incar music??

[rovercare]

I've been using a MD player for years now and had to purchase the last one on ebay as they are unavailable new, anyhow that one is now missing its face and I've bought another without a plug, now that is 6 weeks away on the slow boat from japan:(

Now I figure its tim to move into modern times, I want to know what to buy, ipod etc, keep in mind I know VERY little about all this stuff, I don't know how to download music either:angel:

I'm thinking an FM transmitter so I can go from car to car??

Basically I wan't to know what to buy, about how much and the more hassle free the better:)Links even?? please, if you could keep it dumb;)

[Vern]

So you don't know it all:p

Get an ipod (min 20gig)
You can either get a head unit with an ipod input
Or a transmitter thingy that plugs into ya ciggie lighter and tune it into your radio

[rovercare]

So you don't know it all:p

Get an ipod (min 20gig)
You can either get a head unit with an ipod input
Or a transmitter thingy that plugs into ya ciggie lighter and tune it into your radio

Hehe, dont let you know who know that but:D

Sounds like an ipod is the way to go, how hard is it to download music??

[B92 8NW]

My In car PC (IBM laptop) is plugged into my head unit, provides navigation and has a separate 80GB HDD behind the dash loaded with music... works really well, I can drive to Dream Theater which is all that matters:D.

Sometimes use CDs too...

[Vern]

downloading music is easy, just load up your cd collection into your puter first. Or there are various music downloads you can use for getting free musac:D.

[rangieman]

Or a mp3 cd player simple make a disc with all your favourite music about 200 songs:D

[rovercare]

downloading music is easy, just load up your cd collection into your puter first. Or there are various music downloads you can use for getting free musac:D.

Can't uuse my CD's, they were stolen years ago, out of my car, after my mate said to lock it and I didn't:(

So long as I can download free from the net, that sounds like the go:)

[Vern]

Or a mp3 cd player simple make a disc with all your favourite music about 200 songs:D
ipods don't jump or skip:D

[rovercare]

My In car PC (IBM laptop) is plugged into my head unit, provides navigation and has a separate 80GB HDD behind the dash loaded with music... works really well, I can drive to Dream Theater which is all that matters:D.

Sometimes use CDs too...

Way to complicated:eek: I'm not real keen on learning to much about it all, just want to jam a heap of songs in and thats it

[rovercare]

ipods don't jump or skip:D

Yea, thats why I had the MD player:)

[Vern]

Can't uuse my CD's, they were stolen years ago, out of my car, after my mate said to lock it and I didn't:(

So long as I can download free from the net, that sounds like the go:)
you can join a forum where you can share music files with each other (broadband makes it alot quicker) or others where you can just download a song or cd, depends on the type of musac your after.:)

[rovercare]

Finally got wireless:D, After rock, early 70's on mainly:eek:

Or anything else, so long as its not country:mad:

[Quiggers]

...avoid any portable device with a hard drive, been there...

any solid state mp3 or 4 type device will suffice, provided you have the necessary loading software.

GQ

[rovercare]

...avoid any portable device with a hard drive, been there...

any solid state mp3 or 4 type device will suffice, provided you have the necessary loading software.

GQ

More info please..... i mean lamens terms please;)

[B92 8NW]

...avoid any portable device with a hard drive, been there...

any solid state mp3 or 4 type device will suffice, provided you have the necessary loading software.

GQ

Blew up a few HDD myself on corrugated roads... Current Seagate ones are holding up very well.

[abaddonxi]

Finally got wireless:D, After rock, early 70's on mainly:eek:

Or anything else, so long as its not country:mad:

Umm, that's called radio, isn't it? no need to bother with all this new-fangled stuff.:D:D


More info please..... i mean lamens terms please;)

An Ipod nano, for example, stores all the music on a stick of RAM, same as a USB key drive or RAM in your computer, or the card in a digital computer,a it is a very robust way to carry stuff like portable music around on. An Ipod has a tiny hard drive inside, and because hard drives have moving parts they have a tendency to drop dead, although many, many people have trouble free experiences with Ipods. The other difference between them is size, an Ipod nano style player is limited to something like 8Gb, hard drive Ipods are about ten times the size.

Cheers
Simon

[rovercare]

I get gold 104.3 at home:D but not in the car:( doesn't help in the bush either:mad:

So you think a nano would be better and more reliable??

[HangOver]

Please don't get offended this is an open forum for debate and expressing opinion, so here goes.

Ipod !! :D:D:D:D

Ipod is a fashion accessory why spend $$$$ on "oooohhh that looks nice "

Buy something that does the same job costs nearly half as much.
Do you know how long it would take to listen to 20gb of mp3's?

