Griffin Technology 4030-ROAD RoadTrip FM Transmitter & Auto Charger and Cradle for iPod Reviews

• FM Transmitters for Ipod - 3 Options

  
  By ANNWAFSAVK6S2 on 2005-12-02
  I've tried three different types of FM Transmitters for IPOD and here are my rankings in order:
  1) Griffin Itrip - $30-$50 depending on model
  2) Griffin Road Trip - $80.
  3) Belkin Tunecast - $40
  
  First let's talk about sound quality. On all of the FM Transmitters, the sound quality isn't that great. It's somewhere in between AM Radio and FM Radio quality, a long ways from CD clarity. However, being able to play your IPod in the car on a roadtrip or at a party is a great convenience. After a short while, you don't notice the lower quality. My friends and I have happily listened to the IPod for hours.
  
  The next important item is battery power. The Belkin Tunecast runs off AAA batteries and does not draw power from the IPod. The Griffin Itrip draws power from the IPod. The Griffin Roadtrip must be plugged into your car's lighter or auto power adapter. Of these three I like the Griffin Itrip the best. I can take the IPod a party and broadcast for a few hours unplugged or use a charger for unlimited play. In the car, I typically have my IPod charging to a separate auto charger. However it's not a requirement so I can also charge my cell phone and still listen to my music.
  
  Tuning the Transmitter to a blank station: The Road Trip and the Tunecast were both easier to change radio frequencies. The Itrip could be tricky to adjust the radio station. This is important because you need to be tuned to a blank station. Reviewers who talk about station interference merely need to tune their Transmitter to a blank station. I've used the Transmitters all over the country including NYC and I've always been able to find a frequency on the dial to use.
  
  The next consideration is usability. I liked how the Itrip attached to my IPod so it handled as one unit. Judging a separate Tunecast component and the IPod was awkward in the card. When using the Griffin Roadtrip, you must take the IPod out of its case and mount it to the cigarette lighter. At that angle it was impossible to read the screen, so if you wanted to make any selections or adjustments, you had to remove IPod and temporarily lose the signal. With the Itrip, you can hold the IPod on your hand and pick out songs while still listening to your music. Depending on the design of your case, you may not need to remove it to use the Belkin Tunecast or Griffin Itrip, which protects the easily scratched IPod.
  
  Finally price - all three items do essentially the same task. The cost of a car chargers for your IPod is approx $30, so if you factor that in that cost, all three device are essentially the same price.
  
  I prefer the Griffin Itrip for the reasons stated, but I know others who prefer to mount their IPod with the Griffin Roadtrip.
  
  
  

• Works GREAT.

  
  By A386NVAVQV5WUO on 2005-08-02
  This is a nice little I Pod accessory, The Griffin Road Trip works terrific; I put it on 88.5 hear in Southeastern, CT and I get NO interference, anywhere I go. It is fantastic to have my whole CD collection, at my beck and call, in my car. Because of the position of my car lighter/electornic accessory plug, I don't have to use the extra extender arm, which might look a bit cumbersome, so the unit even looks good in my car, besides performing great. And on top of all that the Griffin Road Trip charges my I Pod up fast. I would highly recommend his product.
  
  

• Shoddy construction, but a good idea

  
  By A2BJ9I0BQ1LH5S on 2006-03-28
  The whole reason I got my IPod was so I could listen to all my music in the car without bringing a whole bunch of CDs, so some sort of car adapter was high on my to-buy priority list. I read all the positive reviews for this one and went for it - but what a bad idea!
  
  To be fair, here are the good points:
  1) It's cool that you can hook it up to your computer and listen to your digital music in your house and in your car
  
  But here's why it's not so good:
  1) The design is awkward, depending on your car. I drive a 97 Honda, with the cigarette lighter/power source on the bottom of the front panel. I had to use both of the swivel arms to make the adapter fit comfortably in my car (using only one meant it was too short and too close to the front panel). However, when I did that, the cradle was in an awkward, free floating position that got in the way of my gear shift. There's something wrong with the design when you can only plug in your IPod transmitter AFTER you've started driving.
  
