I like gadgets, pretty much all gadgets really, but especially the ones that are multi-functional, those are the coolest I think.
A while back I took a look at a decent wireless FM transmitter for transmitting music from your portable audio player to your cars’ radio, today for review I’ve got the 2nd version of that, aptly named the Wireless FM Transmitter Version 2. It looks and works pretty much the same as the first version but the 2nd version features a clock and a thermometer built in as well.
A clock is a nice added touch and I like the temperature feature as well…
Wireless FM Transmitter Ver2
Author: Kristofer Brozio
Sponsor: USBGeek
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
Wireless FM Transmitter with Thermometer and Time Display from USBGeek
Specifications & features:
-Just plug it into the headphone jack of your audio device, tune your car or home stereo to one of the FM frequencies in the Transmitter’s range.
-Support all 3.5mm stereo jack audio device.
-FM frequency: 87.5 ~ 108.0 MHz
-Range: 10-20 feet, depending on receiver quality.
-Temperature and time display.
-Blue backlight.
-On/Off switch, frequency control.
-3 of programmable memory key.
-Requires 2 x AAA batteries (not included)
-USB Car Charger Adapter, USB cable included.
-Weight: 42gm
-Size: 7.2 x 5.3 x 2.3cm
Price: US$ 20.00
A Better Look at Things
:
The Wireless FM Transmitter comes in an easy open style plastic clamshell, the device itself is shown though the front of the package, with specs and features along with instruction on the back.
Inside the package we find the Transmitter itself and the USB 12v car power adapter. You can use either batteries of the power adapter.
The transmitter has a fairly long wire attached to in with a standard sized audio plug on the end, when not in use it locks into the unit for storage.
The battery compartment is on the back and the Transmitter uses two ‘AA’ batteries for power, or the optional power cable as I mentioned earlier.
The Wireless FM Transmitter Version 2 has seven buttons on it and a small display screen in the middle. To the right of the display is the On/Off button which is also the backlight button as well, to the left are two buttons with arrows pointing up and down, these buttons are for tuning the station to match your radios. Along the bottom, below the display are four smaller buttons, the first is ‘Set’ which is used to set the time etc, the other three are labeled M1, M2 and M3, these are the memory preset buttons to save stations you know to work well with your radio.
Installation, Testing and Comparison
There’s nothing to the installation really, just put the batteries in and hook up your audio player and you’re pretty much ready to go.
When you first turn it on you’ll see the time, temperature and the battery indicator along with a graphic of the globe and the word ‘Music’. The thermometer seems to be accurate, I brought one from my house out to the car to check it against. The thermometer on the FM Transmitter doesn’t have any additional decimal places so it give you a general idea of the temperature which is fairly close. The temperature is displayed in Celsius and I don’t see anywhere on the device to change to Fahrenheit or anything in the instructions either, but to me that’s not a big deal, to others it might be…
To use the FM Transmitter you just need to hook up your music player and then press the on/off button again to switch to transmit mode. You’ll see a little satellite dish appear on the display and the numbers will change from the time to radio frequency. You just need to find a station on your car radio that plays static and tune the Transmitter to that station.
Sound quality is decent, not digital quality but good for such a low costing device. There is a faint hiss in the background that you can hear if you listen very closely while the music is playing, and you can really hear it during pauses or when moving to the next track.
If it means anything to you, I asked my wife if she could hear the hiss while the music was playing and she told me no she couldn’t, so it could be that my ears a bit more sensitive than most.
I also used it hooked up with my computer, I have a Radio Shark radio antenna on my computer that I use frequently and it worked very well with that also.
Summary:
The FM transmitter costs only $20 and for that price it’s well worth it, it’s easy to use, comes with a car power adapter and includes the time and temperature.
It works well, and I think people that are not looking for things like the subtle hiss in the music won’t even notice it as I did.
DragonSteelMods gives the Wireless FM Transmitter Ver2 a 4.5 out of 5 score.
Pros:
-Portable
-Easy to use
-Dual power
-Includes card power adapter
-Time and temperature display
-Bright, easy to read
Cons:
-Slight hissing noise all the time
I would like to thank USBGeek for the chance to review the Wireless FM Transmitter Ver2 and for their continued support of DSM.
review# 397