I have a FM transmitter to the radio that uses a USB drive as storage so the more music you want the bigger USB drive you buy and you can use the drive for data too.
Mine is a huge, (not) 1GB it took me from perth to Coral bay without repeating any tracks.
Cost about $40 I think plus the USB drive,( free from work) save your cash and don't be a sheep ;):D

[Disco Steve]

I've got a "iriver" 6GB (which is more than enough, iv'e only filled 1.5GB) and a head unit with an Auxillary Plug. in simple terms easy to load music to and just plug the headphone cord into the head unit and presto:D

[mcrover]

Chuck the lot and buy a guitar......play music when you get there with a bottle of port, it's much more fun...

I have a couple of Adam Brand albums you can down load from the laptop Matt if you want lol.

Me and Mrs drove from Melb to Alice and back with no music other than the 300TDI as we couldnt agree on what to listen too and I enjoyed it.

All this new fangled stuff just to listen to something at 130db so you can hear it over your V8 in the Rangie or the rattles in the Falcon, it would be too much for me to bother learning about.

I have a little MP3 player you can have if you want, dodo gave it to me when I connected with them and we have used it for about a week and got sick of losing it in the consul.

I have never had trouble with CD's skiping in the stacker (when I have been listening to them) but scratches are the biggest problem.

[DiscoStew]

Please don't get offended this is an open forum for debate and expressing opinion, so here goes.

Ipod !! :D:D:D:D

Ipod is a fashion accessory why spend $$$$ on "oooohhh that looks nice "
... don't be a sheep ;):D

I am not offended, iPod are IMHO overpriced but also don't automatically join the iPod bashing crowd either no matter how fashionable that might be. A black sheep is still a sheep. Depending on your requirements it can be the only option.


I'm thinking an FM transmitter so I can go from car to car??
If you are happy to have the MP3 player complety seperate from your headunit then the FM transmittor option on a better priced MP3 player is good option. We did somthing like this for a 3 week trip round Tassie. What I found annoying is that everytime we stopped I would have to manually stop the MP3 player, and then manually restart it again when we took off. Also there was a cable running from the glove box to cigarette lighter socket which kept getting in the way of the drinks holder.

So as I am getting ready for the 3 week trip to Darwin I have put in a Pioneer DEH-P59501B ($370). This comes with an iPod connector at the rear and a cable that you run to the glove box. You then control the iPod via the head unit. When you turn off the car it turns off the iPod and then it starts again from where it left off. You can also select any playlists, albums etc via the head unit. The iPod stays in the glove box out of site of would be thieves with no tell tale cable.

The reason iPod is sometimes the only option is because there is a world of 3rd Party products for them that do not exist for others although I am happy to be corrected on this. For example, when I was looking the only head units with could fully integrate with an MP3 player were for iPods. There are many speaker units that are for iPods.

I also bought a Logitech MM50 ($180?) which runs off a built in 12v battery and can be reharged from 12v source. You just slot in the iPod and control it with a remote control so you can keep it under cover while you sit out in the warm sun. The sound quality of these devices vary greatly but the MM50 is quite good and was the only one I found which was based on 12v. It also has an input for any other device that has an earphone jack so I can plug in the AM radio when the cricket is on.

Both the Pioneer and the MM50 keep the iPod charged as well.

I also bought an iPod camera adapter so I can save the photos from the digital camera at the end of each day. Same price as an SD card but with much more memory. If I travelled with a laptop I would not need this.


...avoid any portable device with a hard drive, been there...

any solid state mp3 or 4 type device will suffice, provided you have the necessary loading software.

GQ

I have picked up some foam for packing around items and intend to cut some to fit the iPod to protect on corrugated roads etc but it makes sense that hard drive based units are more at risk. I just don't know how big a risk that is.

If you do go with a a hard disk based device (iPod or most other MP3 devices) then you can do backups from your computer to it (not just music). Given the automated backup at the office never works I find this very useful.

Expensive setup but I use the iPod every day for a variety of reasons so I can justify it.

Headunit: $370
iPod: $500
No more whining from the missus whenever I ask her to pop open the glove box and press stop or play: Priceless

[Rayngie]

I think iPods are the way to go, they are overpriced, but have a load of features, heaps of accessories, and are very easy to use.
I put a $120 Sony headset in with front auxilory input and plug the iPod ( 80gb, currently 14,000 songs! ) to that, the only prob is having to turn the iPod off and on with the car, but that's hardly taxing as it's only one button ( not even a button really is it? ), at the moment I'm driving a mates Patrol with a Alpine iPod stereo built in, meaning it has the head unit and a cable into the glovebox with the head unit becoming the iPod controller, and find it a pain as it's no way near as intuitive to use as the iPod itself, although makes things much neater.