  2) Shoddy construction. I had only used my RoadTrip for about a week when one of the swivel arms broke, meaning it couldn't support the weight of the cradle plus IPod. Not cool.
  
  3) I sent in my RoadTrip to Amazon for a replacement, which they did quickly. However, the replacement conked out a week later when I was using it to listen to my music via my computer and a household stereo!
  
  Since I'm not the type of person to treat my electronics harshly, I have to conclude that it was manufacturer defect. But twice? Hmm...
  
  I'll be searching for a different brand, instead of taking a chance on a third replacement!
  
  

• My public service message - Don't buy the Griffin device!

  
  By A1QXNE6YOFR2T on 2006-08-27
  I have now opened my wallet three different times and bought and used three different iPod FM transmitters:
  
  1. I bought the origininal Griffin ipood RoadTrip as a gift for my daughter - sucked (I would classify under "does not work!")
  
  2. Bought the original Monster ipod FM transmitter (non-charging, like the Monster AI-IP-FM-CH iCarPlay - now $47.99 at Amazon)
  
  3. Bought the Monster A-IP-FM-CH-PS iCarPlay "Plus" (currently $68.26 at Amazon) for a recent family road trip.
  
  Please help me and yourself - DO NOT PURCHASE THE GRIFFIN PRODUCT - they burned me for this device that sounded worse than an old AM transister radio. They should not get more of the public's hard-earned money.
  
  INSTEAD, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MONSTER A-IP-FM-CH-PS iCarPlay "Plus" ($69). It has very good FM sound (false short of a direct digital connection), button presets (invaluable as you travel throught your "home" FM radio area, and it tunes over the entire FM channel range. You will need the latter as FM stations will bleed into YOUR music if you are not able to tune onto an "empty" FM channel.
  
  I did not have to spend the time to write this, but I hope that it sets straight some bad karma released on the world by the folks at Griffin. I also hope that this helps you to make a good purchase.
  
  

• Excellent sound quality & easy to use

  
  By AW61RJ984KLM9 on 2005-12-03
  Overall, I am very pleased with the Roadtrip. The sound quality is fantastic! I was previously using a Griffin Itrip and thought the sound quality from it was good, however after using the Roadtrip for about five minutes I noticed parts of music that I normally only heard through headphones. The setup for the Roadtrip is pretty easy. I do agree that the one drawback is the size, it was much larger than I expected. However, it is fairly easy to manipulate into the position you need it to be in and it is nice being able to see the face of the Ipod while driving down the road (in a safe manner of course).
  
  
• Great product
  By AAYARBO44IGWV on 2006-02-07
  I have been using this unit for over a month now, and after having tried other, similar products, I can say that this is the best bang for your buck.
  
  While the audio quality is, as with every FM transmitter, not CD quality, it is definitely good. The signal is strong and can over-power most local radio stations. It charges the iPod fast, fits in my Ford Ranger perfect without using the extension, and is convenient to use.
  
  The only other product anywhere close in quality is the Monster iCarPlay, which does not include a cradle, so your accessing your iPod is very distracting while driving.
  
  The changing of channels is very easy compared to other products with two easily accessible buttons.
  
  It fits all kinds of iPods...even the iPod video. Meaning on long trips your passengers can watch movies, listening to the audio on the stereo, and not have to worry about battery life.
  
  The FM transmitter is detachable and can be used with any computer, powered through USB.
  
  If you are thinking about using an FM transmitter, this is the one to get.
  
