iStuff iCast FM transmitter Can this get tunes off your MP3 player to your radio successfully?

Reviewer
Stuart Miles
Review Date
7 August 2007
Manufacturer
iStuff
Price as reviewed
£29.99
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Our score

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Full review

7 August 2007 - Another week another FM radio transmitter. This time it's iStuff iCast available from iPod World, but can this one offer anything more than any of the numerous others available on the market? We get tuning in to find out.

On the surface the iCast looks like any other FM transmitter, its small, connects to your iPod or MP3 player via the headphone jack and then transmits your signal (and therefore tunes) to a nearby radio that you've happened to have turned on.

With car manufacturers only now just adding AUX in sockets to the car stereo and the FM transmitter becoming legal in the UK it's a good chance to get your tunes shared, but one of the biggest problems is fining a spare frequency to broadcast to.

The iCast AutoScan FM Transmitter from iStuff claim to fame is that it has a button that once pressed automatically scans for the clearest FM frequencies available in your area.

Once it has found the clearest frequencies you can save them on iCast's four memory channels and away you go. In practice and it works very well leaving you just the task of tuning in your car or kitchen radio into one of the suggested frequencies.

Frequency is displayed via the onscreen display and the units range is from 88.1 to 107.9.

As for power, like other FM transmitters the iCast is powered by a AAA battery, and iStuff, its makers say you should get around 18 hours from a single charge. Even better is the fact that there is an auto switch off mode so you won't waste that battery after you've forgotten to turn it off.



Verdict

We were surprised by the iCast as it managed to stand out from the crowd by offering something a bit different to the run of the mill offerings from everyone else.

The autoscanner is a welcomed additional technology, however as with all FM transmitters be warned that you won't get decent performance in a heavy urbanised inner-city area.

This product was kindly loaned to us by iPodworld.co.uk

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Comments

  • A fantastic FM transmitter. I've been using this whilst driving around the UK to transmit from an MP3 to a generic Volvo radio. In my car, the radio aerial is at the rear and I have the transmitter sat loose on the passenger front seat with the MP3 player; this works fine. A couple of tips when using this transmitter:

    (1) I've found it works best when powered from the 12V cig lighter of the car. When powered from the AA cell it doesn't have sufficient power for a clear FM signal.

    (2) Don't use the autoscan, instead tune it to a frequency you've found to be empty as you travel around. I found 107.9MHz is best around the UK. I don't think 107.9MHz gets used by any radio stations in the UK.

    (3) Extra tip: up the volume on your MP3 to give maximum power to the transmitter. Don't over do the volume or else you'll overload the transmitter and distort your FM signal.

    I've tried other FM transmitters and they've been poor compared to this one; I'm glad I paid the extra for this better product.

    PS Please don't pollute the airwaves with these FM transmitters. Only transmit on a frequency you know is empty to avoid interfering with others listening to their favourite station.
    Posted by A. Milne, UK
  • This is still the best, easiest and most versatile devices of its class 12 months on. I would still recommend it. Posted by L.Rawlins, UK

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Select Brands iStuff AutoScan FM Transmitter for iPods and MP3 Players and Mobile Phones (5060133700128)
(FM Transmitter, Manufacturer: Select Brands, UPC: 5060133700128)

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