Two questions for the technical savvy people here

[RazorAzoth]

1. Is it harmful for GPS units to be left in cars during hot days of the summer? What about the winter? I don't keep mine on the windshield, just in the console compartment out of the direct sunlight.

2. Can someone link me to the device I need to play my mp3 player through my car's CD player? Isn't it some kind of transmitter at RadioShack or something?

 

[Akuma]

1. Doubt so. But still, you shouldn't leave it in the car if you don't want to get it stolen.
2. Depends on what MP3 player you have. Just look for a "FM transmitter".
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e...tronics&field-keywords=FM+transmitter&x=0&y=0

 

[RazorAzoth]

It's a Creative Zen V MP3 Player. Anyone know which one of those FM transmitters would work best?

 

[speakeasy]

Try to avoid FM transmitters if possible. The sound quality will be downgraded severely(FM radio is far from cd quality). Best thing to do is run an AUX line out of your headunit that you can plug into your mp3 player's headphone or aux jack and you will then preserve sound quality. If you have bad speakers or just listen to crap like like Green Day, then it probably doesn't matter then.

 

[RazorAzoth]

I just have a stock Jeep CD player, there's no hole for an AUX line plug-in. So I guess I'll have to use an FM transmitter now?

 

[Alle_Gory]

1. Is it harmful for GPS units to be left in cars during hot days of the summer? What about the winter? I don't keep mine on the windshield, just in the console compartment out of the direct sunlight.

Yes. Shortens the life of the battery. Most contain Lithium Ion batteries.

If excessively hot, then it might even damage the LCD screen but its hard to do.

2. Can someone link me to the device I need to play my mp3 player through my car's CD player? Isn't it some kind of transmitter at RadioShack or something?

If your car CD player has an AUX in, then its better to use that.

AUX In port: http://www.xplodsony.com/img/article/Sony_National_CDX-GT_Series_CD_Receivers/front-aux.jpg

 

[Maxtro]

Try to avoid FM transmitters if possible. The sound quality will be downgraded severely(FM radio is far from cd quality). Best thing to do is run an AUX line out of your headunit that you can plug into your mp3 player's headphone or aux jack and you will then preserve sound quality. If you have bad speakers or just listen to crap like like Green Day, then it probably doesn't matter then.

For some reason I didn't even know that FM transmitters even existed till I read this thread. I did a little searching and they seem to range from $20-80. Unfortunately the ones at retail stores are all $50+. They've also all seemed to get poor reviews.

I'm going to be driving from SoCal to the Bay Area this Saturday which is about a 6 hour drive. All my music is on my Mp3. Unfortunately my stock stereo doesn't have an AUX input. I could burn some CD's but that seems so...ghetto.

BTW I happen to like Green Day :trouble:

 

[speakeasy]

The AUX line out is in the back of the stereo, so you have to pull the stereo out to run the line from it. Some of the newer ones though have a jack on the front for ipods and such.

 

[Maxtro]

The AUX line out is in the back of the stereo, so you have to pull the stereo out to run the line from it. Some of the newer ones though have a jack on the front for ipods and such.

That information right there, just blew face off.

Stolen from this

I'm going to check it out tomorrow. So it's possible to plug in a wire connecting my mp3 and the stereo using that input?

 

[Alle_Gory]

That information right there, just blew face off.

Stolen from this

I'm going to check it out tomorrow. So it's possible to plug in a wire connecting my mp3 and the stereo using that input?

You need a male-male miniplug cable.

Like: http://valley-ent.com/catalog/images/214490_25_50.jpg

 

[Desdinova]

1. Is it harmful for GPS units to be left in cars during hot days of the summer?

I don't own a GPS unit, so I don't really know what's inside it. However, constant temperature change will eventually render any LCD display useless. If you live in an area that has a lot of humidity, that could also cause problems with the device. Condensation can build up inside the enclosure and cause pins to short out. You could probably prevent that problem by drilling holes in the enclosure (just make sure you take the circuit board OUT first if you plan to do this).

Yes, this is hack-a-fix 101

Try to avoid FM transmitters if possible. The sound quality will be downgraded severely(FM radio is far from cd quality).

The thing is, MP3s are a lossy format to begin with so an FM Transmitter isn't going to make it that much worse. If you want good sound quality, play CDs in a CD player.

I actually find that MP3s played through FM Transmitters sound BETTER than actual FM stations. Radio stations use a LOT of compression on the audio they output, and it ends up sounding like crap on the recieving end.

If you can get an FM transmitter with an actual antenna, I suggest going that route. The one I have has the antenna inside the cable that goes to the MP3 player, but a quick solder job will fix that

 

[Maxtro]

The AUX line out is in the back of the stereo, so you have to pull the stereo out to run the line from it. Some of the newer ones though have a jack on the front for ipods and such.

Nope no AUX line out in the back either. Oh well

 

[speakeasy]

Nope no AUX line out in the back either. Oh well

Oh well, FM transmitter it is for you.

Desdinova, mp3 may be a lossy format, but it's nowhere near as bad as FM. Most people driving in their car with so-so speakers on top of wind and tire noise are not going to know the difference between mp3 sound and CD sound. But the difference between mp3 sound and FM radio sound is stark, especially the bass. Sometimes I'll listen to a song on the radio and hardly anything comes through my subs, then I listen to the same song on my ipod and the bass is shaking the windows.

Now if you have high end speakers and good hardware, yeah, you'll hear the difference between mp3 and CD, but most people's equipment won't show any difference.

 

[Alle_Gory]

Nope no AUX line out in the back either. Oh well

If you're comfortable with a soldering iron, you can sometimes make your own AUX line by bypassing the CD-out line. Just before the amplifier in the head unit.

The way it works is, you put in a blank CD, play it and then play a track off your mp3 player on top of that silence on the same line. It goes to the amplifier, which then distributes it to the speakers.

It's the case for my head unit, but im just going to replace the damn thing instead. Too much work. I've been using CDs so far.

 

[Desdinova]

Sometimes I'll listen to a song on the radio and hardly anything comes through my subs,

Listening to live FM radio is MUCH different than listening to music coming from an FM transmitter. Again, FM radio stations use a 5hitload of compression on their output. Compression can fvck up lower frequencies. I have absolutely NO complaints with the low end coming from my FM transmitter.

 

[Duffdog]

I have an idea. How about you get an in dash GPS/DVD/CD/mp3 player and be done with it.

 

[spider_007]

1) Yes, you should take your gps down (and radar detector if you have one :nono: ) not only to prevent it getting stolen but to prevent overheating. Depending on where you live the inside of your car can reach well over 100deg.f. The units them selvs would be even hotter....especialy if they are dark colour. You may never have a problem but some people have
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/955
google is your friend.

2) put your music on a big SD card and stick it in your GPS. Enable FM trasmiter and play your music. If your going to go with an Fm transmiter watch what you buy. I bough some china made sh!t on ebay and have yeat to make it work.