  
• Great product as far as fm transmittion goes...
  By A10BM6VYPTXRTN on 2006-05-30
  After reading many reviews of the fm transmittion criteria, I found myself in the market for one. The best reviews that I could find where the Monster IcarPlay (newer) and the Kensington 33185, I could not find either specific model anywhere near me, so I went down to the local bestbuy and got myself the Griffin RoadTrip. I was quite skeptical to see how this would perform because I read many negative reviews regarding Griffin products. After purchasing it for $118 CAD (about $105 US), I went in the car and tried it out. the set up is quite basic and after a few minutes I was listening to my nano with decent sound quality (same as local radio stations). I live in the biggest suburbia in North America, Mississauga, Ontario and the transmittion is quite good.
  
  Pros:
  It does not skip, even as the ipod wiggles from the road bumps
  It stays in tact
  Easy to use
  Good sound quality
  Comes with everything you need, every ipod model capability
  Can be used with your PC or Mac to transmit sound for you home stereo
  Convinient
  comes with Doc+holder+clip (s)
  
  Cons
  Constant access to the ipod battery could mean that the battery's life is ending faster than it should.
  the sound quality isn't top notch. (after all it is a transmitter, very minor complaint)
  
  
  Ipod users limit your sounds to minimum when the ipod is playing because it will not have an effect on the transmittion at all.
  This is probabbly a good thing.
  
  Over all I'd like to give it a 5, but 4 seemes more appropriate, due to price and capability.
  As far as fm transmittion goes this product will not dissapoint you.
  
  
• Best FM transmitter for iPods on the market!
  By ALUSNZATIXQQU on 2006-01-07
  After having bought the "Monster Cable iCarPlay Plus Wireless FM Transmitter/Charger for iPod" (and then promptly returned it because there was just too much static/interference), I decided to try the Griffin RoadTrip. First, I was shocked at the difference in sound quality between the two products! The Griffin sounds crisp and clear and there is NO static! I live in Boston and have set the frequency to 88.5 and have not had a single problem. Second, the Griffin is so much more convenient and easier to use because you just plug it in and turn it on (it remembers whatever frequency you used previously). No wires, no having to dangle my Nano around the rearview mirror just to get music to play (albeit with frequent static and a constant hissing sound in between songs), and best of all, I now have a nice, solid, safe place to put my Nano that's right at my fingertips. My only caution is that the holder-adapter that's designed to fit the Nano will only fit if I take mine out of the leather "Marware" protective cover I bought to keep it from getting all scratched up (I have the 2G Black one). An easy solution (at least for me) was to keep my leather cover on and simply use the "larger" holder instead of the smaller "Nano-sized" one. Griffin conveniently provides two different thicknesses of padding to customize the fit for virtually all iPods (except the Shuffle, of course) so I just put in one of the pads and my Nano stays nice and secure and will never get scratched. I highly recommend the RoadTrip and am frankly, shocked that others have rated it so poorly. I love it and could not be happier with my purchase!
  
  
  
  
• Definitely not worth the money.
  By A1L3J2SGJTPPLW on 2006-04-22
  I live in a very rural area, and I had a hard time getting good reception with this. As if that weren't bad enough, after I'd had it for three weeks, I went to unplug it from my car's cigarette lighter and it fell apart in my hand. $50 down the drain.
  
  
• Doesn't work well - I will look for other options
  By A1ALL70FYULXOQ on 2006-05-23
  I've read several reviews about this item needing to be at full volume on your radio to work. I've tried it in 4 different cars. In each car, the transmitter actually broadcasts at a slightly different frequency than selected (for example, if you select 100.1, the radio actually picks up the signal on 100.3) and the volume is extremely low with poor sound quality. Some reviews say it works great - my guess is the production process is very low quality and you're taking a gamble by purchasing this item.
  
  
• I love this thing!
  By AJIDANN7ILL44 on 2005-06-16
  My husband bought me one of these for my birthday. I use it with my IPod Mini and I would fight anyone who tried to take it from me. It is very simple to use and delivers clear music while keeping your Clickwheel completely useful. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
  
  
• FM Transmitter - Great........Usability - Fair........Beware Manual Transmission Owners!
  By A2WC1UZ58RH1Q2 on 2005-10-12
  I'd have to preface my review with the fact that I drive a manual Tacoma pickup. That said, I agree with many of the reviews stated.
  
