Griffin iTrip FM Transmitter for iPod mini; iPod classic 3G, 4G (White)

The product is aptly named and is fairly marketed: it is to use for a road trip in the car, to have access to your entire music library while in the car. Fits it directly on top of the iPod and fits in aesthetically with the iPod design. The only thing that the techies at Griffin Technology failed to mention in the product description is that the vehicle should not be MOVING on the road while using the radio.When you think of the concept, it is silly: highest-quality digital music broadcast on average-quality radio FM sound. That said, it is an amazing piece of technology and I was very impressed at first, when listening to the iPod broadcast from an empty FM station, the car sitting in the driveway. It sounded like a radio station was broadcasting my music library. Then, we tried to tune the thing on the way to the beach which was frustrating and the sound quality was poor, with all the static. We turned the radio off it was so excruciating. Once we got to the beach, we got it to work again and the sound was crystal clear FM sound. Very nice.So, we got the thing for about $20 and it will be stationed in the glove compartment so that when we go off for a picnic or tailgating with the car, we can bring the iPod with us to listen to our music library, while the car is stationary. This is a better price point for sporadic use than to have to buy a battery-operated sound dock to take with you for around $100. Fair enough. If we had to pay full-price for it (@ $30 directly from Apple), that is too expensive for what it is worth. The thing cannot be used in urban areas, since there is too much interference. Also, if going on a long road trip, an empty station may only work for say 20 miles, so you have to keep reprogramming it. Plus, you cannot use this by yourself; you must have help from the co-pilot to program the iPod and then select the station on the receiver. It takes time and attention and since the driver's focus needs to be on the road, most definitely not a good idea for the driver to try and figure it out while operating a vehicle. If you take your car to go on picnics or to tailgate, then it is a fun little toy to have. If you are planning on using it while driving, then you'll have to buy a bigger accesory to use the iPod: a car. Volvo, BMW, and some other manufacturers will have a dock built-in to their vehicles in the glove-compartments from model year 2006. (Volvo can already crudely accomodate the iPod in all models [except for the S40/V40] from model year 2000). Awesome accessory but a little expensive.

I bought the iTrip for my new 15G iPod. The software install was effortless- Just skip the included CD and go straight to Griffin's web site. Install the drivers and station menus from there. I downloaded the US and European stations. This gives me access to every channel on the dial. As far as using it goes: My advice is to set yourself up before you start to drive. The iPod's controls are intuitive, but distracting. I use the lowest channels on the dial (like 88.1, 88.3, etc.) and have no trouble. Sometimes when I pass a semi-truck, their CB or something interferes. I was forced into the iTrip because my Chevy Trailblazer has CD only, no cassette. I would rate the overall sound quality at about 7 out of 10. Some crackles can be heard from time to time, and if your song has heavy bass (dance, techno, rap, etc.) then there will be some distortion. Still working on figuring that one out. Also, some hiss can be heard if the song is real quiet. Overall though, it isn't any worse than a regular FM station on the dial. The coolest thing about the iTrip is I can now just set it to play on my home stereo, which runs though the house. I have my entire CD collection on the iPod, and as long as it's plugged in, I can play all day.One reviewer had a problem setting the iPod/iTrip up. It's actually pretty easy. Just select the radio channel you want to use on the iPod and on the car/radio. Play the channel selection on the iPod, and let it run for a second or two (half way accross the bar). Pause the track. In a second, you'll hear the iTrip take over the radio, and you'll know when this happens because the static will stop and there will be only silence. Then "menu" back to your playlists and start playing whatever song you choose. That's it. As long as you don't turn the iPod off, it will continue to control the radio channel in the car, even if you turn the car off. This is great when I'm out running errands- I don't have to keep setting it up.Pretty good product.The bad:Hiss at low volume (not too bad, but noticable)Bass distortion on upbeat songsLimited range (must be within about 10 feet of the tuner)iTrip sucks the battery power from the iPod. Expect 40% less play timeThe good:Good priceEasy to useConvenientCool solution to comlicated problem