pick the iTrip if you like listening to static!
Written: Mar 14 '07 (Updated Mar 14 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: when it works its great (small, portable, cordless, "ok" sound)
Cons: 90% of the time its static, very picky, and falls to pieces if dropped
The Bottom Line: I feel bad that my husband gave me this, it doesn't work.
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| marytara's Full Review: Griffin Technology Griffin iTrip With LCD FM Trans... |
I feel a little bit bad writing this review because my husband gave me this iTrip with all the best of intentions. He thought that it would be a great way for me to listen to my iPod Nano (2nd generation, 4gb) in my car.
What does the iTrip do?
The iTrip from Griffin Technology is an FM transmitter for the iPod. What that means is that you plug the iTrip into your iPod and then you can listen to your music using FM radio. In my case, this is in my car (but any FM radio would do as long as you are within range (10-30 feet). What you do is tune your FM radio into an unused station and then pick that same frequency on your iTrip dial. Voila - your Ipod is now playing through your radio.
Good Stuff
The Griffin iTrip is a teeny tiny thing measuring only 2.45" x 1.43" x 0.9" and weighing in under an ounce! Its powered by your iPod so it requires no extra battery or power cords. My iTrip is white with a small LCD screen on the front and a dial on the side, it plugs into the bottom of my Nano and actually looks a bit bulky when compared to the slim design of the Nano. I have lots of things plugged into my car socket already (like the cell phone charger, my GPS, my ipod supercharger) so I appreciate that this doesn't have to plug in.
Once you find the unused frequency that you want to transmit onto and dial that up on your iTrip it will hold that station until you dial up another station. I appreciate not having to set it up each and every time I want to use it, just plug it in and go.
When the iTrip works, it works. I love to be able to listen to my music in the car and not have to deal with annoying local radio station chatter. Its great to be able to pick the song or playlist that I'm in the mood for and do my own thing. The sound quality is similar to that of the radio or if I play a CD in the car. I just have the system that came in my car and not one thats pimped out so if you have a better car audio system your results may vary.
..And the Not So Good Stuff
I'd say that the bliss I just described of being able to listen to my music through the iTrip is in reality about only 10% of the time. Unfortunately for me (could it be where I live... New Jersey?) I have yet to find a station that I can consistently transmit thru without getting a ton of static. When its working, its usually on 87.9 but even that delivers me annoying static and feedback on a regular basis. Of course, usually when I really want to listen to MY music is when the darn thing is all static. Its so frustrating to me. When I told my husband about it, he went and set it up (doing the exact same things) and of course it worked fine for him. Then, later in the day it delivered me static. Its so inconsistent that its nothing I want to rely on, nor could I if I wanted to.
Because its cordless and doesn't have a battery it relies on the power of your iPod. Expect the iTrip to significantly suck out the power from your iPod requiring it to be docked/recharged sooner than later. Any time I use the iTrip I need to recharge my Nano afterwards. They make a model of the iTrip with a charger so if the iTrip works for you, then you might consider the charging version.
Next, the durability... well, lets just say - not the best. My 6 year old dropped this and it fell into 3 pieces. I thought for sure it was totally broken but after putting it back together (it came apart at the middle seam..) it surprisingly seems to work better than it did before! Go figure. Still, it shouldn't fall into pieces if dropped from about 3 feet onto a linoleum floor.
As far as the range of the iTrip being 10-30 feet, I have to truly wonder about that. I notice significant differences in the amount of static depending on if my nano with the iTrip is placed in the cup-holder, on the front seat, held by a passenger, or whether its turned upside down (all within more like 3 feet of the radio). Stepping directly outside my vehicle with the iTrip... all I can hear is static. So much for 30 feet!
Recommended:
No
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marytara
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Member: MT
Location: Jersey Shore
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