  1. The FM TRANSMITTER works GREAT. There is hardly any interference and it is very easy to navigate compared to the Griffin iTrip (which I bought and then returned). You do not have to program any software on your ipod. You simply switch the station using the two left and right toggle buttons at the bottom of the product.
  
  2. The PLUG-IN ADAPTER is FAIR. The main problem I had with the unit is that it is very awkward to get into tight spaces with a "manual" transmission. When I switch from 2nd to 3rd, my shifter gets mighty close to hitting the unit (and many times it does hit the unit and change the station which can get a bit annoying). Also, the adapter is not very stable. It often moves from side to side when I'm going around curves in my car (this would not be an issue for some considering where their cigarette lighters are placed and if the unit is not completely perpendicular to the ground). In my case there is only one way to place the unit though it looks like it could be used in many different ways.
  
  3. Aesthetically, I like the white color of the unit contrasted with my black console, though this can lead to theft vunerability. I don't find it quite that cumbersome to remove my ipod from the unit and/or remove the unit altogether.
  
  I'd have to say my two big problems are listed in number two and they are big negatives (hence the three stars). But as far as a transmitter goes, its the best reception I've found on the market so I'm staying with the RoadTrip.
  
  
• May be okay, but it didn't work well for me
  By A2RW8THH66T1UI on 2006-04-19
  This worked, but the sound quality was very disappointing. There was background noise on every frequency I tried.
  
  A friend hooked up their Transpod in my car and it was world's better...gonna invest in that, I think.
  
  
• Coolest iPod accessory
  By A35HB0WNOA833H on 2005-09-24
  This transmitter makes your car iPod-friendly in a most painless way. The adjustable attachments make it possible to set it up with just the right angle to read your screen. I have used it in both my cars - one needs the extra length attachment due to the location of the power outlet. You can change fm stations to get the best reception. I tried another device that only tuned to one station and it did not work. I live in the Seattle area and have no problem finding a good station. In keeping with the clean white iPod design, the device looks good. Unlike the other transmitter I tried which had the iPod dangling at the end of a power cord, the roadtrip seats your iPod securely. I am very happy with the performance of this product and would recommend it.
  
  
  
• reliable FM transmitter for your iPod
  By A2CHS79G1BN91J on 2005-12-18
  I bought this transmitter three months ago and my wife has been using it all this time with her iPod mini. We both like it because for several reasons: great reception, it fits the iPod mini nicely and snuggly, it allows to change the FM channel in .1 Mhz increments (which is convenient in a busy radio area where we live), it recharges your iPod, and it looks good too! I'd recommend buying this transmitter for your iPod. I have tried several others, and even though they're cheaper, they don't last as long, use batteries instead of your car cigarette lighter, and the reception is horrible.
  
  
• Road Trip gets an A+!
  By A3HOB77HZ5T9D0 on 2005-12-27
  This thing is sweet. After first trying other FM transmitters (small Belken brand with headphone connect and the Monster brand dock connector) I am sooo relieved to find out there is a transmitter that really works!! The sound comes in as clearly as the any other radio stations. Moreover, I can use it to broadcast music from my computer through my stereo.
  
  The cigarette lighter in my car (94 Subaru Legacy) is behind the steering wheel on the right and the set up works out perfectly so my windshield wiper lever is just in front of the Road Trip. I can see how it may not work in other cars depending on where the lighter is, but for me, it couldn't be better.
  
  5,000 of my favorite songs on virtually any sound system I want? You bet the Road Trip gets five stars!
  
