All-in-1 Windshield FM Transmitter with 3.5mm Audio Cable

If your car stereo does not have a 'line-in' or auxiliary port, or is not MP3 (particularly iPod) ready, then a FM transmitter is your only option. Before I tell you why the 'All-in-1 Windshield FM Transmitter' is a good buy, let me explain why other transmitters usually are not. There are 4 types of FM transmitters. Type A connects directly to the iPod from the dock connector and is powered by the iPod itself. Type B connects to the headphone jack and is battery powered. Type C connects directly to the iPod from the dock connector and is powered through the car's DC connector. Lastly, Type D connects to the the headphone jack and is powered through the car's DC connector. Both Type A and B can be used with any kind of modern radio in or outside the car because of their modular design. That makes them perfect for people who enjoy having that sort of flexibility. Both types have their flaws however. Type A is powered by the iPod's own battery, which means not only is your listening time greatly limited, but because it is attached to the dock connector your iPod can not be charged as it plays. Type B does not leach off the iPod's battery, but because it uses it's own battery it means that you'll have yet again one more thing to recharge or replace batteries for. Type B however, usually transmits better sound quality because the audio is transmitted through the headphone jack which more closely emulates what the human ear perceives. However, both A and B have limited range which often results in more static. Type C and D are the better choices because their range is boosted by the power provided by your car's DC connector. (Note: Range matters in a car believe it or not because car antennae can be placed in different spots on a car, and antennae can vary greatly in signal reception strength). The audio quality/fidelity transmitted by Type C can be spotty however, because the dock connector can exaggerate minor flaws in each songs' recording quality. The 'All-in-1 Windshield FM Transmitter' is a Type D. It gets the added boost from the DC connector, and it transmits better audio because the iPod transmits through the headphone jack. It's easy to connect, albeit a bit unwieldy, and transmits instantly and powerfully over most frequencies. For the price there is hardly a better choice. Pros: +Powerful transmitter +Sturdy cradle and transmitter build +Easily installs +Little to no static heard over audio (this can vary in more mountainous areas) Cons: -Biggest negative: Suction cup is made of a poor quality material, effectively making it useless. This defeats the point of calling this a 'windshield' FM transmitter. -Power cord is too long, requiring users to bundle it in order to keep it neater looking. (Advice: keep the twisty ties used in the packaging) -Because this requires the car's DC connector to operate, it is not a portable device.

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