FM Modulator advice? | Retro Rides

cjhillman Posted a lot 1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily) Posts: 1,588	FM Modulator advice?cjhillman @cjhillman
	Nov 20, 2017 13:37:48 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Who has FM Modulators fitted to their cars? Only found out they exist last night and after looking around the internet found a bunch of them from £10 -£35 !! This could be just the thing i need in my car as I'm pretty dedicated to standard or old decks. Just before i buy one, any experience with the models or types bellow? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Connects2-Fakra-Wired-FM-Modulator-transmitter-FMMOD4-iPod-iPhone-MP3-in-car-AUX/321518729649?epid=1630621494&hash=item4adc0279b1:g:qLsAAOSwVFlUELPx £25 www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-Universe%C2%AE-5775-Universal-Modulator-Antenna/dp/B00ID3BZGE/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1511114936&sr=1-14&keywords=FM+stereo+modulator £20 with RCA line in?? www.amazon.co.uk/sourcingmap%C2%AE-Aluminum-Frequency-Expander-Converter/dp/B01GVYSB90/ref=pd_day0_263_24?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=K9W8ECGB3XHXHPG0TE03 £10 My standard Ford stereo only has MW/LW which obviously wouldn't work but, if i buy one with a 3.5 or the RCA lines, would that part work regardless? I sometimes swap this deck out so, had the idea of hard wiring it to the car and not the unit. Also, does anyone know if these draw a lot of juice? I'm concerned on how much i have conected to the switched live sometimes and i'm not great with figuring current/voltage/ampage out etc. Cheers, Chris


	Reply Quote

squonk Part of things Posts: 860	FM Modulator advice?squonk @squonk
	Nov 20, 2017 19:08:38 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	The 3.5mm and RCA lines are an INPUT to connect your phone/mp3 player to. The whole concept of the FM modulator is that it takes an audio input signal via these connections and re-transmits it as an FM radio signal for the radio to receive. Consequently the radio must have FM for the device to work. There are two issues with these modulators. Firstly the sound quality isn't great, but I didn't find this too much of an issue with all the other noise in a car. Secondly, the FM band is very crowded. In some areas it can be difficult to find a usable frequency without another interfering with it. Drive ten miles and you usually find another radio station is bleeding on to the frequency you have tuned your modulator to (I speak from experience!). Some modulators allow you to pre-set a couple of frequencies but it still means regular re-tuning as you drive on a longer journey, just by pressing buttons though - a bit like trying to receive radio 1 or 2 in the days before RDS. They only draw milliamps when in use so no worries about flattening batteries or exceeding cable capacity. If I were you I'd buy a cheap one first to try it out (£5 from eBay)and see if you get along with it - you may find it a pain in the neck to use (I did, mines now sitting in a drawer somewhere). The frequency expander you have linked to is to allow radios such as those fitted to JDM vehicles or similar to receive the full spectrum of UK FM (Japan does not use 88 - 108MHz so anything further up the dial than radio 2 cannot be received). It is not an FM modulator.
	Last Edit: Nov 20, 2017 19:57:51 GMT by squonk 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71 2005 Mercedes CLK320 Cabriolet 1996 Mercedes C180 Elegance Auto Saloon 1996 Rover 620Ti (Dead fuel pump) 1992 Toyota HiLux Surf 1987 Range Rover Vogue (Rusty) 1992 Range Rover Vogue SE (More Rusty) 2006 Chrysler Grand Voyager 2008 Corsa 1.4 Design

	Reply Quote

cjhillman Posted a lot 1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily) Posts: 1,588	FM Modulator advice?cjhillman @cjhillman
	Nov 21, 2017 13:50:46 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Ahhh no worries, thanks for the reply mate! I've just moved to London so that probably won't work for me with all the stations taken up here. Maybe I could make a little switching box between the deck and amp for an aux instead. I'm sure I saw a diagram for one somewhere.


	Reply Quote