  
• Yes it works with the iPod Nano
  By A15C9OZAQKMYYT on 2006-01-03
  A yellow sticker which said "nano now" was present on the outside of the box of the RoadTrip I bought, but there was no other indication this would work with the iPod Nano. I took a risk and purchased it. When I opened the package I found it included an adapter which allowed me to use my iPod Nano. The Nano was held firmly in place, and the device worked like a charm. Be warned, however, that by design this device protrudes from the power outlet, and is thick enough to hold a full size iPod. Since my power outlet is aligned with my floor mounted automatic transmission shifter, I almost did not have enough space for the unit when my car was in "Park". Fortunately the RoadTrip is highly adjustable and I was able to make an "S" shape which pulled it pretty flush to my dashboard. My advice is that before you buy this device, closely inspect the location of your vehicle's power outlet and look for potential conflicts with your transmission shifter and/or cup holders.
  
  
• A nice solution for mobilizing your ipod
  By A81REJ5E4Y5R7 on 2006-01-25
  If you are looking for a way to enjoy your ipod music in your car without alot of "hook-up hassle" the Road Trip is the way to go. It serves as mount, charger, and FM modulator for your ipod all at once. Installation is as simple as it gets - you just plug it into your power point. The sound quality that it provides through your radio is good. It IS NOT CD quality sound. There is no static or break up of the sound, but the highs and lows are attenuated - that is, the sound is slightly muffled. However, it still sounds better than your average radio station reception. In using the unit for over 20 hours I only once heard any static, and that problem was quickly solved by choosing a new FM station on the RoadTrip unit. The unit mount is fairly stable, but as it is only mounted to the power point, it does tend to shake just a bit as you go over bumps in the road. The mount is nicely adjustable, and should make the unit easily accessible in most vehicles.
  I have owned a number of FM modulator devices, and the sound quailty through this unit is about the best of all of them. All in all the Road Trip is a great choice if you are looking to take your ipod on the road.
  
  
• A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE!!
  By A2GPVOWH5WA4YY on 2006-04-12
  Okay, if you're someone like me, you want to play your music with cd- quality sound- meaning you don't want to be cringing everytime you go somewhere where reception starts to go sour. I mean, everytime I passed through mountains, or hills ( which were not even that big- I mean, I DO live in L.A. not some remote island), the static started creeping back again). It was so frustrating to have something that finally plays what you want, but to stll not be able to hear it with 100% satisfaction. I returned it the same day I bought it. Hopefully, Apple will acknowledge this problem and come up with some kind of device that fixes it. I'm not wasting my time again with fm transmitters.
  
  
• Poor Performance
  By A1OCS69S78AVKS on 2006-05-21
  Very disappointed in this product, although I don't know if there are ANY good FM car solutions for an iPod. The RoadTrip looks good but I found it very tight with a 30G second generation (I believe) iPod without any insert. I've only found one decent FM setting that works in my neighborhood in the suburbs of Columbus, OH, but lost that about 3 miles from my house. To me it isn't worth pulling over to find a different frequency, if one even exists, that will work, retune the radio, retune the RoadTrip, etc. Way too much hassle for the money.
  
  
• Waaaaay better than itrip but still... it's fm technology
  By A3CB8JH302FSSL on 2006-01-06
  I bought this product with a little bit of a gamble. There was no indication that it worked with a Nano... but it does so anybody worrying, don't. It has several adaptors that fit any ipod but the overall style is big and blocky. This causes problems for many people (especially manual transmission vehicles) but its quite adjustable and fits generally where you want it to. I also found it funny that they include a four or five inch adaptor extension when the thing is already PLENTY long. Overall the product holds reception MUCH better than most of the fm transmitters I have dealt with. I have only picked up minor static but the pros outweight the cons. Word of advice to any buyer... do not get mixed up in the idea that the lower on the dial you are, the better the reception for the roadtrip. I found that to be the opposite. My best dial sits right around the 100s on the dial and is surrounded by other stations. When I use it in the 80s or so... terrible results. Good product, be warned it is big, but I am happy in most regards.
  
