The Cat's Studio

Groove Ride FM Transmitter

The KIA Rio 2000 model comes with a CD-Radio from Philips which cannot play MP3 and has problems with CD-R and CD-RW discs. There is also no input to connect your MP3 player. The only way to get your MP3 music into this car stereo is the use of a FM modulator. These devices are available in almost all electronic stores and cost up to AUD100.

I picked a Cygnett Groove Ride FM Transmitter from Dick Smith for AUD69.95

• Frequency Range 87.5-108 MHz
• Tuning Steps 100 kHz
• Backlit LCD Display (blue)
• On/Off Button (press 2seconds)
• Frequency Up/Down Button
• Built in Li-Ion Cell

The device keeps the chosen frequency as long as the battery has enough charge. Once the voltage falls below a certain level the unit switches off and the frequency is lost. The Li-Ion battery can be charged via USB cable or a 12V cigarette lighter connector (both supplied) in less than 3 hours. Fully charged it keeps transmitting for about 6 hours.

This modulator is easy to operate. The quality/bandwidth of the transmission is of course less than what you get through a cable connection. I detected a high pitched noise in quiet music passages when the engine was running. In metropolitan areas it can be difficult to find a clear frequency. It is a good idea to stay at least 500kHz away from strong FM stations. Consult an online listing for local FM stations like the comprehensive site Australian Radio Stations maintained by Kevin White. Also keep in mind that you might have to change the frequency as you travel.

Plus

• simple operation
• backlit display

Minus

• no Auto-Off
• built in Li-Ion battery (live approx. 300 cycles)

After a month of frequent use I decided to find a better solution. To many buttons to push in order to operate the whole setup including MP3 player. I replaced the original Phillips CD-Radio with a new unit which is able to play MP3-CD's, has a USB port and a slot for SD/MMC cards.