iTrip for iPod Nano

All articles on this site are by Harry Skevington unless otherwise noted with another byline

iTrip for iPod Nano From Griffin
Play Your iPod Nano on Any FM Radio?
Our car has an AM/FM/CD/Cassette Tape Player combo in it. It is a 2003 Celica. I wish they still made that car. Before joining Audible.com so I could download audio books I would buy and play books on CDs. When things got digital I went to a junk drawer and found an old adaptor that fit into the Cassette tape slot on my dashboard. That adaptor has a 3.5mm connector on it so that worked well with the various MP3 Players I used over time. My wife gave me an iPod Nano 4th generation for Christmas and things changed. I wanted to use the iPod in the car but easily move it with me to the gym, dentist office, or other places where it could make the time pass. Along came Griffin with the iTrip for iPod nano. I had to take it for a ride.

I live in Key West. It is a small island of about 3 by 5 miles but boy do we have some super electrical towers and wiring. My AM stations are often useless. In certain areas of town I have more Cuban stations than USA ones. They do provide some interesting music. FM is better but can be compromised when driving by. Finding three adjacent signal free frequencies is not always easy. But I get ahead of myself.

The iTrip works with:
websupportedipods

The iTrip for iPod Nano is so tiny it looks like a kid’s tiny toy. It plugs into the docking area at the bottom of the iPod. If you use a protective sleeve you may need to remove it so the iTrip docks perfectly. The iTrip FM does not have a battery so does NOT need charging. You will have to recharge your iPod more often to compensate for the iTrip power usage. The iTrip will not even light up unless the connection is tight.

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I searched the FM tuner and found three adjacent frequencies that fit the bill. I connected the iTrip, turned on the iPod, started the audiobook, and tuned the iTrip to the middle stop. The sound was very good. As mentioned above there are places in town where I get static. It is best to save 2 or three presets of non-used FM frequencies so you can move to a better one if the static persists. A friend who lives in Boston says there are no empty areas on the dial. He feels the iTrip will not work for him. You might want to check available blank spots on your dial prior to buying the iTrip. The Griffin website has an easy way for you to check your home area or find blank frequencies when you travel. Go to: http://stationfinder.griffintechnology.com/

I found the iTrip FM to be a good option for me. The list price is $49.99. I was not happy with the need to remove my iPod Nano 4th Gen Defender each time I had to connect the iTrip to the iPod. I was very happy with the sound reproduction and easy setup. No wires or professional connections. The price seems fair. The pluses by far outnumber the negatives. You can download the short instruction manual HERE to see more details.

For more info on this and other Griffin products click here


	Harry Skevington has been involved with electronics since 1981. He has taught, written for, and provided support to, computer users since 1985. Information that will help consumers with buying decisions is more important than ever due to the current convergence of computers and other consumer products . Harry attends CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas on assignment as a working press writer each year to find and write about emerging technology that seems to fit the needs of his readers. Contact Harry

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