  
  
• Works Great
  By A23276BKVHEXRP on 2006-01-16
  I recently bought this and used it for the first time on the road trip this past weekend. I absolutely loved it. I travelled from Detroit to Indiapolis and I never had to change the station. I preset the FM Transmitter to 88.3 and it worked great with occasional disturbance (like one or two on the 300 mile trip). It also provides a nice plave to hold your iPOD and charges it as well.
  
  Loved it.
  
  
• Great sound and easy to use!
  By A31VSSR7VI2OZ8 on 2006-01-21
  I ordered the Griffin RoadTrip for my sixteen year old daughter. She drives a Ford Focus with the factory stereo/CD player. We set up the RoadTrip in the car and we were a bit confused as to how to tune the radio to a channel that isn't in use since the radio only seeks & scans for channels that are actually sending out a signal. It turns out that my radio stopped at 88.1FM which is the default channel for the RoadTrip and so we used that channel since we didn't hear a radio program with the RoadTrip turned on. When we started the ipod the sound was great! No Static, perfect quality from our ipod through the factory stereo! After we turned the RoadTrip off, we realized that 88.1FM is actually a broadcasting radio station in our area, but the Griffin RoadTrip seems to block the signal & broadcast the ipod music with no problem. The Griffin RoadTrip was much cheaper than a lot of the transmitters I looked at and it works beautifully! We couldn't be happier. It really helped that our cigarette lighter is up high so the RoadTrip transmitter doesn't interfere with any other instruments on the dash.
  
  
• Not a good product for ipod nano in a case!!
  By A31W705DMELWJP on 2006-03-29
  I purchased this product and promptly returned for the following reasons:
  
  1. The only way my nano would fit in this product is by taking it out of its iskin which is not fun to do and totally defeats the purpose of protection.
  
  2. I have a Jeep Liberty and where the cigarette lighter is in my car prevented me from being able to use the RoadTrip and putting my vehicle in Park!! Even with the extending arm it was still awkward.
  
  I ended up purchasing a Belkin tuneFM which just came out a couple of weeks ago...it seems good so far and is very user friendly as well as compatible with an iskin or case that has an opening at the bottom for the USB and headset jacks. Also, this product does come with a car charger so that you have the option of charging your ipod nano when necessary!!
  
  This product seemed like a good idea since it charges it and holds the unit all in one but it just wasn't compatible with my set-up.
  
  
• Last FM Transmitter I will buy
  By A2UP5V68VIJOIR on 2006-07-28
  I have to say After reading some on the reviews about this product I was sure it would not work for me.
  
  I was wrong!
  
  It came with all the attachments for my nano/mini/3g/4g/5g Ipods.
  Yes I have a few. I have tried several fm Transmitter and this one rocks. I live in the Dallas area and finding a open station is hard but 95.5 and 102.5 works great. The fact that it will charge my 3g (firewire) while playing is fantasic. I have a Chevy Colbat and with the extentions for power it fits perfectly between the seats and tilted towards the driver for easy sight of whats playing. The spacer pads that are supplied word great for keeping the ipods from moving. I stuck the pads on the Ipods instead of the device so I don't have spacer problems when I switch from 3g-4g-5g players.
  
  I have tried the Airplay and Airplay2 & Itrip one on top and the one on the bottom and even a radioshack fm transmitter but this one work great.
  
  Pro:Easy to install. Comes with everything you would need.
  
  Con:Doesn't store custom channels for easy switching between.
  
  
  
  
  
• My best ipod accesory
  By A1KMCS04KV13AB on 2005-08-11
  I bought this product about a month ago for my 60gb iPod photo, and so far it's the best iPod accesory I have. Broadcasts to almost any selected FM station with no problem and no interference, charges it nicely, and holds it perfect. So far I've used it with 2 cars, and it held the ipod in both perfectly, I didn't even have to use the extra extender arm supplied. The holder also contains a belt clip, so you get another extra accesory, that actually makes it 4 accesories in one: Car holder, car charger, FM trasmitter (that can seperate, and actually not only transmit ipod), and ipod belt clip holder. and, it can also hold an iPod Mini with a small adapter included. Perfect accesory.
  
