Instructions: how to set up and connect an FM modulator (transmitter) in a car, through the cigarette lighter

Many drivers cannot imagine the process of driving a car without their favorite music. And automakers fully satisfy this need by installing a multi-channel audio system. The playback head unit of a modern car is capable of not only reading information from a flash drive, but also establishing a connection with a smartphone and even recharging it.

But what should owners of old cars with standard radios do? It’s unlikely that it will be possible to update it. A car FM transmitter with Bluetooth, which can freely connect with various gadgets, will help out here.

VHF modulator: what is it and what parameters to choose it by

This is a device that reads audio files in digital format and generates a radio signal of a certain frequency.
The generated wave is picked up by the antenna of the on-board car audio system, and the desired track is played in radio mode. The selection of a suitable device is carried out according to the following criteria:

• permissible flash drive capacity;
• Bluetooth support;
• presence of a microphone;
• radius of action;
• ability to recharge external devices via USB;
• readable music file formats.

Choosing the best radio modulator in the budget segment

Initial models of repeaters only partially expand the functionality of the native audio system. Usually they only recognize a USB flash drive and a compact microSD. It doesn't reach the smartphone.

The form factor in the budget sector is the price. The cost of the devices below does not exceed 500 rubles:

1. Ritmix FMT-A705 – 310 rubles;
2. Rolsen RFA-380 – 330 rubles;
3. Defender RT-Play – 420 rubles;
4. Neoline Droid FM – 450 rubles.

All models are equipped with remote controls and support MP3. In addition, they are trained to save the latest song and sort through music folders. The above-mentioned devices from Rolsen and Defender are capable of reproducing WMA along with MP3.

Before setting up the presented FM modulators in your car, let’s look at the permissible capacity of readable flash media. Models from Rolsen and Neoline interact only with flash drives with a capacity of no more than 16 GB. Among competitors this characteristic is 32 GB.

We are looking at a car FM transmitter with Bluetooth support

The trend is that flash drives are used less and less as a library for storing your favorite music. This is partly due to the difficulty of matching favorite tracks to different moods. But most often, consumers refuse this method of transferring music due to the presence of a sophisticated player or smartphone. And they, as you know, are equipped with a “blue channel”.

Now it becomes clear why budget modulators are rapidly losing popularity among car enthusiasts. Their main drawback is that they lack Bluetooth. The cost of well-equipped blue tooth repeaters is about 2,000 rubles. Full-featured models are considered:

• FM transmitter with Bluetooth

• Neoline Wave FM – 1,800 rubles;
• Mystery MFM-80BCU – 1,950 rubles.

An interesting alternative to them is Xiaomi Roidmi 3S. The price tag for this model is 1,150 rubles. We'll look into the features further.

For your information. When buying a car FM transmitter with Bluetooth function, you should pay attention to the presence of a microphone. The presence of the latter indicates that the device supports Hands Free technology.

Neoline Wave FM

This gadget is controlled both using hardware buttons and a remote control. There are two USB connectors on the front panel, designed for both charging and reading digital information from a USB flash drive. There is also a slot for microSD cards. The maximum capacity of removable media is 32GB. Works in both 12 V and 24 V networks. This repeater has some disadvantages:

• The ringtone is not transmitted when there is an incoming call;
• unfinished equalizer;
• lack of RDS tag translation.

Mystery MFM-80BCU

The model, like a car navigator, is equipped with an LCD display. The device supports Hands Free and has 2 remote controls, one of which is mounted on the steering wheel. Among the features, it is worth noting the presence of Clear Voice Capture technology, which removes extraneous noise and echo during a telephone conversation.

One of the main disadvantages of the device is the lack of a USB input. Another “minus” is the overly strict requirement for the volume of external microSD. Cards larger than 4 GB cannot be read.

Xiaomi Roidmi 3S

The question of how to set up an FM modulator in a car caused a lot of criticism in the previous 2S model. They were mainly due to the fact that the device did not fit the cigarette lighter of some cars. In the new generation, this drawback has been eliminated.

This model is of particular interest among car enthusiasts. Close attention is due to the unusual functionality of the transmitter:

• Hands Free technology;
• communication with the device via a smartphone application;
• ability to switch tracks by shaking the phone.

The following facts are also noteworthy. Firstly, it does not have a display. Secondly, two USB outputs are intended exclusively for charging external devices.

Connection methods

The method is chosen based on the design features of the selected radio. To ensure a full connection via a USB connector, the user will need a special cable.

At one end there is an output for a portable device, at the other there is a USB plug. After installing it, you need to go to the settings, select the “USB connection” folder and the “Data transfer” item. After this, the necessary files are read.

Connecting the phone to the radio via USB

A player is launched on the smartphone, through which the volume and file playback speed are controlled. This way the tracks are rewinded. An added bonus is battery charging. The downside when transferring music from your phone to the radio via USB is the cord itself. If it is too short, there will be problems when speaking.

You can connect your car stereo to your phone via AUX. Using this method, music recorded on a smartphone is listened to via a cassette player. The AUX output is a jack with a diameter of 3.5 mm. Headphones are connected through it. In this case, control can only occur from the phone. Among the disadvantages: the cord, the length of which is often insufficient, and the inevitability of discharge.

