Griffin RoadTrip FM Transmitter for iPhone and iPod (Black)
Griffin RoadTrip FM Transmitter for iPhone and iPod (Black)
RoadTrip is the do-it-all in-car charge and play solution for your iPhone or iPod. Updated and fully redesigned from the ground up to be easier to use than ever, RoadTrip unlocks all the entertainment options your iPhone or iPod can deliver, wherever the road takes you. Setup is a breeze. RoadTrip features our SmartScan technology, which searches the radio dial for the three clearest broadcast frequencies, automatically programs them to preset buttons, then automatically selects the best of the three for in-car broadcast to your FM radio. The look and functionality of a custom installation in your car without the cost or inconvenience Cradle adapters are included for iPhone, iPhone 3G, 1st & 2nd generation iPod touch, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation iPod nano, and iPod classic (80/120GB).
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Stars Find A Different Solution
Major issues with this - Every little bump or turn on the road, the whole thing swivels around. The volume has to be super high compared to the radio (you can’t switch from iPhone to radio without being deafened…) and it’s just not worth the money since it doesn’t work very well at all.
4 Stars Almost Perfect
I had to return this first one of these I received from Amazon. It worked for a week then it exhibited random broken behavior. Amazon made the exchange very easy and my new one has been working flawlessly for 3 weeks now.
The main issue I have is that my iPhone will randomly stop playing with the ‘unsupported device’ message, However it seems to be temperamental in spurts and you can actually just ignore the message and hit play on the RoadTrip to start it again. I know these messages are the iPhone’s fault, though I wonder if they would happen less if the dock allowed for the plug to go into the iPhone deeper.
One thing I was curious about before buying this was if it only worked if your cigarette adapter was horizontal like in all the photos. I have a Mazda 3 with a vertical adapter and it works just fine.
When I fire got the RoadTrip I would have issue where a station that seemed to work would end up not working a few miles away. I eventually just ran through all the frequencies that seemed to work until I found one that always worked ( 104.1 in the Seattle area )
3 Stars Nice looking/charger/transmiter, Pricy and misses on a couple key functions
Over all this is a nice looking device The transmitter works well in my Honda Ridgeline, it comes in as clear as any other FM radio station.
Griffen could be a bit more careful with the form and fit. One of the buttons was too tight and I had to cut it back a bit with an exacto knife to get it to stop sticking.
The one thing this unit lacks and it is not made clear in any reviews I read was that while it is true that it pauses the music when a call comes in and plays the ring tone over your car speakers it DOES NOT play the callers voice over the speakers. What an oversite on Griffin’s part! The unit is really complete, except for being able to take a call through it.
Griffin if you are listening, I have no problem paying $60+ for this unit if I could hear the caller over the speakers and use either the iphones built in mic or a mic in the RoadTrip but as it sits now I am tempted to give it back. Just an FM transmitter is not worth this much money.
3 Stars Didn’t work well in my Lexus
I tried this Griffin product in my 2005 Lexus Ls and it did not work well. I could not get a consistent FM signal even when using the Europeon mode with the lower 87.1 FM. I don’t know if it relates to my FM antenna being located in the rear of the vehicle or not. Really a shame, since everthing else about the product was great. The rigid staff really was nice where I was going to use the IPOD on my center console.
5 Stars Completes my iPod experience
I bought my first iPod a few months ago (a second-gen iPod touch) and was completely satisfied — except I couldn’t play it in my car. My first thought was to get an adapter wired into my car stereo, but like many cars from just a few years ago, it would have involved replacing the entire unit. At that point I started asking my friends how they addressed this issue. Some used cassette adaptors, but my car doesn’t have a cassette player. Others were using radio transmitters. Some of them were kind enough to lend me theirs to try out for a few days. Generally the transmitters were disappointing. There was way too much static.
After looking around on line, I decided to try the RoadTrip. It was more expensive than some of the others, but it looked like it would address a number of issues. It turns out to have exceeded my expectations. It helps in three different ways. It holds the iPod, charges the iPod, and transmits to the car stereo.
It does an outstanding job of holding the iPod. Don’t think that is a small thing. I had a lot of trouble finding a place to put the iPod while driving. The RoadTrip holds the iPod so that it is easy to reach, but doesn’t interfere with any of the other controls in my car. Having a physical button for pause/play and skip is great when you want to control the iPod and keep your eyes on the road.
It also does an excellent job charging the iPod. That may seem to go without saying, but another transmitter I borrowed couldn’t charge a second-gen Touch. The red/amber/green charging light is also useful.
Finally, it does a better job as an FM Transmitter than any of the others I tried. I’m not sure people appreciate what these little transmitters are up against. I live halfway between Washington and Baltimore, and there are very few free frequencies to choose from. The RoadTrip’s seek feature found a couple that work quite well for me. Don’t expect perfection — it won’t sound like a CD. There will be occasional interference. But most of the time it sounds as good as the clearest FM stations I listen to.
All in all, the RoadTrip is worth the price. It has made my commute much more pleasant.
Filed under: Mp3 Players Reviews