  
• Great sound...bad harness
  By A2UZU3PL24K93T on 2005-10-01
  The electronic portion of this item rocks. You get crystal clear sound either in your car or when you use the included USB attachment to broadcast from your computer. It is easy to change stations on the fly, making this better than other products if you live in or near multiple cities where you might have to change stations to find an emtpy one. The part about this product that disappoints me is the harness system. Though it is made with a good deal of quality, the fact that all that weight of the harness, the transmitter, and your iPod is on your power outlet doesn't make me comfortable. I'm always having to be extra careful when pushing buttons on the iPod when its in the harness so I don't place undue stress on the outlet. It also sucks because unlike ones that have long wires which you can leave plugged in and conceal the ipod in a center console, this one leaves your ipod in plain sight. Now, you can slide just the iPod out of the harness, leaving the arm and the transmitter there, but the problem for me is that my truck will maintain power to the outlets even when the ignition is off. So if I leave the iPod in it, it will charge the iPod indefinetely (or the iPod will use the truck's power to say "charged" on the screen.) If you take just the ipod out, the transmitter turns off, but the little green/red signal light on it will stay lit! So what I end up doing is rotating the entire transmitter/iPod section off and I leave the arm in the socket of the outlet. Kind of inconvenient. And then every time I do this (or replace the transmitter/iPod section onto the arm), I place a serious twisting motion on the outlet (not cool in my books.) I feel disappointed in having paid so much for a harness system so poorly designed. But the sound transfer is great. If you have a vehicle with rock solid outlets, this is the one for you. If you have some "experienced" outlets that have seen better days, go with one that uses a wire and doesn't place a lot of weight on the outlet.
  
  
• Works Well, Looks Awful
  By ANPBEV97LJB8W on 2005-11-08
  The sound quality is good. The feature to adjust to a different FM station is very helpful, specially when driving to other areas. I must add that the charger and the fact that it holds the pod in place are good features.
  
  The "looks" are not the best though. The adapter does not blend into is surroundings. Depending on how you position the adapter, the pod display may be hard to see.
  
  
• Like driving with one hand?
  By A3H3ZZ9KHA3RLI on 2006-07-14
  I got this product for Christmas last year and thought it would be great. Now I could charge my Ipod in the car AND listen to it while driving! But here were some of the problems:
  
  -- The connection didn't work with my Ipod's thin rubber cover. Even though there is a slit in the bottom of the sleeve that the Ipod charger fits in, it apparently didn't fit closely enough to allow a connection to this transmitter. So I had to cut a bigger hole in the bottom of the sleeve. Not a big issue, but still.
  
  -- I've used this in 4 different cars. In 3 of those, no matter how I fiddled with the joints - adding the extender, removing it, twisting it different ways to balance it - this transmitter is naturally top-heavy. That means when it was plugged in to my charger, it OFTEN fell over when I turned a corner. So in order to enjoy my Ipod music, I had to drive with one hand on the transmitter so it wouldn't fall over.
  
  -- The extender joint got stuck and would not come back out of the transmitter, so I was stuck with an even more top-heavy product.
  
  The sound quality was overall good, but who can enjoy it when you're worried about it falling over all the time? I recommend the Monster Cable iCarPlay, which is more compact, has better sound quality, and doesn't have this unwieldy stand.
  
  
• Top Notch Transmitter
  By A18VS1UH6CXTRD on 2005-08-19
  Finally a tranmitter with enough power !!! Great sound from this second generation unit from Griffin. In a test we were able to take a sony boom box about a hundred feet away from the car that had the Griffin unit plugged into the lighter socket. If it can transmit that far it will certainly provide a strong and quiet signal to the radio IN the car. Shop for price on this item it variess widely. BestBuy (worstbuy in this case) sells it for $89 dollars, thats ridiculous.
  
  

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