Headsets are cheap enough now as well..

[waynep]

Since you lost all yr CDs you need to replace your music collection so it may be better to go totallly MP3 and maybe even ( horror) pay for a few tracks. The music stores now have machines where you can go in and pay a buck fifty or so for a track and download it. Or you can get them onlne from Virgin etc.

I have an iriver mp3 player. When I want to use it in the car it plugs in to a "fake" cassette module that I got with an old external car CD player. This cassette module looks like a standard cassette tape and plugs into the cassette tape drive ( which my old car has ). A lead from the casstte module plugs into the MP3 players headphone socket. The sound gets passed through the tape drive's heads somehow. The sound quality is quite good I think maybe better than the FM radio transducer things. A lot of aftermarket car sound systems these days have a direct socket for an MP3 player or even have inbuilt MP3 players.

[DiscoStew]

at the moment I'm driving a mates Patrol with a Alpine iPod stereo built in, meaning it has the head unit and a cable into the glovebox with the head unit becoming the iPod controller, and find it a pain as it's no way near as intuitive to use as the iPod itself, although makes things much neater.

Headsets are cheap enough now as well..

I agree that controlling through the headunit is not as simple as directly to the iPod especially if you have heaps of music and playlists but we generally select one playlist that I have setup for the music we both like and leave it on that. So the only controls we use are the volume, skip and pause which are very simple to use.

And while it is only one button, it is having to go the glove box each time that was a pain. If you do long stretches then not so bad but we stop a lot. It also depends on how co-operative your better half is:mad:. Mine hates fiddling about with stuff.

BTW My parents are grey nomads and they download radio podcasts from the ABC for the shows they like but never get to listen to. My Mum is technically challenged but finds it pretty straight-forward with a bit of help from the grandkids. They then catch up on their programs while on the road. I believe all MP3 players can do this but they can chew up a bit of disk space.

[solmanic]

iPod for sure. I think the smallest you can get now is 40GB which is more than enough for the largest of music libraries.

I also agree that it is worth going to the extra trouble of getting a head unit which the iPod can plug straight into. This enables you to keep the iPod safe in the console or glovebox out of harms way and you can navigate through your song library on the unit itself. Plus, the device charges while you drive so you never run out of battery. It is always fully charged for when you take it out to go walking or skiing or whatever.

I don't have any worries with switching it off when I stop since I NEVER leave it in the car anyway.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8079/061106ipodinstall006ct0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3863/061106ipodinstall003ah7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[EchiDna]

the next most popular is the Creative Zen range which has about 5% market share... but as mentioned above, you will struggle to find a manufacturer of accessories apart from Creative themselves.

If you have a bluetooth capable phone with media player software (a "Smartphone") you can get bluetooth headunits for the car which will work as a handsfree kit as well and allow you to answer phone calls when it rings and play music from media cards... GPS can also be run on most smartphones as well, so you get even more functionality.
I have this sony unit and it is fantastic:
http://www.xplodsony.com/article/Sony+MEX-BT5000+Bluetooth+Enabled+CD+Receiver

GPS is a simple addition, depending on the phone you have... I've got 4gb memory cards (x3) and this is more than enough for my entire cd collection and GPS maps and contacts and calendar and....

[solmanic]

Seriously - nothing comes close to the iPod. Apple have got it worked out just right and if anybody in your family is a student or teacher, then you can buy on-line at Apple's education store and get a SUBSTANTIAL discount.

[loanrangie]

Time to join the modern world hey farmboy, an mp3 cd player with front aux in will give you lots of options by adding a cheapo mp3 player.

[markyc]

Weren't the Incars massacred by the Spanish centuries ago? Who knows what they listened to back then:p:p

[EchiDna]

Seriously - nothing comes close to the iPod. Apple have got it worked out just right and if anybody in your family is a student or teacher, then you can buy on-line at Apple's education store and get a SUBSTANTIAL discount.

ahh but you forget that a PDA phone is 100% tax deductable as a business expense (like a laptop) every couple of years for most/many people...

Lets see you run oziexplorer or similar software or answer phone calls through your iPod :)

the downside? you typically have to start/stop the media player each time you get in/out of the car or it runs down the battery while in your pocket playing music over a few hours... personally most stops are less than an hour or two, so this is irrelevant, you just let it run during the day and stop it overnight.