If your car has a multimedia system equipped with a touch screen, you can use a wireless connection. Under the circumstances, there is no need to use cords.

Connecting the phone to the radio via AUX

The connection process is quite simple:

1. Bluetooth is activated on the phone and in the audio system.
2. Perform pairing.
3. Devices are integrated.
4. Music is playing.

To manage tracks and video files, use a car tape recorder. Improved radios are equipped with intercoms. Thanks to this, the driver can talk on the phone without picking it up. Unfortunately, not all car devices have Bluetooth. The list of disadvantages includes freezing of large files and rapid battery consumption.

Car recorder

Transmitters are placed in a separate category. This is the name given to transmitters that convert smartphone data into FM waves. The destination is the radio of the car tape recorder. It is connected to a standard phone jack. After activating the transmitter, the driver only needs to turn on the radio and find the desired FM wave. If everything is done correctly, the music saved in the android will sound from the speakers.

When using this device there is no need for additional pins. A prerequisite is the presence of a radio receiver. The disadvantages of the transmitter include poor sound quality. Music files are managed from the phone.

You can transfer music from your phone to the radio using an emulator. These devices are designed to work with removable media. Their use is justified if a standard audio system is installed in the car. To connect the equipment, you will have to remove the tape recorder.

Transfer music from phone to radio

Let's connect or how to set up an FM modulator in any car yourself

If video recorders with a radar detector can simply be plugged into the cigarette lighter, then with FM transmitters everything looks much more complicated. As you know, a repeater converts digitized information into a radio signal. It is very important that the wave frequency generated by the device does not coincide with the broadcast frequency of public and special radio stations.

For your information. The frequency 87.5 FM is free in almost any city.

• Install a flash drive into the repeater.

• Insert the device into the cigarette lighter.
• Set the radio frequency using the remote control.
• Turn on the radio and select Radio mode.
• Set up the audio system to the FM modulator broadcast frequency.

The method for setting up a gadget with Bluetooth is almost the same as described above. Only the 6th transition is added, associated with connecting a smartphone via a wireless network.

• Music via bluetooth in an android car

Owners of a car FM transmitter with Bluetooth mode Xiaomi Roidmi 3S/2S operate according to a different scheme. The device does not come with a remote control - all settings are made in a special application available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

For your information. A blinking LED indicates that the device is not yet connected to the smartphone. After connecting the phone to the repeater via Bluetooth, the LED will simply light up.

Setting the operating frequency and activating the track switching mode by shaking the smartphone are done in the application. There you can also choose the color of the LED.

Connection methods

The method is chosen based on the design features of the selected radio. To ensure a full connection via a USB connector, the user will need a special cable.

At one end there is an output for a portable device, at the other there is a USB plug. After installing it, you need to go to the settings, select the “USB connection” folder and the “Data transfer” item. After this, the necessary files are read.

Connecting the phone to the radio via USB

A player is launched on the smartphone, through which the volume and file playback speed are controlled. This way the tracks are rewinded. An added bonus is battery charging. The downside when transferring music from your phone to the radio via USB is the cord itself. If it is too short, there will be problems when speaking.

You can connect your car stereo to your phone via AUX. Using this method, music recorded on a smartphone is listened to via a cassette player. The AUX output is a jack with a diameter of 3.5 mm. Headphones are connected through it. In this case, control can only occur from the phone. Among the disadvantages: the cord, the length of which is often insufficient, and the inevitability of discharge.

If your car has a multimedia system equipped with a touch screen, you can use a wireless connection. Under the circumstances, there is no need to use cords.

Connecting the phone to the radio via AUX

The connection process is quite simple:

1. Bluetooth is activated on the phone and in the audio system.
2. Perform pairing.
3. Devices are integrated.
4. Music is playing.

To manage tracks and video files, use a car tape recorder. Improved radios are equipped with intercoms. Thanks to this, the driver can talk on the phone without picking it up. Unfortunately, not all car devices have Bluetooth. The list of disadvantages includes freezing of large files and rapid battery consumption.

Car recorder

Transmitters are placed in a separate category. This is the name given to transmitters that convert smartphone data into FM waves. The destination is the radio of the car tape recorder. It is connected to a standard phone jack. After activating the transmitter, the driver only needs to turn on the radio and find the desired FM wave. If everything is done correctly, the music saved in the android will sound from the speakers.

When using this device there is no need for additional pins. A prerequisite is the presence of a radio receiver. The disadvantages of the transmitter include poor sound quality. Music files are managed from the phone.

You can transfer music from your phone to the radio using an emulator. These devices are designed to work with removable media. Their use is justified if a standard audio system is installed in the car. To connect the equipment, you will have to remove the tape recorder.

Transfer music from phone to radio

Verdict

• There are two classes of FM modulators: without Bluetooth support (up to 500 rubles) and with blue channel support (about 2,000 rubles).
• The best repeater without a “blue tooth” module: for a passenger car (12 V) – Defender RT-Play; for cargo (24 V) – Neoline Droid FM.
• Decent models with Bluetooth: Neoline Wave FM; Mystery MFM-80BCU.
• Xiaomi Roidmi 3S with Bluetooth is an interesting solution: it is controlled by an application installed on the smartphone. The range of functions includes switching songs by shaking the phone.
• The device is configured by selecting the frequency at which the radio will receive the radio signal generated by the transmitter. In models with Bluetooth, you additionally need to connect a smartphone to the repeater.

