What are iTrips and FM Transmitters
FM Transmitters are a device which enables you to play your mp3 player through a radio. This is useful for using your iPod in the car, effectively you use the cars speakers to play the tunes on your iPod through.
iTrip is simply a brand name, it is Griffin's range of FM transmitters, so an iTrip is an FM transmitter.
There are manu transmitter which are specific to the iPod. Some connect using the dock connector at the bottom of the iPod, and others use the headphone socket. Generally if it uses the dock connector the transmitter will use the power from the iPod so it will not need a separate power source. Transmitter that connect use the headphone socket will need their own power source which is usually a battery either disposeable or rechargeable. Transmitters which connect using a headphone socket will also be compatible with other MP3 players. They could also be used with phones, laptops, pda's or media players providing a headphone socket is available.
Once the transmitter is connected to the iPod you will need to select a frequency. This is the frequency which the transmitter will transmit on. It is best to choose a frequency which is not used by any radio station for best results. Where the frequency is displayed depends on the transmitter you have, some have a small lcd display on the transmitter itself and others use the iPod's display. In this case, once the frequency has been selected you will automatically be returned to the standard iPod menu.
When the frequency is selected simply tune your radio into the same frequency on the FM band. You can now play songs on your iPod as you normally would and they will play through your radio. The transmitters normally have a range of around 10 metres, so it is easily enough for use in a car.
Use of FM transmitters has only recently been made legal in the UK, however you need to ensure that the transmitter you own is CE marked otherwise its use will still be illegal.