Sirius Satellite Radio Owners - FM Transmitter - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bench Warmer · 07-24-2007, 04:34 PM

I just got it installed today and have since read lots of reviews stating problems with the FM transmitter in the new Sportster 4 and Starmate 4 models. Basically, the FM transmitter on the newer models is not strong enough. Well, the way mine has been installed in my car, it will be using the FM transmitter. Is it really that bad?

Edit: And to add, what would I need to do to upgrade the sound quality (I don't have a tape deck and have NO car audio installation skills)?

Deelow · 07-24-2007, 04:38 PM

You will lose a lot of quality.
I just bought a casette adapter and it is heads and tails above the transmitter. Not everyone has a tape deck though.

metallicat · 07-24-2007, 04:49 PM

The FM transmitter on my XM MyFi is great, way better than anything I've used on an iPod. Try it out and see how it works, it may be great.

Bench Warmer · 07-24-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

The FM transmitter on my XM MyFi is great, way better than anything I've used on an iPod. Try it out and see how it works, it may be great.

Here's hoping...

InSutterWeTrust · 07-24-2007, 04:56 PM

I just purchased a Sportster 3 pack from Costco last month. Im currently using the FM transmitter on my car and it works great! At least in this city. The tricky part if finding a good fm station to put it to so there isnt much interference. I use 99.7 and its working great for me.

SinceDay1 · 07-24-2007, 05:02 PM

Bench Warmer... please let us know how it works for you. My wife just won a Starmate 3 and we're undecided as to whether or not we'll activate it and buy a subscription partly because of the FM transmitter option.

I know that FM transmitter performance is partially dependent on your vehicle. For example, the quality of your car radio and the type and position of it's antenna have a significant impact. I use a Griffin iTrip Auto for my iPod. It works spectacularly in my work vehicle (Ford Windstar); not bad in my wife's '03 Vue and so-so in my '99 Accord.

FCAV · 07-24-2007, 05:44 PM

I have the Stiletto 100 and it works mediocre in my Jeep, yet at the same time, I've followed my buddy with the Roadster and have had it come in clear.

Slava · 07-24-2007, 07:11 PM

I only use the FM transmitter and have never had reception issues. The frequency I use is 96.5 or 91.5 (sometimes in Lethbridge the signal is interfered with, but I just change the frequency to avoid this...not a big deal to me).

GreenTeaFrapp · 07-24-2007, 08:18 PM

My old Sirius radio died recently and I had to replace it. So I picked up a Sportster 3 at Costco since I could take it back if the depowered FM transmitter sucked. Well, in my wife's Mazda 5, the thing sucks. Tons of static.

To see if things were better with XM I picked up an on of their radios, an Audiovox Xpress to be exact, to try out their method of FM modulation - a cable that hooks on to your car's antenna. I set it up on my Protege, pretty easy to do, and no static but the sound quality isn't as good as Sirius. Sirius sounds like a distant FM broadcast while my XM sounds like an AM broadcast. Oddly enough XM's hockey station seems to have better sound quality then their rock stations.

Bench Warmer · 07-24-2007, 08:30 PM

Well, I got it hooked up and it isn't bad, but definately isn't great. I found a lower frequency channel (I have it on 88.1 right now) is much less staticy than the higher ones. I'll play with it some more but it'll do - it's definately not terrible quality by any means but not FM quality either.

Slava · 07-24-2007, 08:33 PM

Did you get the "piece of wire" to improve the FM reception here in Canada? I didn't with my first one, but did when I replaced it...it definitely sounds better with that.

(I don't really know what else to call it other than a piece of wire....I'm sure it has a name!)

GreenTeaFrapp · 07-24-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

I found a lower frequency channel (I have it on 88.1 right now) is much less staticy than the higher ones.

The problem with 88.1 is that everyone and their brother has their FM modulators set to it. Since there are FM transmitters in the older radios that are much more powerful, you'll get your signal overpowered quite often in traffic.

GreenTeaFrapp · 07-24-2007, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

Did you get the "piece of wire" to improve the FM reception here in Canada? I didn't with my first one, but did when I replaced it...it definitely sounds better with that.

My Sportster from Costco doesn't have it, or I haven't noticed it in the package, but I made a makeshift one out of an earbud from The Source.

My XM radio is from the States.

FlamesKickAss · 07-24-2007, 10:37 PM

i have the sportster gtr i think 2. my fm transmitter works good. i have it on 107.9. I drive a ford fusion and it worked good in my old car a chev cavalier. I saw a fm modulator that someone else was talking about for these radio's at future shop

Bench Warmer · 07-25-2007, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

The problem with 88.1 is that everyone and their brother has their FM modulators set to it. Since there are FM transmitters in the older radios that are much more powerful, you'll get your signal overpowered quite often in traffic.

Not in Regina.