The content of the article

Hi all! Today's topic will appeal to music lovers who cannot yet find the optimal solution to the problem of the lack of normal music in their car. We will talk about an FM transmitter or modulator. Whichever is more convenient for you.

Such a device can be purchased not only for a car, but also for a TV. The last option is useful for those who want to sit in front of the TV with the remote control, but not disturb those sleeping nearby with close sound. The modulator is simply connected to the TV, and the sound is transmitted to the FM receiver. But this is no longer so important. We're talking about cars.

Problem with music

I understand that not every car audio equipment package will satisfy the owner. That is, you buy a car, albeit a good one, but inside there is an old audio system with a CD format. There is no question of any MP3. And it's a shame.

Yes, you can just take headphones for your phone and listen to your music through it. But this is dangerous and violates traffic rules, since the driver does not have the right to sit behind the wheel with headphones on. Pedestrians should also be careful when listening to music on the roadway.

What to choose and what to do? There are 3 options:

• purchase a new audio system that will read MP3 format;
• enjoy only the radio available in the car;
• buy a modulator.

In my opinion, the best option is the last one. Judge for yourself. Buying a new audio system is an expensive pleasure, for which not everyone has the money. Plus, not everyone likes what's playing on the radio.

• How to connect Chromecast to TV and set up: complete instructions

And if you buy and set up your own transmitter, you can get good sound and the music you love. The top models cost up to 1000 rubles. But you can also take a simple device from Mystery or Intego, for example, for 400-500 rubles. It will also come with a display, Bluetooth or AUX interface.

see also

Comments 48

But I don’t worry about connecting my mobile phone to FM... I bought a navigator-recorder-hands-free (like I can make calls from it)-FM tuner (there’s also an MP3 player)-monitor for the rear view camera-you can watch games and videos...all this in one multi navigator. IT'S CALLED PRESTIGIO.

www.aliexpress.com/item/C…3-S4-Free/1242997387.html I bought this for my wife. The sound quality is very good (I tried it in stores - interference after interference) and there is also a bluetooth, which works very well (as a headset)

I'm not sure about the quality. if you have an aux, then it’s easier to buy a bluetooth headphone with a separate headphone input and attach it, source - the phone will most likely consume less, and the quality will be better since at least we avoid converting from digital to analog and back

The point is that there is no aux

Lenovo A789 definitely comes with a transmitter, the new ones already come without it.

What kind of car and radio do you want? Maybe it’s better to buy something like this yatour.su/ it connects to most standard radios, simulates a CD changer, the sound quality is like from a disc. + you also get AUX

As an option. I also want to order one for myself. only the price is not small)))

I always say, the price will be forgotten, the sensations will remain))

Astra H, but I will soon change it for a short time, I don’t want to buy something global

It’s possible, if it’s a Nokia N8... the quality is excellent. Surely there are still models or through aux (that's what I do)

I had an N8, there is no transmission quality. This is true, if you watch a video or play with sound in a car, and listening to music through it is terrible, firstly the quality is terrible, and secondly the volume is much lower.

Look at the line of smart phones from Lenovo, they are on Android, I have a P700, there the FM transmitter comes only in the Chinese version of the firmware, I rooted the smart and installed it separately, everything is there on 4pda. Maybe now in their new smart phones the transmitter is already included in our firmware. But even if so, then you need to ask users how it works. Because it worked very quietly from my phone and it was difficult to catch the wave - the transmitter is very weak, and the antenna is on the butt of the car) in general, Google it right now

Look at the line of smart phones from Lenovo, they are on Android, I have a P700, there the FM transmitter comes only in the Chinese version of the firmware, I rooted the smart and installed it separately, everything is there on 4pda. Maybe now in their new smart phones the transmitter is already included in our firmware. But even if so, then you need to ask users how it works. Because it worked very quietly from my phone and it was difficult to catch the wave - the transmitter is very weak, and the antenna is on the butt of the car) in general, Google it right now

I have a Lenovo A3000 tablet, but I haven’t heard about the transmitter, I only have a regular radio.

I don’t know anything about tablets, I’m talking about what I did myself

Sometimes a regular radio receiver is called a transmitter.

Why are you taking me for an idiot?! )))

Yes, what are you doing? )))

In principle, if there is a receiver of radio waves, then it can also be a transmitter, who knows about this?

In general, when a person hears FM, the thought of listening to the radio immediately comes to his mind. Of course, few people listen to the radio now, because everyone has their own favorite music on their smartphone or tablet. After all, it’s always easier to listen to what you like than to wait until a song you find unpleasant ends up on the radio. But, on the other hand, on FM waves you can hear an unknown composition that you might like. But we won’t go into these details, because today the topic of our discussion is an FM transmitter for an Android tablet.

What is this?

Well, yes, before choosing which one has better sound or which one has a more powerful transmitter, you need to understand what I’m talking about.

FM modulators or transmitters are modern devices capable of decoding mp3 streams into radio waves in the FM range. Hence the corresponding name. Music downloaded for iPhone or Android smartphone is broadcast through a modulator, transforming into radio broadcasting on a separate frequency.

