How to Connect You iPod to Your Car

How to Connect You iPod to Your Car
By Nick Mackk

Connecting you iPod to your vehicle can be very difficult. There are a lot of different vehicles out there, and there are a lot of different products out there that claim to work on all of them. The three most common categories of iPod adapters are, direct audio inputs, wired FM modulators, and wireless FM transmitters. All three categories have their positives and negatives.

A direct audio input is probably the best way to get your iPod connected to your vehicle. This method will give you the clearest sound without any static, drifting, or interference. Basically, a direct audio input tricks the vehicle's radio into thinking there is a stock cd changer or satellite radio connected to the radio. Since these stock devices have good sound quality, the audio from the iPod will not be degraded. Some direct audio inputs adapters are designed around iPods and supply a cable that will plug into the bottom of your iPod. These adapters will charge your iPod and allow for control from your vehicle's radio. The only downfall to these interfaces is that they have to be installed by a qualified person, and they cannot be taken from car to car.

A wired FM modulator is connected directly in line with your radio's antenna. This allows the modulator to interrupt the FM signal coming from your vehicle's antenna. The signal is then sent through the antenna input on the radio (not transmitted wirelessly). No matter how strong the radio station is transmitting, there will be no interference. Wired FM modulators can allow for an input that has absolutely no static, but they do have a downfall.

Have you ever noticed that FM never sounds as good as a CD? This is because the sound quality of the FM tuner is lower than a CD player. Since a modulator uses the FM tuner band, the audio will only be as good as the FM tuner sound quality. So, if you have a very clear, CD quality, recording on you iPod it will only be as good as FM quality. I would recommend a FM modulator if your vehicle cannot support a direct audio input. A wired FM modulator is a good option. It is not the best option, but sometimes its the only option.

In my opinion, wireless FM transmitters are the worst. The reason being, usually there is a lot of static. This is because the FCC limits the output of the transmitter, and radio stations transmit higher than the FM transmitter. You tell yourself, it's not so bad, you can live with it. A month after you got it, it has pissed you off so much you will pay anything to get your iPod to work properly in your car. Even though they suck, they do have their purpose. Static or no static, they will work in any vehicle. Plus, since they do not have to be installed, you can take it from car to car.

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