reviews...
 Great deal if you don't mind the inconveniences January 11, 2005
84 out of 87 found this review helpful
This accessory gives you several features for one low price. Of all the transmitters/adapters in the same price range, this is the best deal and least-disappointing. Considering I paid was able to find this for the same price as an iTrip (which has no charger), I'll live with its flaws.
Pros:
* Car Charger and FM Transmitter in one unit
* Powers and charges iPod
* FM Transmitter can be used without car charger
* Retractable audio cable
* Easy to use LCD-display for selecting frequency
* Decent quality (on par with any other FM transmitter)
* Can over power most radio stations
Cons:
* Uses headphones instead of line-out
* Transmits at a low volume (turn your radio up pretty loud)
* Must run two cables to iPod
* FM transmitter requires power (AC or Car)
* Short plug means it might not fit your lighter plug.
* Sometimes it can't overpower radio stations, even weak ones
You plug the transmitter into your cigarette lighter and then run two cables to your iPod. One goes into the Dock Connector slot and another goes into the headphones. You select a frequency, adjust your volume, and it's done.
But why could they not send the audio LINE-OUT signal through the dock connector back to the FM-Transmitter? Instead, they chose to use the dock-connector for power and a separate headphone cable for audio.
Unless you have an iPod holder (such as an iPod cupholder dock), it will be impossible to find a place to put the iPod. With a cable hanging off the top and bottom, it doesn't really fit anywhere in my car (and my cupholders won't fit a dock).
Try this test: hook up your firewwire/usb dock connector and your headphones; now try to find a place where your iPod is safe, won't slide around, and can easily be accessed. If you fail, consider upgrading to one of the more-expensive Charger/FM/Holder all-in-one accessories.
The second issue is common to most FM Transmitters (including iTrip). The PodFM hooks up through the headphone jack. This means I have to turn the iPod up to 60%-85% volume to transmit via FM (or leave it low and turn my radio up really, really high). I always forget about this and get a rude surprise the next time I use my headphones or turn on the radio. Ouch!
The cigarette lighter plug is too short so it barely fits in my cars. If you have a door/flap over your lighter, this thing probably won't fit. If your lighter is close the gear selector, it might impede you from putting your car into park or shifting into higher gears.
The FM Transmitter can be used outside of your car, but it requires an AC Adapter. There are no batteries and it cannot be powered off the iPod.
 works great, loaded w/ features, great price December 30, 2004
38 out of 40 found this review helpful
I bought this because it had more features than other similar products and was among the least expensive. I have been very pleased with it. I commute into Phoenix every day and had no problem using it with my car radio. Apparently some of these devices allow the background static from the unused FM frequency to mix with the sound transmitted from the device, but this product completely blocks out any radio static. When you turn it on, the radio static diasappears. When you start playing music, there is only silence in the background. The design makes it become part of your car's console, and the large readout is easily visible from the driver's seat. I like that I can choose whatever frequency works best for me, instead of only one of 5 available. I love the fact that it can run off the car's battery, or be charged in the car or from a wall outlet to be used 'unplugged'. I also love that it can charge the iPod and that the audio cord that connect the transmitter to the iPod is retractable. The other nice thing is that is works with any audio device that has a standard miniplug for headphones. I've never heard of this manufacturer, but this is one heck of a product for a very good price. I wouldn't waste time with Monster or any of the others that cost more and do less.
Awkward design but excellent perfomance February 20, 2005
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
I almost didn't try this device because of its awkward design (see below)--but I'm glad I did. I like it better than my iTrip because it is much easier to tune and far better than the AirPlay.
The MacAlly works very well and is much more convenient overall than my iTrip. The iTrip is difficult to tune on-the-fly, whereas the MacAlly is a piece of cake to tune and offers a full spectrum of channels to use (unlike the Monster FM transmitter).
The MacAlly is also clearly superior to XtremeMac's AirPlay--which has a very annoying high pitched whine in the background. In contrast, the MacAlly gives good sound quality at volumes easily audible even when driving a noisy SUV at 70-80 mph on the Interstate. (Sound quality is comparable to the iTrip, but tuning is SO much easier on the MacAlly).
Why did I say the design is awkward?
1) The MacAlly transmitter requires power, therefore it ties up your cigarette lighter.
2) Therefore, if you want to be charging your iPod while it plays you must do so through the dock connector on the FM transmitter.
3) Unfortunately, instead of drawing audio signal from the dock connector, the MacAlly requires a separate input coming from the headphone jack on your iPod.
4) As a result, you end up with an iPod that is tethered to the MacAlly both at the top (audio out via headphone jack) and at the bottom (charging via dock connector).
One workaround that helped me was to use an iGrip pad to hold the iPod in place either on top of the dash (still a bit awkward because the cables were at near full extension) or inside the storage shelf below the radio--which works very well except when I am running the heat full blast, at which time the iPod gets a little too toasty warm for my taste.
Fortunately for me, the lighter adapter fits my Subaru just perfectly.
In summary, the MacAlly ain't pretty, but it works pretty durn well.
Works great, couldn't be happier January 23, 2005
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
After using the Belkin transmitter for 6 months this transmitter works so much better I am mad I once wasted my money on another brand. I had many issues with the Belkin model including very poor reception and it cutting out for no reason until one day just six months later it quit working all together. It also was costing me quite a bit in batteries which it would go through at rate of at least 6 a day. The Macally transmitter uses power and you actually have to turn it off so if the music stops it doesn't shut itself off leaving the most annoying static playing at high volumes. The Macally also gets a lot better reception, at one point when using it my car I found out after turning it off that is was playing over a radio station, that never happened with the Belkin. At home the signal seems so much stronger I can even get in on my clock radio and I don't have to move it around everywhere to get good reception. The accessories it came with are nice especially the IPod charger for the car. Does it have more wires than other brands? Absolutely but I would rather have wires than a product that barely works and my conscience feels a lot better about not throwing a dozen batteries away a week.
A bit bulky, but excellent quality May 26, 2005
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Indeed, this unit overpowers local radio stations. I've had iTrip, and airPlay and iRiver FM units, but Macally beats them all.
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