Each transmitter has its own frequency. Within a certain range, it can operate and play audio files.

This is something like your own radio station, which plays only what you like and choose. The music source is a flash drive, smartphone, tablet or the internal memory of the modulator itself.

How will this all work? You connect the transmitter to the car and your radio via USB, cigarette lighter or Bluetooth wireless technology. On the last one, tune the wave that you selected on the modulator for broadcasting music. All. Now your favorite tunes are playing in the car.

If you have any connection difficulties, just watch the video instructions. This will simplify the process of setting up and activating the transmitter.

A standard FM modulator is a small device equipped with a digital display and a connector for a flash drive. To control the gadget, you can use the buttons on the device itself or the remote control. The transmitter receives power through the cigarette lighter. That is, he definitely won’t need 220 Volts.

Classes

I do not recommend adhering to the principle “The higher the price, the better the device.” Yes, expensive devices have a number of additional features. But if you need a modulator that will simply perform its direct task, I don’t see the point of spending a lot of money.

• How to Connect and Set Up the Huawei Honor Band 5 Fitness Bracelet Through the Phone Application

See also: Rating of the most stolen cars: how to protect your car

Conventionally, all devices can be divided into 3 classes.

• State employees. Minimum price, as well as a set of options. But everything that is typical for a transmitter is here. It reads, plays and broadcasts on FM waves. You can download your music and listen to it without any extra options;
• Middle class. The functional set is much richer. For example, such modulators can process several different formats of audio recordings, not just MP3, have connectors for micro-format memory cards, a backlit display, and a wide range of FM waves;
• Premium segment. These are the most expensive gadgets that offer many functions and capabilities, support for a wide range of formats, the option to create a playlist, a large display, work with different types of flash drives, connection with smartphones, activation of the phone’s speakerphone, etc. There are also some models that can play video, and are equipped with a built-in Bluetooth module.

As for me, the main criteria will be sound quality and radio wave range. The task of the owner of such a device is to find a free frequency through which he can broadcast his music. If you live in a city like St. Petersburg or Moscow, problems may arise with finding a free frequency if the modulator range is narrow.

See also: Pass a technical inspection for compulsory motor liability insurance: basic requirements for a car and where you can buy it

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Well, this is the best solution today. If your car has support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, then you can not only listen to music from your iPhone or Android smartphone, but display the necessary applications on the head unit screen: maps, podcasts, audiobooks, instant messengers, calendar, phone. You can also use voice search.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support must be provided by the standard head unit or car radio. Some popular manufacturers such as Gazer, Pioneer, ALPINE, Kenwood, SONY, JVC have already released radios supporting these functions.

As for cars (standard devices), support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto began to appear in cars in 2016. But it all depends on the brand, model, configuration. Currently, this function is supported by more than 500 car models. Many models from Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Citroen, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Skoda, Toyota and others. It's strange that Mercedes is not on this list.

The full list of supported cars is listed on the website https://www.android.com/auto/ and https://www.apple.com/ru/ios/carplay/. You can also learn more about these functions there.

• Support for iOS devices: all iPhones starting from iPhone 5.
• Support for Android devices: from Android 5 to Android 9 you need to install the Android Auto application from Google Play. Android 10 comes with Android Auto built into the system.

The phone is connected to the car via cable. Some devices have wireless connectivity. Well, as far as I understand, the possibility of wireless connection also depends on the car itself (equipment). In any case, the phone will still have to be charged, since this function will greatly drain the battery. Unless the car also has wireless charging, then you can do without wires altogether.

Popular models

This will be a small rating of devices that have gained popularity, have positive reviews and are in high demand on the market.

• Bliss FM from Neoline. It comes with a remote control, supports two storage formats up to 16 GB, and covers the entire FM wavelength range. It transmits sound perfectly and can play music in folders, which allows you to create playlists. Costs only 900 rubles;

• MFM 26CU made by Mystery. For 900 rubles you get a very wide range of features, including a built-in equalizer for adjusting the sound to your taste. Memory function for repeating tracks in the desired sequence, informative screen, large range. But the drive is only available up to 4 GB;

• Xiaomi Roidmi 2s. One of the most popular transmitters on the market. A multifunctional device for little money, operating on Bluetooth technology. Allows you to turn on speakerphone on your phone, has a mid-range frequency, convenient control and synchronization with your smartphone. It is enough to download the program from the store, depending on the operating system of the phone. Allows you to charge your phone without turning off the music. Features a highly durable display;

• FMT A955 from Ritmix. It belongs to the expensive segment, but the price is fully justified by the sound quality and set of functions. It’s difficult to describe all the possibilities, but I’ll at least focus on the fact that it can work with external drives with a capacity of up to 32 GB.

My short review will not give a complete picture of the devices. But the presented models definitely deserve attention. Each of them comes with instructions, which I strongly advise you to study before connecting and using.

I hope you found it interesting and highlighted something useful for yourself. Be sure to share your opinion and experience using modulators in the comments. Don't forget to subscribe and share links with your friends!

