Reviews

121

"I canceled my order with Griffin and just went to an Apple Store and bought one."

Ha! I did the exact same thing today! Waiting another week (More? Who knows) just wasn't cutting it anymore. I feel a little bad, but I guess their shipping setup just isn't up to handling a bunch of orders at once. I saved $8 whatever in shipping this way, too.

The device looks really, really nice so far. I've only tried it in the house, so far so good. Setup was easy; I just popped off the FireWire cover (comes loose with a gentle tug). Software install was effortless, but you might need to tweak your playlists in iTunes to avoid the FM channels.

Posted by Jim Dandy on May 22, 2003 at 1:26 PM (PDT)

122

You all know there are about a 100 more lower end stations in the japan folder? Maybe those will help.

Posted by Twister in Minneapolis on May 23, 2003 at 1:26 PM (PDT)

123

If you haven't already received your iTrip from Griffin, PLEASE cancel and order from Apple. Painless, quick, and quite satisfying to actually receive the product you order in a timely fashion. I love it. I tested it on two home stereos (one crappy old one with no antenna and one new one with an antenna) and also in two different cars. I could get good quality that rivaled any FM station up to 3' away with the crappy stereo, and up to three floors above the good radio, with no interference at all. I could also get the same great, stable signal in both cars with the ipod anywhere in it. The only thing that hurt reception was not having the perfect unoccupied frequency at my disposal. I advise you to use the included japan frequencies on the installer CD from 87.0 to 89.9 (they go up by increments of one tenth, not just every odd tenth)--you're bound to find at least one of those 30 frequencies to work well. If you are able to find that station, then the iTrip will do what it's supposed to, and do it well. My sound was better than expected--no better than radio quality, but as good as any FM radio station could be. Personal Verdict: iTrip's actual capabilities are great, but may never be met for some users with unfortunate but unavoidable circumtances (i.e. a more populated home area than Providence, RI; with less completely unused frequencies). Good luck iTripping. PS - Can't you try it out and just return it if it doesn't work well?

Posted by Andrew Borstein in Providence, RI on May 23, 2003 at 10:36 PM (PDT)

124

So, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who got the pre-order early from Griffin.

Like so many other posts I've read here, I have long list of problems with the iTrip, but it's still better (and easier than any other thing I've tried so far).

(One note: I'm in San Francisco and have no problem with good range and reception using the default frequency of 87.9)

My first iTrip didn't work at all. It never made a connection to my iPod (I have the original 5GB scroll-wheel iPod). Griffin support was helpful and quick in replacing it with another unit (points for good service!)

The new one works (well, it broadcasts the music). but it doesn't:

- Wake up from sleep (If I pause the music for more than 60 seconds the iTrip goes to sleep. I have to unplug and replug the iTrip to get it to play again when I start the music.)

- have any bass response (in my car any songs with strong bass lines are hard to even hear)

- "recognize" soft music. (iTrip's spec says it goes to sleep after 60 seconds - in practice about 45 - if it does not hear music. I listen to classical music which has many lengthy lower volume sections. Even with the iPod volume at around 80% as recommended the iTrip will often spontaneously go to sleep during these sections of music)

- Maintain a connection to the iPod. Many others I see have noted that the connection between the iPod and iTrip is tenuous at best and is easily lost, especially when the iTrip is "turned" so that it is not stabilized by the firewire port clip.

I have asked Griffin about this with no reponse (do they ever answer support e-mails?!?!). (If Griffin is still listening - can you help?)

It's not a great product overall (these problems make it a challenge to use), but it's still easier and more convenient that the hardwired alternatives in those situations (car, travelling, etc) where having cables around means more to haul.

My $0.02...

Posted by iTripper in San Francisco, CA on May 24, 2003 at 12:10 PM (PDT)

125

Does anyone know how to make the blue LED turn off and stay off?

The "Turn LED Off" iPod selection works fine... until the iPod goes to sleep, that is, and you have to go through the process of turning the LED off again. And again and again, repeat.

Posted by iTrip Fan on May 24, 2003 at 7:03 PM (PDT)

126

I just got my iTrip.... Im impressed with its design and ease of use. However Im VERY let down by its sound quality in my car. The iTrip sounds GREAT on EVERY radio but in MY car. I have a 97 VW Passat with the stock radio. Which sounds great to me with any normal radio station... but with the iTrip working, I get a high pitched whine, even when the iPod is paused, or off. Doesnt matter which station either. Does the same thing on our BOSE wave rado too. High pitched whine. Anyone have this??? How do you fix it??!

Posted by NathanDM in El Paso, TX on May 24, 2003 at 11:25 PM (PDT)

127

this is just a thought

for all those people who has lots of stations ,why not disconnect the antenna from the radio in your car

i think it wil work

Posted by doggie on May 25, 2003 at 6:33 AM (PDT)

128

The iTrip has been in use for about a week now and here are my tips for car use. If you live in a large metropolitan area find several dead spots on the FM dial at home first using a good quality receiver. The software Griffin included with the iTrip has many FM frequencies to choose from, I recommend finding 5-6 dead spots from the list and eliminating everything else from your iTunes playlist. This is a very time consuming process! Next, try out the 5-6 dead spots you found at home in your car and program those frequencies on your radios favorite channel preset buttons. Most modern car radios provide presets for FM1 and FM2. I used the FM2 presets to program the iTrip frequencies leaving my FM1 choices unaffected. Choose the frequency that sounds the best and you're off. Make sure the volume on the iPod is between 50-80% so you can send a good signal to the car radio. Turning the volume up all the way will distort the sound. I also used a non Apple iPod case with a belt clip and hung the clip from a spot on my dash near the radio. That arrangement proved not to work well since every bump in the road would translate into a popping noise through the radio. I also found myself constantly reaching for the iPod on the dash to change the selection which caused me to take my eyes off the road, NOT good. I too found that touching the iPod enhanced reception and by placing the unit in my shirt pocket it provided the contact and easy reach I needed to make this product work to my satisfaction. My overall reaction to this product is one that is filled with hassles but the benefits make it bearable.

