Audio Input

[ridway]

I want to take the output from a laptop 3.5mm stereo jack and feed it into the car stereo primarly to listen to MP3s off the hard disk of a lappy and watch DVDs for the kids.

The Radio is the RDS 5000 with the 6 disk auto changer. I know this can be done but has anyone tried and found the easiest way. My thoughts were to modify the unit and utilise the cassette tape head to accept the input as the cassette player is never used in our car. This mod seems quite intrusive, though I think it would be cool if its done right. Does anyone suggest an easier way; the audio feeds from the CD autochanger for instance. Im open to suggestions

 

Cheers Rich

[ridway]

Forget my last entry. I think its too much hassle to create a hard wired connection between the lap top and the rds 5000. If I start poking around with a soldering iron I'm bound to break it.

 

So I've been looking at these FM modulators; halfords apparently sell them and theres a few on the net, ebay etc. These plug into the audio out on the laptop PDA or mp3 player and send the signal to the FM radio receiver in the rds 5000.

 

Cool idea. Does anyone use or has tried one of these? Does the sound quality degrade much by going through the radio? Whats the best make to go for? What is the range? Would it reach between two vehicles in convoy for instance?

 

Rich

[Guest nimrod]

What about the cassette adaptor you get with the external portable CD player kits? they plug into the head phone/speaker output and you just pop the cassette into the player and hit play! that way there's no need to pull the radio out of the dash to plug in the FM modulator

the FM modulator only converts the audio signal to an FM signal that is then played through the radio once the correct channel is chosen, it wont broadcast the signal to another vehicle

[ridway]

Am I incorrect in assumming that these FM modulators convert audio into a weak radio signal which is then transmitted over a short distance to the cars receiving aerial. You can then tune your radio to pick up that signal.

Does the modulator have to be plugged to the radio with a dual adaptor with the regular aerial feed? .

 

Thanks Nimrod, I do know what you mean with the cassette adaptor. I'll have browse at those. The only thing that puts me off is wires trailing though.

 

Rich

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Not a radio signal - you need to "splice" into the aerial cable itself, usually a "Y"-adaptor is supplied, and the output from (in this case) your laptop is added to the signals in the radio cable. Hence it cannot be received by another car travelling in close convoy. If you want that, try one of the "PMR" sets available from eg Argos (personal mobile radio-works over about 1.5km range, posh sort of walkie-talkie).

[ridway]

Thanks Ivor. I've got the picture now. I'm sure I saw one that transmits somewhere on the net, I'll look again. It does suprise me that no body manufactures one that uses a low power radio link; like the video senders you could or still can get hold of. Anyhow i've got hold of a cassette adapter as suggested by Nmirod. Halfords 14.99. Helpful chap said bring it back if its not what you want. I'll report on how good it is shortly .

 

Cheers

Rich

[Ivor_E_Tower]

If you need one that transmits so it can be picked up by a radio aerial, you will need a radio operator's licence to use it! Was going to try out my laptop with a cassette adaptor thingly last night, but ran out of time, so do let us know how you get on.

[ridway]

Yep cassette adapter cheap and cheerful but does the job. Not cd quality but better than FM stereo. On quiet passages with the volume up you can hear the cassette motor running noise through the speakers. The fidelity is better than expected. Absolutley perfect for watching the DVDs in the back thats the kids sorted for the trip in Europe at Whitsun. Just need to secure the laptop somewhere now. Got a big black roll of gaffa tape in the garage

 

Rich