Hello Habr! Next there will be a short story about how to make a computer play music or Internet radio (also music) on a home music center WITHOUT WIRE. Nothing brilliant, just a broken FM transmitter. Poverty, of course, but I decided to share my delight! There were topics on the hub that briefly touched on this topic: One had a question. Another with a review. But that's not the point. In general, I already knew that there were radio stations on the Internet, but it was somehow not before. And then I had a couple of free evenings, and I remembered “this topic.” Google to the rescue -> shoutcast.com – hurray for Smooth Jazz. Cool and Ice - Nice! Anything is better than the nonsense that sounds on FM air. And I don’t have this music in my collection. And, again, I’m tired of copyrights. And here people are like “broadcasting” - they are broadcasting coolly, I think that almost everyone can find something there to suit their taste. There are no speakers on my home computer. There were once soldered ones, but my son finally got rid of them as soon as he learned to walk. There are more vandal-resistant “ears”. There are no speakers (normal) on the laptop. A reasonable question arose, voiced in the first article. It took a long time to order something and have it delivered from somewhere. In a locality (not Moscow) it is simply impossible to find something similar to what is indicated in the comments to the first referenced article. And all this is unjustifiably expensive; I wanted something with a cost of “0” right here and now. But! I had a similar device in my car, literally: Ritmix FMT-A951 (important for the essence of the situation, not advertising). Because I smoke, and at the same time I often forget my lighter, but due to constant re-plugging, the power connector broke, and it was left to gather dust “just in case.” And now - her time has come! The device was completely broken. I'm not an electrician, but I quickly realized that a voltage converter was built into the cigarette lighter socket. I understood because there were a bunch of “resistances” (resistors?), which I remembered well from “school physics”, because received two points for them. It remained to understand which of the 12 machine Volts it was converted into. I don't have a voltmeter, because... I have nothing to do with Electronics at all, and at first I “came to a dead end.” But! Hurray – the thoughts didn’t last long, because... Since the device has USB and a connector for SD/MMC, it was logical to assume that from 12 it will be converted to 5 Volts. The cigarette lighter socket was no longer needed. It’s broken, there’s nowhere to put it in at home, and buying an adapter 220 -> into the cigarette lighter “you need to go” and “totally break it” and “waste money again.” Thinking in the same spirit further, I realized that a voltage converter of 12 => 5 Volts would somehow also not be relevant here now. There is nowhere to stick it in without a socket, and wrapping everything up with electrical tape would be very unsightly. After biting the converter and leaving it “in the closet” “under lock and key” “just in case,” I finally saw that there were not two, but three wires. Everything on the converter was covered in rosin, and until I bit into the wiring it wasn’t even clear that there was another wire there. It doesn’t matter – it’s still not a pity. Experimentally, through sequential search of wires on the Molex connector (note, the yellow wire is 12 - and we don’t need it in any way, it can burn everything) the required sequence was calculated. From the Molex you need ground - black, and 5 volts - red. The required pair of contacts was found very quickly: yellow to black Molex, red to red. Yes, there were some letters VC BT GD on the scarf, but I couldn’t find anything on the Internet (naturally, there was no schematic diagram of the device on the manufacturer’s website), and it was impossible for me, a neophyte, to understand what these mysterious combinations of Latin capslocks meant. I Googled and Yandexil for the query “designations on printed circuit boards”, but “alas and ah”, there were tons of information on which I was reluctant to waste time. Because The device was supposed to be external in relation to the computer, I decided to “play” the power supply from USB (5 Volts there!). There were a ton of wires; after cutting one of them and finding a color code on the Internet, I finally connected the device! Hooray! EARNED! All that was left to do was to assemble it all “more or less” efficiently. The “original” wiring was completely transposed and in their place USB wires were very successfully soldered (with a regular and huge 40 Watt) soldering iron. It turned out quite “as for myself.” “In the process” of soldering, I also threw out that third wiring, because... I was sure that since everything worked without him, he was not responsible for anything. When I turned on the device, I heard nothing. Having removed all the “logical loops”, I realized that this wiring is an antenna. Of course, I had to take it apart again, solder it and put it back together. Voila! There is sound, in FM quality, of course, but for the whole house. Is it all? Having walked with my laptop along my few meters, I discovered that, alas, not all the way. Especially if you “stick” the wunderwaffle device in the far corner behind the computer. The size of the antenna was increased by the usual twisting of a broken guitar string (also, as you can see, useful), everything was “tightly” and “tightly” rewound with electrical tape. The signal quality began to be sufficient for the entire apartment, the antenna became more than reliable, and there was no possibility of tearing it out, because... I attached the string and tied it in three knots on what was left of the cigarette lighter bracket. Now I’m listening to that same Smooth (easy? in general – relaxed) Jazz, persistently broadcast from file-Internetto, etc. in the next room on the mafon that has taken root in the kitchen, I myself am sitting here at the laptop and writing this article in this habraeditor of ours. Unfortunately, not being a photographer, as a proof I can only imagine what the phone camera was able to capture, in insanely poor quality and with forced evening light, but proof! All that remains is to make sure that you don’t have to turn on the computer. By the way, no one can tell you, maybe you saw some good review about media players, those that can watch videos from the network, etc., preferably with Wi-Fi and inexpensively (although you can, they say, they have Wi-Fi stick a whistle)? Do they know how to stream audio (if I haven’t got something wrong, in general I’m talking about the same Internet radio), it’s very interesting not to turn on the computer for this... UPD 1