[EchiDna]

Weren't the Incars massacred by the Spanish centuries ago? Who knows what they listened to back then:p:p

:D

they probably listened to the screams of billy thorpe.......


























and the aztecs :D:D

[rovercare]

Time to join the modern world hey farmboy, an mp3 cd player with front aux in will give you lots of options by adding a cheapo mp3 player.

Lightened up, eh??:D

[rovercare]

Well after all that I'm still thinking ipod and FM transmitter, I'd buy an ipod compatible head unit, IF i didn't have to buy one for 3 cars, those ebay jiggers should do the job, they appear to charge the ipod aswell

The only time I'll generally use it is while heading up the bush, as around town i generally just listen to the radio

Also having the unit seperate will be a good thing, as controlling any music in an early classic where the head unit is, is a pain in the azz:(

My missus still has her CD's and will be using the jag anyhow, which has an eclipse head unit anyhow

And its all getting to complicated to understand:angel:

Don't get me wrong, I play with PLC's at work and am not to silly, I just don't want to learn this stuff out of ignorance:twisted:

[solmanic]

ahh but you forget that a PDA phone is 100% tax deductable as a business expense (like a laptop) every couple of years for most/many people...

My wife is a music teacher so the iPod was a business expense for her.

You're right about the lack of an education discount on the now. That's a bummer - we saved about $70 on our 60GB one when we got it.

[EchiDna]

This is true and we bought our PDA that way, but opted for a lower level of functionality as we have perfectly good phones & camera already. OK...so can we play music thru our iPaq? at the same time as moving map?
what software do you need? I assume providing the memory card is big enough ( which at present it is not but we were looking at getting bigger anyway for the maps alone)

firstly, what model IPaq have you got? if it's new enough (last 12 months or so) it will be ok out of the box unless it is a base model...

basically needs to have A2DP capable bluetooth stack (stereo audio) which for many models is a software patch if not already there from the shop. This enables the streaming of stereo sound from the IPaq (can be any/all of phone, music, video or GPS audio signals) to your bluetooth capable headunit (sony, pioneer, alpine, eclipse and blaupunkt all make at least one model, cost varies widely from about $250 to $1250!!)


here is a link for the bluetooth patch (official, free download) if your Ipaq is running windows mobile 2003 SE :

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=0&prodSeriesId=322916&prodNameId=306698&swItem=PSG_I22475-107080&swEnvOid=2008&swLang=8&taskId=135&mode=3

if it is running windows mobile 5 (or 6) it should already be capable of A2DP.

[markyc]

:D

..and the aztecs :D:D

:lol2:

[HangOver]

here's a couple of links re: ipod's

Food for thought?
linky (http://tedblog.typepad.com/tedblog/2005/11/10_reasons_to_h.html)-1
linky (http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm'story=june2006)-2



I like this comment best :

treat the ipod as you would a maserati. use it to show off others like you would a brand new book that has never been opened. then buy a MP3 player for the everyday transportation or exploration. the ipod is just a status symbol of 'hey, i got one too' syndromers.
:D

[DaveS3]

I've got an ipod and before this year used it everyday on public transport when I went to uni - it was a godsend.

They are user friendly, and the WMA format is ok but can cause problems when creating MP3 cds. My sister has a iriver and I hate it, even loading stuff and selecting tunes is a pain. Ipod is heaps more user friendly.
My ipod has been used and abused and is about 3 years old or so and still kicking. The battery is now starting to look like its on the brink but I've had great use from it.

The thing that gives me the S***s is how long it can take to load a CD into itunes as it has to copy the format and all that crap.

I recently bought a head unit for the disco (JVC with aux in and ipod cable) which was about $250 reduced from $400 (I am king at haggling)

Works well but you then control the ipod through the head unit which isn't so easy. If you can;t work that head unit, you need to disconect the ipod and change songs then plug it back in = pain in the ass.

But mp3 cds are sweet.

Cheers.
Dave.

[EchiDna]

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/

:)

[Debacle]

Rovercare if you just want to keep it simple till you get your new unit, you can get a 512mb mp3 player (about 100 songs) and an fm transmitter for about $100 if you look around. Very simple to use, just plug into usb on computer and copy songs on to it. Make sure you get one that plugs into the cig lighter socket as they chew batteries.
As far as downloading music, I use Limewire which is free although you get a better connection if you get the Pro version which costs $ but not much.

