[prismglass]

I'm seriously considering buying an Imac and Ipod, and I was wondering if anyone on the forum has used a TransPod (from Digital Lifestyle Outfitters) to listen to their IPod over their car audio systems. It costs $99, and it combines an FM modulator, a mount for the IPOD, and the power jack all into one unit. Here is the official Apple store page, which might not work as a link:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...5uPghzlCh3oAnA2dpK6bX6Zf/1.3.0.5.10.3.55.13.0

Here is a page I found through websearching, which isn't in English but does have pictures of both the older and the newer versions:
http://61.194.6.236/transpod.html

and a graphic from that site:

I have seen the thread on the RX-8 forum about the people putting together the AUX-in for the headunit. If that becomes a reality I will buy it instead.

My questions for people who have used the TransPod:
-Would you buy it again?
-How is the sound quality compared to a strong FM station?
-Does it work in congested radio areas?
-Is it ugly in person? How well does it fit in the Mazda3?
-Anyone have pictures of it in use?
-Anyone know where to get it cheaper than $99?

Thanks!

 

[Biocide]

my roommate has the iTrip and it does this for 34 bucks

Griffin iTrip for new iPod
$34.95
The iTrip FM transmitter for the iPod can play your music through any FM radio in your car, at a party, wherever the mood strikes you. Supports all iPods with Dock Connector.

 

[prismglass]

Errr, thanks for replying, but not quite. The iTrip is only an FM modulator. The TransPod is ALSO a car charger and a mounting location. I've already got a crappy FM modulator (not an Itrip, obviously) and I am intrigued by the all-in-one nature of the transPod.

 

[mjoshi]

I'm using it for last 3 days in MA (commute from Worcester to Boston) and I've not found any issue yet. I've tried Belkin FM transmitter in past but returned it within two days. I think this one is powerful as I've tried using it on an existing FM station and it overrides existing FM station with iPod and you dont feel any disturbance, I will definately recommend this to someone who wants good FM transmitter on a side note this will not provide you very good sound quality as AUX-in but much better than regular FM transmitter. I'm pretty happy with 3 days of use the only thing is it costs 99USD which is bit high.

 

[mjoshi]

here is one more alternative if you want to give up stand (holder) feature of Transpod, it is iCarplay and it is cheaper then Transpod

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...59?v=glance&s=electronics&vi=customer-reviews

 

[morph860]

I have a 3rd gen iPod....I bought one of those iTrip transmitters and ended up returning it a few days later. Reception was about AM radio quality. Your best bet would probably be to hardwire it someway. Just my $0.02.

 

[ExRAV4owner]

I just finished modding (Hacking?) my CD player to accept a direct input from my iPod.

I used the directions from this thread to do it:
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=50ac1fec1da47ac231397ed75f1489ed&postid=239804#post239160

Works perfectly. Its actually quite easy to do, you just need about an hour of time. The hard part was disassembling the radio to get the input board.

I ended up routing the cable down inside (behind) the console and coming out the ash tray. I passed the cable over the right side tab of the ash tray and coiling up the loose cable back in there (I don't smoke so I don't need the use of the tray). Works great and the sound is CD-quality. You'll need to make a CD with nothing but silence on it since the HU needs to see a CD in there to use it but it works perfectly.

I was toying with the idea of suing an FM transmitter but this mod was easy and cheap. The only cost was the $5 mini jack extension cable from Radio Shack.

 

[bluntman]

ExRAV4owner, do you want to do that mod to mine?

 

[mbhrdc0re]

FM modulator. http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/522836/2

 

[RaGe]

FM modulator. http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/522836/2

How is the sound quality on this?

 

[mbhrdc0re]

It's much better than any FM transmitter because it taps straight into the antenna.

 

[ExRAV4owner]

ExRAV4owner, do you want to do that mod to mine?

Sure I guess... Where you located?

 

[bluntman]

You're not in Toronto are you?

 

[PhD]

one more FM modulator, this time from Focal Point Computer -
http://www.focal.co.jp/product/detail.html?id_product=368

 

[Timmeh]

why not buy any alpine cda unit and the 100 dollar iPod add on. With this add on you can control your playlist through your radio! :lol:

I got a cda-9831 brand new in the box sitting next to me for 280 bucks. It retails at 400 dollars. You also get the full 1 year manufacturers warranty with it.


If you are going to modulate your sound make sure you get one that hooks up directly to your cars antenna. Audiovox has a model that costs like 45 bucks and works great. The cool thing about it is that if you don't have the in dash 6 disc changer it fits under neath your radio behind the dash.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Try this ( http://www.mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=8831 ) and add an ICElink.

 

[prismglass]

When I posted the question in April, I didn't have an iPod, and the aux-in solution that is now a sticky in this forum hadn't been posted yet. I now have a 4th gen iPod, and I plan on adding the aux-in soon.

One thing I want to try is integrating a connector into the faceplate of the stock head unit. Rather than mess up my faceplate, I asked the service manager at my dealership how much an extra faceplate costs (the one that goes where the cassette or MD would go) and he said $98. He also said that once somebody adds a cassette, he would have an extra faceplate that he would give to me for free "in the interest of science". In addition to the aux-in plug(s) - (I might cut off the RCA plugs and make it a mini-jack solution) - I will add some graphical interest so it goes with the rest of the headunit.

I'm going to stay away from the icelink to keep it as universal as possible - this way we can plug anything into the stereo, even a cassette player.

Also, it turns out that the "crappy" FM modulator that I already own wasn't bad at all in the Mazda3. We must have a pretty good tuner.

 

[dioxviad]

Using Transcast for my Dell DJ