: By the way, in these “torments” the device almost did not lose functionality, I did not burn anything, although during testing I shorted the yellow wire of the Molex to the ground, it shorted to sparks.
The flash drive works, I just tested SD/MMC too, all I have to do is buy an adapter from the cigarette lighter to USB and you can take the device on the road again! UPD 2
: The public complained about “not enough pictures.”
What can you “fotoskat”? Unscrewing one bolt is not a problem. I'll live for a minute without music. +1 Scarf with soldered wires. What is on the left is the antenna, on the right is the input from the USB. +2 The same “reliable” and “most insulated” twist of the antenna onto the string, the same bracket, the same string (yes, nylon, ernibal / Ernie Ball). UPD 3
: I missed another important thing.
Yes, the device has a socket for connecting an external player, which is used for transferring music from a computer. That is, a jack for a regular linear output from speakers or headphones. BUT! This is not important, what is important is that the device has a 2.5 mm socket, a special one, like on Nokias. On computers, as I hope we all know very well, there are no such sockets, but there are 3.5. This transmitter came with an adapter cord (reasonable Ritmix, great guys here), I, of course, did NOT lose it. Where is your cord? Yes, if “this trouble” happened, then in a computer store I once saw a “Hansa” adapter from 2.5 “male” to 3.5 “female” for the same Nokia (99.99 RUB). I think that it is quite possible to find an extension cord of the 3.5 male -> 3.5 male type. In this simple way you can get out of this difficult situation. In general, a note to the hostess, go for it, gentlemen! To listen to music you will need an FM receiver

see also

Comments 48

But I don’t worry about connecting my mobile phone to FM... I bought a navigator-recorder-hands-free (like I can make calls from it)-FM tuner (there’s also an MP3 player)-monitor for the rear view camera-you can watch games and videos...all this in one multi navigator. IT'S CALLED PRESTIGIO.

www.aliexpress.com/item/C…3-S4-Free/1242997387.html I bought this for my wife. The sound quality is very good (I tried it in stores - interference after interference) and there is also a bluetooth, which works very well (as a headset)

I'm not sure about the quality. if you have an aux, then it’s easier to buy a bluetooth headphone with a separate headphone input and attach it, source - the phone will most likely consume less, and the quality will be better since at least we avoid converting from digital to analog and back

The point is that there is no aux

Lenovo A789 definitely comes with a transmitter, the new ones already come without it.

What kind of car and radio do you want? Maybe it’s better to buy something like this yatour.su/ it connects to most standard radios, simulates a CD changer, the sound quality is like from a disc. + you also get AUX

As an option. I also want to order one for myself. only the price is not small)))

I always say, the price will be forgotten, the sensations will remain))

Astra H, but I will soon change it for a short time, I don’t want to buy something global

It’s possible, if it’s a Nokia N8... the quality is excellent. Surely there are still models or through aux (that's what I do)

I had an N8, there is no transmission quality. This is true, if you watch a video or play with sound in a car, and listening to music through it is terrible, firstly the quality is terrible, and secondly the volume is much lower.

Look at the line of smart phones from Lenovo, they are on Android, I have a P700, there the FM transmitter comes only in the Chinese version of the firmware, I rooted the smart and installed it separately, everything is there on 4pda. Maybe now in their new smart phones the transmitter is already included in our firmware. But even if so, then you need to ask users how it works. Because it worked very quietly from my phone and it was difficult to catch the wave - the transmitter is very weak, and the antenna is on the butt of the car) in general, Google it right now

Look at the line of smart phones from Lenovo, they are on Android, I have a P700, there the FM transmitter comes only in the Chinese version of the firmware, I rooted the smart and installed it separately, everything is there on 4pda. Maybe now in their new smart phones the transmitter is already included in our firmware. But even if so, then you need to ask users how it works. Because it worked very quietly from my phone and it was difficult to catch the wave - the transmitter is very weak, and the antenna is on the butt of the car) in general, Google it right now

I have a Lenovo A3000 tablet, but I haven’t heard about the transmitter, I only have a regular radio.

I don’t know anything about tablets, I’m talking about what I did myself

Sometimes a regular radio receiver is called a transmitter.

Why are you taking me for an idiot?! )))

Yes, what are you doing? )))

In principle, if there is a receiver of radio waves, then it can also be a transmitter, who knows about this?

In general, when a person hears FM, the thought of listening to the radio immediately comes to his mind. Of course, few people listen to the radio now, because everyone has their own favorite music on their smartphone or tablet. After all, it’s always easier to listen to what you like than to wait until a song you find unpleasant ends up on the radio. But, on the other hand, on FM waves you can hear an unknown composition that you might like. But we won’t go into these details, because today the topic of our discussion is an FM transmitter for an Android tablet.

How to create a connection using an FM transmitter on a tablet?

To get started, you will need a special Sky FM Radio program. Download it and install it on your Android tablet. Please note that your device must support radio waves, otherwise you will not succeed. If you have no idea how to check this, then just try to establish a connection using the method described below. If nothing works, then your device does not support FM.

1. After installing the Sky FM Radio program, launch it;
2. A welcome window will open in front of you. Click OK;
3. Next, the application will prompt you to select a region. We hope that you will not have any problems with this;
4. On the car radio's FM receiver, find a frequency that does not have a station. That is, we need a free frequency that will receive the signal;
5. In the program settings, set the same frequency and you can transmit the signal. Ready! Now you can play music on your Android device.