[rovercare]

Rovercare if you just want to keep it simple till you get your new unit, you can get a 512mb mp3 player (about 100 songs) and an fm transmitter for about $100 if you look around. Very simple to use, just plug into usb on computer and copy songs on to it. Make sure you get one that plugs into the cig lighter socket as they chew batteries.
As far as downloading music, I use Limewire which is free although you get a better connection if you get the Pro version which costs $ but not much.

Hey, someone talking simple:) I want to use it fulltime, so something that holds a few thousand songs would be good

[Debacle]

Sorry about talking simple, I am from Qld.

[rovercare]

Sorry about talking simple, I am from Qld.

No its a good thing ;), everyone talking about plugging their phone into their GPS that access' the internet that feeds the cat that operates the climate control that opens and close the shed..........:eek:

[EchiDna]

No its a good thing ;), everyone talking about plugging their phone into their GPS that access' the internet that feeds the cat that operates the climate control that opens and close the shed..........:eek:

ok now ya takin the pizz :)

http://www.clarion.com/au/en/products/2007/audio/source_units/bluetooth_sd/FB276BT/au-en-product-pf_1171866251876.html

even simpler than needing an FM transmitter, and you can go to bluetooth when the wowser effect wears off :)

or...

http://www.clarion.com/au/en/products/2007/audio/source_units/cd/DXZ576USB/au-en-product-pf_1171866286059.html

[rovercare]

ok now ya takin the pizz :)

http://www.clarion.com/au/en/products/2007/audio/source_units/bluetooth_sd/FB276BT/au-en-product-pf_1171866251876.html

even simpler than needing an FM transmitter, and you can go to bluetooth when the wowser effect wears off :)

or...

http://www.clarion.com/au/en/products/2007/audio/source_units/cd/DXZ576USB/au-en-product-pf_1171866286059.html

Looks good but I want to use it in numerous cars:o

Think I'm pretty sold on using an FM transmitter for simplicity, but not sure on whether an Ipod or what other options there are

[EchiDna]

Looks good but I want to use it in numerous cars:o

Think I'm pretty sold on using an FM transmitter for simplicity, but not sure on whether an Ipod or what other options there are


1 song = less than 1mb/minute of playing time, therefore a 10 hour journey requires less than 1gb of capacity.... 1gb (or more) mp3 players are a dime a dozen...

eg: http://www.auspcmarket.com.au search for IRocks in car mp3 player, costs $72, then search for USB flash drives - $99 will get you a 4gb, $140 will get 8gb... thats 70 hours or more of music for each 4gb ... so there ya go, simple, cheap, portable and for less than $200...

maybe Inc can provide the thumb drive so supporting him keeps this place afloat :)

[Grizzly_Adams]

ok I've skimmed over most of these pages so I'm sorry if I'm repeating what others have said.

I have and use an iPod Nano, I thoroughly recommend them. They use what's called "Solid State RAM" - that means that there are no moving parts inside.

The largest solid state player I am aware of at the moment is 8Gb. Anything over 8Gb and it's probably got a computer Hard Disk Drive in it (similar if not the same as the one in laptops).

Whilst players with Hard Disk Drives are good because they can store heaps more songs, there is a downside. Hard Disk Drives are mechanical, they contain moving parts - even worse they contain sensitive moving parts that spin and don't like getting bounced around voraciously, such as when you're travelling along corrugations in the outback.

Solid State devices don't care as they don't have any moving parts at all.

Pros and Cons either way. I prefer to have Solid State because I know I will be travelling in extremely rough terrain for extended periods of time and I want the confidence to know I can play my music regardless. I have a 4Gb iPod Nano and that contains 90% of my music collection - it was certainly enough to keep us occupied whilst we went on a 5 week trip up to Cape York last year.

However others prefer having a lot more space to store a lot more songs as well as other things (such as movies etc.). If you want to watch movies on your player then you need a Hard Disk Drive simply because the movies take up so much space. Personally I don't see the attraction to watching movies on a screen so small, especially when out camping - but it may keep your kids happy.

With regards to being able to play the music in car, well it depends on what radio you have in the vehicle. I have had experience with FM transmitters and personally have had little or no success with any of them. In fact I've got one sitting around here somewhere that I just don't use. One thing you need to be aware of when looking at FM transmitters is window tinting - today's window tinting is generally metallic and that screws up the signal badly. That's my experience, others may have had more success.

The radio in the defender has a tape deck and when I bought my first MP3 player 7 or so years ago it came with a "travel pack". One of the accessories in the travel pack was an tape adapter that you put in your car radio and it had a lead coming out of it that plugged into the line-out of *any* MP3 player. I am still using that little gadget today with my iPod and the radio in the defender - gives perfect sound (as perfect as the radio in the defender can give) as there is no signal loss because there is a direct connection to the tape deck in the vehicle.

