- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 34 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
2.5 stars
"FM transmitter is a blessing and curse"
Pros: 1. Charges iPod; 2. FM connection requires to specific connector to car stereo
Cons: FM transmission is spotty when travelling
Summary: I purchased the Monster iCarPlay Wireless Plus to provide access to my iPod catalog while travelling. The FM transmitter of the iCarPlay promised 2 nice features: 1. a single device that provides connectivity and charges the iPod; 2. connection via an FM transmitter rather than a specific connector (cassette player or auxillary jack).
In use, I'd echo the c-net review: the cord is long enough to become a nuisance. I suppose it has to have some length so the iPod is reasonably convenient & isn't going to fly around the inside of the car with every sudden stop or turn. While you can switch from pre-set 1, 2, or 3 reasonably easy (once you find the control pod along the lengthy cord), further adjustment of the controls (e.g., finding a new free station) cannot be conveniently (or safely) used by the driver without stopping.
I live in an urban area. I can fairly easily find a free station to use as a preset. But I really wanted to use the iCarPlay when travelling. Here's the problem: even when travelling in fairly remote areas (the sparsely inhabited Olympic Peninsula, for example), I found that I needed to find a new free FM frequency frequently enough that I couldn't rely on the presets & had to adjust the signal on the iCarPlay manually. And the signal from the iCarPlay is fine if the planets align & no interfering signal is present, no matter how weak. My wife was constantly adjusting the thing on a recent trip & we both ended up kind of fed up.
In short, I think you have to bite the bullet & look for some sort of wired connection to a car stereo.
Where to buy
Monster iCarPlay Wireless Plus:
$39.99 - $24,839.95
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$24,839.95 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$39.99 | Yes |
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