The advantages of the program include a clear and convenient interface for Android, as well as the quality of signal transmission. It is also possible to create playlists, transmit a signal via Bluetooth, and so on. That is, you should not have any problems with the inconvenience of using the program.

Video on the topic

Many drivers cannot imagine the process of driving a car without their favorite music. And automakers fully satisfy this need by installing a multi-channel audio system. The playback head unit of a modern car is capable of not only reading information from a flash drive, but also establishing a connection with a smartphone and even recharging it.

But what should owners of old cars with standard radios do? It’s unlikely that it will be possible to update it. A car FM transmitter with Bluetooth, which can freely connect with various gadgets, will help out here.

Let's sum it up

Today we talked about FM transmitters (or modulators) for an Android tablet, looked at the features of its operation, as well as the pros and cons of using it. We also discussed a special program for transmitting a signal from a tablet via waves to an FM receiver. Now you can definitely do it all yourself. Happy listening to music, dear readers! What method do you use to listen to music from a smartphone or other device on the go? And what kind of music do you generally listen to: hard rock, pop music, jazz, electronica, rap or classical? Share your opinion in the comments.

Music is very important when driving a car. After all, it is the background for the driver and passengers. If your car has a radio where only the radio works, you can configure and connect an FM modulator through the cigarette lighter, then listen to your favorite music. With the development of technology in an old car, which is 10-20 years old, which is not uncommon today (is this a secondary market?) radio tape recorders can read CDs, they are long outdated. The radio works, but there is no flash drive. For the driver this would be a problem if not for the fm modulator. It is also called a car fm transmitter. It happens with bluetooth, hands free function, android app, or without all this. This is a small device that can be connected through the cigarette lighter and broadcast music from a flash drive or phone to a radio wave. The price for an fm modulator ranges from 500 ₽ to 2000 ₽. It all depends on the manufacturer and the functions that are available on the device. Read the article to the end; we will analyze the topic of how to connect and configure the device on a car, and we will also divide the segment into good cheap and expensive models.

Total

The device is well suited for older cars and large trucks, where there is no radio with flash drive reading and hands-free headset support, and the car only has a radio. Verdict: a good radio is better than this device.

The FM modulator is mainly for owners of one-year-old foreign cars with good standard acoustics that are not equipped with USB and Bluetooth. This device is quite capricious: the transmitter is sensitive to interference from the car’s electrical equipment and the congestion of the metropolitan radio network.

We do not recommend using this gadget to play your own music collection not only for these reasons. The audio quality is frankly poor, and is significantly inferior in this parameter to the AUX channel. The rule “the best means the highest quality”, noted in the material on how to wash tar from a car body without damaging the paint, does not work here. In practical terms, even the best FM transmitter sounds worse than a city radio station with a good signal. There are several explanations for this fact:

• The conversion of “digits” into a radio signal and the reverse conversion of information by the on-board audio system unit into sound are different stages, each of which has its own losses.
• Large radio broadcasting stations use special post-processors to ensure that on-air music sounds high quality through the receiver.

In short, we recommend purchasing an FM modulator only as a means of implementing Hands-free technology. Otherwise, it’s better to buy a player or connect your phone via a mini-jack to the AUX connector so as not to be disappointed with the sound quality.

How does an fm modulator work in a car?

The device operates from a cigarette lighter. An FM modulator is a device that encodes an MP3 stream into FM waves, which are broadcast on certain unoccupied frequencies. You will not be able to configure the fm modulator if a radio is already registered on this wave. The modulators are fixed either at a certain frequency from 80 to 100 megahertz, or have their own specific unoccupied wave, this is indicated on the device box. There is also dynamic frequency adjustment, some models operate at frequencies above 180 MHz; no radio station broadcasts at these frequencies, so they are free.

Some devices are equipped with a remote control; this is needed to configure the modulator and to select the order of played music tracks. More expensive models even have their own application for control from a smartphone. The phone allows you to fully configure the control of all functions of the device. Such models are more expensive, for example, Xiaomi Roidmi 3S costs 1,500 rubles, but this is justified. The more expensive FM modulator also allows you to customize the sound quality of your music.

Conclusion

The Bluetooth AUX adapter is suitable for anyone who wants to get rid of unnecessary wires. But before installing it, you should ask yourself a few questions:

• Does the radio have an AUX input for connecting a linear audio signal?
• Is there a free cigarette lighter socket to plug in the power adapter?
• Will it be necessary to talk through an adapter, and if so, is it possible to place the microphone correctly?
• What sound quality is required as a result?

By answering these questions, you can decide which device you should buy and at what cost. Enjoy listening to your favorite tracks while driving!

How to connect and configure an fm modulator in a car

The transmitter is connected to the cigarette lighter, or to a 12-volt socket (for cars), but it is not enough to just plug in the device and everything will work, it needs to be tuned to a certain wave, and then, having fixed it, catch this wave with your radio receiver in the radio. There is an important point here: the FM frequency must not coincide with any radio. Therefore, decide on it in advance. If you don’t know what frequency to connect to, take a closer look at 87.5 FM, it is free for almost all cities.