An example of such a piece of equipment can be found by searching for "tape mp3 travel adapter" on google. Here's an example I found earlier (http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Ipod-Audio-Cassette-Adapter/dp/B000CFLES0) - though I hold my doubts it's Apple and it's certainly not ipod specific like it implies by the title as it just plugs into the line-out / headphone jack of any mp3 device.

The reason I keep thumping on about being able to plug into any mp3 device is just because I like the iPod Nano doesn't mean you will and this gives you the freedom to use it on any mp3 player.

[rovercare]

Great info there:) so an ipod nano will be the most robust with the largest storage capacity, I know the tape thing you speak of, problem is I have 1 CD player 1 MD player that no longer plays and another MD player when the plug arrives, hence the FM transmitter, the only thing I've had to do with them, is when I had another CD player that packed it in and only the tuner worked, my mate had an FM transmitter, so i tuned in and followed him the rest of the trip, seemed ok, except I had to listen when he scrolled through his choice in music:D

The FM transmitter seems cheap on ebay at around 25buck, might give 1 a go, can always bin it;)

[rovercare]

1 song = less than 1mb/minute of playing time, therefore a 10 hour journey requires less than 1gb of capacity.... 1gb (or more) mp3 players are a dime a dozen...

eg: http://www.auspcmarket.com.au search for IRocks in car mp3 player, costs $72, then search for USB flash drives - $99 will get you a 4gb, $140 will get 8gb... thats 70 hours or more of music for each 4gb ... so there ya go, simple, cheap, portable and for less than $200...

maybe Inc can provide the thumb drive so supporting him keeps this place afloat :)

Definately in the cheap and simple category, but what about control over which songs you listen to, doesn't look like much of a display:confused:

[DiscoStew]

Rovercare,

The nano is not the biggest but will still store plenty of music, probably more than you need.

Ignore all the stuff about proprietry software. Just download music as an MP3 and iTunes will look after the conversions. The proprietry thing only becomes an issue if you start doing more complex stuff.

However I will also stress that if you are not trying to integrate it with anything then don't feel that iPod is your only option. Your needs are straight-forward so there is a world of simple, cheap options for you.

If you get an FM Transmittor make sure it just plugs into an earphone jack and then it will be compatible with whatever you buy now or later. I imagine that most would do this.

Note that the iPod Nano and the iPod Video are different. If you read something is "iPod compatible" make sure they mean it is compatible to the one you are buying. I think they have the same dock connector so most things work for both but I think it is still wise to explicitly check.

[away]

Rovercare,

I've got a Toshiba GigaBeat. It only plays music - just what I wanted. It has a 60Gb hard disk and so far I've loaded 7000 tracks onto it. The software that comes with it converts almost every music format into MP4 for the player.

I got the GigaBeat because after being in the electronics/computer industry for 35 years I have learned not to buy anything that forces you to buy proprietory accessories. The GigaBeat is simple: it uses a 5Volt power supply that can be readily obtained as a 12V cigarette plug-pack; it uses a standard headphone jack for external speaker connections and it uses USB to transfer the music. It will also charge via the USB connection.

Like you intend, I use a cheap FM transmitter to get the music into the car stereo. It has a 12V plug pack and has four different frequencies to choose from.

The unit set me back about $400.00, but I have seen them cheaper since.

The main thing is that it is simple and stores heaps of music.

Cheers

[twitchy]

Please don't get offended this is an open forum for debate and expressing opinion, so here goes.

Ipod !! :D:D:D:D

Ipod is a fashion accessory why spend $$$$ on "oooohhh that looks nice "
save your cash and don't be a sheep ;):D

I used Chinese MP4players for my Helmet camera systems & we have had no dramas, they take an absoloute flogging.
We have a CD player in the car that has an "SD card" slot & a usb port no skipping & bulk music!!!!
Now Speaking of ipods.....lol.:twisted:

[twitchy]

Rovercare,

The software that comes with it converts almost every music format into MP4 for the player.



Cheers

Away, don't ya mean MP3 format as MP4 is Video format...

[stirlsilver]

If you wanted to integrate a dedicated mp3 player into your cars dashboard you can use something like the PJRC mp3 player. However that would be more of a project. I did it and incorporated it into the dashboard of my Stage 1. Certainly different. For a while I was also looking into getting a 1-5W FM transmitter off ebay and hooking it up to the mp3 player so that everyone in convoy would be able to tune into you on those long journeys away from radio reception. But... that never happened :D

[LRHybrid100]

I just bought a Sony GT460 head set for the D110 - I already have a Sony GT450 in the Rangie.