Posted by Griff in San diego on May 25, 2003 at 6:24 PM (PDT)

129

does anyone know how one would go about 'modifying' the iTrip to increase the power output and therefore get a stronger signal.

the iTrip has a fine signal inside the house when playing to my Bose Wavradio.... it even plays as far as 30 feet with decent reception

once i get in my ford explorer i can find some kinda empty spots but the sound quality isnt quite satisfactory.

If it can be modified for higher power output that would be awesome....


also is the a cord that supports the iPod to iTrip power ring on the 1/8 inch RCA jack.

i know alot of the time radios use the headphone cables as the FM antenna


i think Apple should go ahead and build in an FM transmitter into the next iPod as well as an AM/FM reciever

Posted by AlphaMale on May 25, 2003 at 7:21 PM (PDT)

130

check the radio stations in your area

http://www.radio-locator.com

yo griffin tech people.... can we get some info on the "broadcast antenna" used by the itrip..... is there a way to boost this antenna.....

the minimalist look is eye appealing but i want more boost...

Posted by AlphaMale on May 25, 2003 at 9:08 PM (PDT)

131

A question: What is considered to be a usable station? We have lots of stations, all the way down to 87.9. But there are many spots next to stations that apparently have faint signal strength (e.g. the station is 101.5 but on 101.7 you can kinda hear it). Will the iTrip override?

Posted by Mac Feller on May 26, 2003 at 4:37 AM (PDT)

132

Does anyone else have the high pitched noise in their car (97 VW Passat) or on their home radio (Bose Wave Radio)?????!!!!


I think my iTrip is a damaged unit. HELP!

Posted by NathanDM in El Paso, TX on May 26, 2003 at 12:07 PM (PDT)

133

I have a 99 Passat and I don't have any whining noise in my car or at home. Have you tried changing the stations??

Posted by Griff in San diego on May 26, 2003 at 1:50 PM (PDT)

134

Yup... tried that several times. We also have a '00 Passat with the monsoon, and it does it too, not quite as bad tho. Does it on every radio actually. Think Im gonna have to call Apple tomorrow.

Posted by NathanDM in El Paso, TX on May 26, 2003 at 1:55 PM (PDT)

135

well i dismantled my iTrip last night cuz i was bored and found that the antenna is lame to say the least. i have been toying with the idea of drilling a hole in the iTrip case so i can lengthen the antenna.

or maybe make it so i can append a FM amplifier circuit.


i want to see if anything on this page will work:

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Nebula/3736/

i think this will:

http://www.geocities.com/iecmaster/circuits_rfv/cir_rfv039.html

i am fairly novice to electronics like this so i am asking a few friends for help... more to come

Posted by AlphaMale on May 26, 2003 at 3:38 PM (PDT)

136

How did you get it apart? Did you damage it in any way?? Is it easy?

Posted by NathanDM in El Paso, TX on May 26, 2003 at 4:11 PM (PDT)

137

Hey All!
Three weeks now with the iTrip and I still love it!
I rented a Lincoln Deville over this past holiday weekend and drove down to Key West while using the iTrip the entire time just swung to the side so I could plug in my Monster Cable Firewire power cord.
Never a loss in any signal and even overpowered some real well known Florida FM stations. We even used it in our hotel rooms which had radios in them and also at a bar near Margeritaville that we had the bartender tune our frequnecy to. Matter of fact - never changed the iTrip from 95.3 the entire time. Totally awesome and made the long drive even more entertaining!! You guys in those big cities - try overriding just to the left or right of the dial of those big stations. One drawback - when useing full iPod charge, the iTrip sucked it dry in maybe four hours. Ciao!!

Posted by silverone in Charleston, SC on May 27, 2003 at 9:01 AM (PDT)

138

I got my iTrip last week. I had been using an iRock with some success, but I find that the wire (?) between the iRock and the iPod seems to be breaking down--certainly, it is next to impossible to get the thig to work, when it had done beautifully.

I figured the iTrip would not have this issue since it is so compact.

Its working well for me--no connection issues, the sound is OK--I find the sound quality is better if I have the iPod volume at about 50% and then use the radio'svolume knob to turn it up.

I'm driving a 2002 PT Cruiser, and I tend to drive arounmost often in lower Westchester Cty NY (not actually INTO NYC tho) and CT. 92.1 works well the entire commute.

Posted by DrSteggy on May 27, 2003 at 1:45 PM (PDT)

139

i just got my itrip (and i wouldnt have if i had read all these posts first) and i guess its "ok." i live in oakland and just cant get a good signal in a moving car.

i would like to try the lower frequencies (i would never have checked the japan folder for them; thanks everyone) but noticed that my car radio will only tune down to 88.1 and then cycles back up to 107 or whatever. is each radio different in its available tunings? i could switch...

but if im gonna switch im gonna buy one with an aux in, honestly.

Posted by palisandra on May 27, 2003 at 1:51 PM (PDT)

140

Just had a thought. Try looking up the car radio info in your car manual. I believe some manufacturers offer a setting that lets you choose those in between stations that other countries use. The Japanese station choices on the Griffin CD may be an option if your radios setup can be altered. Not sure what that would do to your US stations but a seek button would surely find your favorites.

Posted by Griff in San diego on May 27, 2003 at 3:55 PM (PDT)

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