Griffin RoadTrip FM Transmitter with SmartScan for iPod Reviews

• No matter what station I turned to I got distortion in my songs

  
  By AZNUHQSHZHSUE on 2008-03-22
  I tried EVERY open station we have in our area but all of them have a hissing sound to them. That to me is normal but when I get the RoadTrip on the same station I would expect it to go away. It didn't I would hear it in the quieter parts of the song and between the song breaks. I think if it had more signal strength you would not hear that dead station hiss but it doesn't.
  I sold mine and now getting a Pioneer stereo with a IPod hook up and IPod controls built in. It's double the money and the install would be a hassle if you weren't good at it but I will pay for good quality sound.
  
  

• So close

  
  By A2JBLNFWIBDX2L on 2008-06-01
  Ive owned Griffin FM transmitters and they have been great. Good response, good quality, but bulky, cumbersome and difficult to place in my small cars. I bought the latest version of the Roadtrip in the hopes that the sleek, compact, ergonomic design, clear high contrast display and gooseneck positioning system would solve my mobile iPod problems. It was everything BUT a good transmitter. The design issues were solved, but now the transmitter couldnt hold a station for more than a few blocks, and when it did there is a hiss I cant seem to clear even on the best frequencies. In one car with the antenna on the front quarter panel, the reception is not good but at least holds for more than a few blocks. In another car with the antenna on the back quarter panel and another with it on the roof in the rear, the reception is awful. I found that if you hold the gooseneck, it improves the signal transmission, but not enough to justify driving with one hand. The system is pretty clearly underpowered, or needs a different antenna system. I dont understand. Did anyone at Griffin test this sytem? Griffin clearly understands this technology. This promising system falls flat on its face. Ive gone back to the clunky transmitters. If youre thinking of buying this device hoping it will solve all your mobile iPod issues, look elsewhere until they redesign it. Unless you drive in a region where there are no radio transmitters for hundreds of miles, and your car radio antenna is inside the car next to the Roadtrip, its not worth your hard earned cash.
  
  

• Griffin RoadTrip FM not good for the road trip

  
  By A1VEWKXGSE2JJP on 2008-04-26
  This product has been a disappointment to tell you the truth. I purchased this for my wife so that she could enjoy her IPod on her 27 mile commute in the morning. She used the auto scan feature to capture the best signal to use for the radio station for the fm transmitter and soon discovered that even on a short commute she would soon lose contact with the IPod due to station interference. Reprogramming required that she take her eyes off the road which she understandably was reluctant to do. Conclusion: a good product if you like sitting in your car in the driveway listening to your IPod;; but if you intend to listen while driving more than just a few miles, this is NOT the product you want.
  
  

• Works Great!

  
  By A173UWG847BBI0 on 2008-06-08
  I previously used a product that utilized a cassette connector placed in the tape deck of the car. Besides the tangle of wires, I did get a bit of distortion or hissing. RoadTrip with SmartScan is far superior. I would recommend the RoadTrip with SmartScan. No wires, has a sleek but sturdy flexible neck, holds your iPod securely, has interchangeable cradles if you have more than one iPod, and is much easier to program than a VCR! My only "gripe" was that the identifiers on the undersides of the cradle adaptors were almost impossible to read. They are molded into the plastic and are black on black.
  
  

• Review

  
  By A1RGY3W1G2FHE0 on 2008-04-18
  Very well designed ergonomically in regards to the dock and flexible arm. However, the FM transmitter is under powered and the Smartscan didn't find good stations for me. Additionally, it will not tune to 87.9, a frequency that worked well for me and was available on their older transmitters. With most FM transmitters, they are average at best.
  
  I returned this item and went with a USA Spec car integration kit which has worked great for me.
  
  

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