The reason I went for the Sony as they had the front Aux input for my iPod - only 4 GB Gen 2 Nano, BUT the newer GT460 has front USB input also!!! Whats more the offer they had on at JB Hifi at the time it came with a Sony 1GB stick!!!

So rather than buying another iPod I can now just buy the cheaper USB sticks

I am just getting all the components ready to upgrade the D110 sound system - will post updates.

LRH

[FenianEel]

I've got some 8 tracks in the shed, that came out of P76's:D

[seriesly]

I just bought a Sony GT460 head set for the D110 - I already have a Sony GT450 in the Rangie.

The reason I went for the Sony as they had the front Aux input for my iPod - only 4 GB Gen 2 Nano, BUT the newer GT460 has front USB input also!!! Whats more the offer they had on at JB Hifi at the time it came with a Sony 1GB stick!!!

So rather than buying another iPod I can now just buy the cheaper USB sticks

I am just getting all the components ready to upgrade the D110 sound system - will post updates.

LRH

LRH....am i right to assume that the usb slot can take the usb stick directly??
so in theory i can download to the stick ,then plug the stick into the headunit?
apologies for the highjack
seriesly

[LRHybrid100]

LRH....am i right to assume that the usb slot can take the usb stick directly??
so in theory i can download to the stick ,then plug the stick into the headunit?
apologies for the highjack
seriesly

Yup - thats what I've been told, just not installed it yet :(

LRH

[twitchy]

LRH....am i right to assume that the usb slot can take the usb stick directly??
so in theory i can download to the stick ,then plug the stick into the headunit?
apologies for the highjack
seriesly

Not theory sunshine thats how it works:D

[DirtyDawg]

I got a top of the range Pioneer Jobby and It has an input for a usb thumb drive of which I have an 8Gig one so I load up and play..the CD is sort of superseeded now:o

[BCC]

Hi,

Since the CD player never worked when I bought the D2 at Christmas, I have gone the suggested route of an FM transmitter (from Jaycar on special at $34). The down side is that there is a high squeal of interference which is linked to engine revs (td5). The squeal is reduced if I plug it in the rear cig lighter, which is further from the engine and closer to the aerial in the rear side window. Is this just part of the package or do others not experience this?

Thanks,
Bruce

[tombraider]

Hi,

Since the CD player never worked when I bought the D2 at Christmas, I have gone the suggested route of an FM transmitter (from Jaycar on special at $34). The down side is that there is a high squeal of interference which is linked to engine revs (td5). The squeal is reduced if I plug it in the rear cig lighter, which is further from the engine and closer to the aerial in the rear side window. Is this just part of the package or do others not experience this?

Thanks,
Bruce

Ipod Running an iTrip, never had an issue....

One of your earth points *may* need cleaning / tightening.

[BCC]

Yes, sometimes better quality stuff really does make a difference. I'll check earthing issues also.

Thanks,
Bruce

[B92 8NW]

Top of the range, bugger off:D.I bought a top of the range Panasonic head unit two years ago, $470, very nice but its basic CD MP3 WMA and thats all...

the new disco came with an ALDI head unit. It does iPod, USB, MMC and SD, Bluetooth, CD Mp3 and WMA, an ordinary 3.5mm input, makes me a cup of coffee and performs sexual favours.

To find all that stuff in an Alpine or Pioneer is mega $$$. Until I have them to waste I'm happy with the Aldi machine!:p

[cartm58]

Apple Ipod 40 gig refurbished available on eBay for about $175 a 80 gig new Ipod is about $350, 80 gig will do video as well as music and 4.145 music tracks about 27 gig of memory.

Apple Ipod fairly reliable but sensitive to dropping (l know l dropped my 40 gig of the desk cost me $90 to repair). If you send it to Apple for repairs they send you a similar refurbished one cost is about $350, might as buy a new 80gig for that price.

Apple Ipod requires you to sync with you pc or imac using itunes and you can have up to 5 ipods per pc or imac.

You can sort music by Artist, Album, Playlist (make your own music selections call it what you want in folder and play list) Itunes downloads music album information ablum cover sleeve track names etc and can record favourite tracks played number of times etc.

Ipod can be plugged into some new in car stero through jack, through wireless infra red connection or you pay under $20 get a fm transmitter powered into your cig lighter in car and play through fm radio in car.

I listen to mine for the 3 hour drive from perth to collie 4 times a week better than cd's or radio.

MP3 player do same thing as Ipod except can use windows media player instead of itunes.