You can connect and configure an FM modulator without Bluetooth in your car via the cigarette lighter as follows:

• If the cigarette lighter works, insert the device into it;
• Pre-prepare a flash drive with MP3 tracks - Insert it into the device;
• If the FM modulator comes with a remote control, then you can use it to set the radio frequency, if not, then everything is done with buttons;
• turn on the car radio in radio mode, find the frequency at which the FM modulator was tuned, as soon as the frequency is tuned in, your favorite music will play.

If the device has a Bluetooth function, another item is added to the setup: pairing the smartphone with the device.

Setting up an FM modulator with the application

If you have a modulator with its own special application, for example, Xiaomi roidmi 3S, then everything is configured in the application; it does not have a remote control included. When connected to the cigarette lighter, its LED should blink, this indicates that it is waiting to connect to the smartphone. After pairing with the phone, the modulator LED simply lights up constantly. The peculiarity of this model is that tuning to the desired frequency and switching the track is done simply by shaking the phone.

Special emulator for the head unit

There are devices such as CD changer emulators for radios. This device connects to a special connector (on the rear panel of the radio) and allows you to read music from SD cards, USB drives, or receive it from your phone via AUX or Bluetooth. And the radio “thinks” that it works with a regular CD changer. Everything connects beautifully and works, without any hassle. Suitable for old stock car radios.

It is connected via the input for the CD changer. Or through a special adapter.

As a rule, it is displayed somewhere in the glove compartment, or in another convenient place. The head unit identifies it as a CD changer.

Nothing complicated, just be careful when choosing this device. There are a lot of them on AliExpress. Be sure to find out whether a particular model will suit your specific vehicle. It is necessary that certain protocols supported by the emulator and the head unit match. Read reviews, ask the seller, Google information on your car model.

Budget and expensive models - what's the difference?

FM modulators are divided into two classes: budget 500 rubles or less. As a rule, they do not have a Bluetooth function, they cannot interface with a smartphone, they play only from a flash drive, they do not have a hands free headset and the devices are more expensive, from 2 thousand rubles. and higher, they have the function of Bluetooth, headset, and sometimes controlled from their application. You can find out whether a hands-free headset is supported by the presence of a microphone on the device; if it is present, then the function is supported.

List of devices less than 500 ₽, which include a remote control, which save the last played song, and also play MKV format in addition to MP3:

1. The Neoline Droid FM model, the price of which is 400 rubles, interacts with flash drives up to 16 GB, is suitable for heavy vehicles on a 24 volt network;
2. The Rolsen RFA-300 model costs from 300 rubles, the device also reads flash drives up to 16 GB. Plays MP3 format, but is only suitable for a 12 volt network;
3. The Defender RT Play device costs from 420 ₽ the affordable modulator has good sound quality and the longest range. The distance at which it picks up the radio is 10 meters.

Modulators from 1150 rubles with Bluetooth function

1. Model neoline Wave FM price from 1800 rubles, equipped with a remote control, controlled both from it and from buttons. It has two slots for flash drives from which you can charge your phone or read information from USB. It supports a micro SD slot with a maximum storage capacity of 32Gb. Suitable for passenger cars with a 12-volt network, and for trucks with a 24-volt network.
2. Models Mystery MFM-80BCU price for them starts from 1900 ₽. The device is equipped with an LCD display, has two remote controls and a hands free function. Equipped with a function that removes extraneous noise and echo during a telephone conversation. It is equipped with a slot for an external micro SD card, but the device does not read capacities larger than 4 GB. This is a significant disadvantage of this model; it also does not have a USB input, that is, you cannot connect a regular flash drive.
3. An alternative to all the modulators described above is Xiaomi roidmi 3S, its price starts from 1100 rubles, the modulator supports a hands free headset. Setting up and communicating with the device occurs through an application that can be downloaded from Google Play or AppStore. Tuning in to the wave and switching tracks occurs by shaking the phone. This modulator does not have a display, which is sometimes inconvenient. It does not read information from regular USB, it only connects to the phone. However, in the case it has 2 USB outputs of 5 volts 2.5 amps, they are made for charging the phone.

Cons of FM modulators

• The main disadvantage of modulators is that it often burns out - this happens due to the fact that when starting a car, the voltage in it decreases, so it is better not to leave it turned on in the socket overnight. If the voltage drops when the car starts, the flash drive will burn out along with the modulator. When starting a car in winter, the voltage often drops to 10 volts until the generator starts working. After the generator starts working, the voltage jumps again to 15 volts. This is detrimental to any devices connected through the cigarette lighter;
• Because of them, the cigarette lighter fuse often blows;
• Older models have poor sound quality.

Possible faults

The most common malfunction is overheating of the device. Inexpensive Chinese models often fail due to the lack of a voltage stabilizer. The device will start working only after it has completely cooled down. The problem can be solved by independent selection and installation of the part.

The second possible breakdown is a failure of the power supply, which can be caused by an increase in voltage in the vehicle's electrical network. This occurs due to a malfunction of the regulator relay or an interruption in the circuit while the engine is running. Another reason may be over-adjustment if the user decides to connect the device directly with wires and not through the cigarette lighter. Along with a breakdown of the power supply, the transmitter software often crashes. In this case, it is easier to install a new device than to repair the old one.