Ipod 80 gig battery lasts about 15 hours playing time 40 gig Ipod battery lasts about 9 hours playing time, battery recharges about 300 to 500 times depending on how you recharge battery and use Ipod, repalcement cost of battery $35.

Worthwhile investment carry my complete cd collection on ipod listen to anything l want and can also plu ipod in home theatre surround of hifi and do away with cd player

[waynep]

My CD stacker packed up after being drowned.:(
I currently have an MP3 player connected to the cassette tape deck through an adaptor.
But its a bit fiddly so I'm thinking of getting a reasonable quality car CD player/radio ( Sony or Alpine ) and installing that. For about $250 I can get one with the front USB socket.

[sclarke]

I use the best incar audio known to man....... Random play..... the RADIO.....

i'd never find time to set the ipod up...

[JamesH]

Ipod is a fashion accessory why spend $$$$ on "oooohhh that looks nice "

Umm, didn't you just answer your own question?


Buy something that does the same job costs nearly half as much.

You mean like a Hi-Lux?

No, really on one (practical) level you are absolutely right, just not on my level. Some designs speak to me and most don't. I love my iPod for more than what it does for me. What it does is it gives me my ENTIRE record collection in the car, walking on the street, in the house. You put the music on "shuffle" and you hear tracks from way back when, cds that you would never pull off the shelf even though you should. My iPod has really got me back intouch with music and I just love the brand.

[rovercare]

I use the best incar audio known to man....... Random play..... the RADIO.....

i'd never find time to set the ipod up...

Don't get ,much of that in Wonnangatta:D

There is onestation if your camped in the right spot though:eek:

[abaddonxi]

Don't get ,much of that in Wonnangatta:D

There is onestation if your camped in the right spot though:eek:

You can't get Radio National:eek:

Whaddaya mean, 'that's not radio'?

Cheers
Simon

[sfako]

I use a transmitter thinie FM 86.4 or there abouts plugged into the cig lighter.I have 1000 songs on a thumb drive and it just rolls arround loverly.
The only prob is i had to install a noise supresser(20 amp) in the cicar hot lead as the whisstle from the alt was a pain.
But now it works just a treat.Got the supresser from Jcar.
Steve

[twitchy]

Hmmmm i pods??? Try something different that isn't an i pod.

[BCC]

Hi,

As suggested by sfako, I installed a 20A noise suppressor from Jaycar ($22) on the power lead to the cig lighter. Problem fixed, no interference. Now I have a low priced setup which can take any mp3 player or mp3's straight off my data stick (no shuffle option with the data stick arrangement of course). A bit of grief removing the auto gear knob though. The RAVE CD says "put it in D and remove the gear knob". Hmmm, I twisted in an attempt to unscrew instead of heaving vertically. Slight repair needed.

BC

[barney]

Do you know how long it would take to listen to 20gb of mp3's?





about 12.5 days non stop, going by the estimate from my Ipod

[barney]

yep, the ipod on random play with just over 2000 songs.
i love to turn it right up when i pull alongside a doof doof, they have no idea who kansas, sparks, yes, the who, stars, 801, xtc or any other music i play is. they probably can't understand why the songs have more than two lines of lyrics i them:o

[dobbo]

Since his demise in the music world I managed to retain the services of Michael Jackson for my ICE for the moderate sum of $20 pw.

He has provided me months worth of entertainment singing all of my favourites from his own songs like "Ben" to the Nine in Nails classic "Closer" (he likes the chorus on that one) He doubles as a car alarm with his high pitched squeal and his general appearance and reputation keep away any of the teenage vandals. He has been acting slightly odd (almost towey) since my sons birthday and his warrantee period has expired so I might upgrade to a real Ipod in the next month or two before I get hit with a thriller by this smooth criminal.

[solmanic]

i love to turn it right up when i pull alongside a doof doof, they have no idea who kansas, sparks, yes, the who, stars, 801, xtc or any other music i play is. they probably can't understand why the songs have more than two lines of lyrics i them:o

This is actually also quite fun to do with OPERA!

[cartm58]

My vote is for iPod have a 80 gig and 40 gig units the 80 gig has 15000 plus tracks will play continously for 500 plusd ays without repeating a track the 40 gig a bed side unit on a speaker stand acts as a wake up alarm and mood music player in the evening.

Music downloads from cd's, iTunes store you pay $1.69 track or buy albums for less than cost of per track or plenty other sources.

Be aware downloading music for free may be illegal breach of copy right and expensive if your prosecuted by the record companies

[EchiDna]

holy thread retrieval batman!