Help with iPod remotes - looking to get one for a friend

• 

  inherentchoice on 29/11/2009 - 00:27

  +1

  I think the one you found on eBay is also available for $7 from DealExtreme, and it has mostly positive reviews:
  http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.476

  An alternative you might want to consider is using an fm transmitter which would allow you to select the songs directly from the ipod while it transmits wirelessly as a fm radio signal to the stereo. You would want to be sure about the range needed however, as many of the transmitters may only be good for a distance of 3m or so, and even the better ones may only be good for 10m. Unfortunately I think the range of these things is usually very limited because of broadcast laws. This one might be okay:

  http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.28873

  There are also larger models that may have better sound quality and range, however some are bulky so I'm not sure you'd want them in your pocket doing gym class.

  There are also ipod fm transmitters that have a remote:

  http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19974

  • 

    SomeGuyOnOzB on 29/11/2009 - 21:42

    Thank you inherentchoice! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

    Looking at DealExtreme now …

    Though, I don't think she has time to check and/or set up the radio connection at the gyms. Instructors generally use CDs or MP3 players. There are some legacy tape decks too. But I don't remember there being a radio in the centres that she teaches at, that I've checked.

    • 

      inherentchoice on 30/11/2009 - 20:01

      Well, with 'setting it up' most fm transmitters would just have an up and down to select the frequency, and you just set it on a vacant one and leave it there all the time… and with the problem of no radio at the gym, then you can get a low-cost pocket radio with 3.5mm jack. I don't think would take time to set up as you could just push the on button and plug in the cable, only now there's one extra on button if that makes sense. So it should be as simple as:

      1. turn on ipod (fm transmitter will turn on automatically)
      2. plug fm radio into the Gym's equipment
      3. turn on fm radio
      4. play songs on ipod
• 

  discostu on 30/11/2009 - 00:03

  I bought an iGriffin about 2 years ago from David Jones, it cost about $60 from memory and just sits at the bottom of the iPod, similar to what inherentchoice is suggesting. Maybe if you know someone who works there you could get a good price on top of a sale price. Alternatively, they also price match. It works pretty well, but I've always used it within a small proximity, usually in the car so I can't comment how well it works from a far distance.

  • 

    SomeGuyOnOzB on 30/11/2009 - 10:54

    Hi DiscoStu,

    FM transmitting would be nice for her car, but could take too long before a class; she often has to set up the room, as well as the music. I also think the gym systems do not have radio tuners.

    Does that come with a 3.5 mm socket? :)

    At a glance on the iGriffin website, it looks like there is no 3.5 mm socket in the fm transmitter …

    It also looks like there is no remote control … so I guess if I got her this, I'd also have to get her an FM receiver with a 3.5mm socket. (small radio etc …)

• 

  SomeGuyOnOzB on 30/11/2009 - 14:17

  I've found this device, which says it can also allow for:
  * charging via a micro USB cable
  * playing video as well …

  But although it says you can play music through your stereo, I'm suspecting they'd want a person to use their 3.5mm to RCA cable … and use the audio outputs only.

  So plugging a 3.5mm stereo audio cable into the socket could lead to interference or other problems from the video line … though I'm not too familiar with that part of the technology.

• 

  Davo1111 on 04/12/2009 - 09:42

  i bought the deal extreme one, its not like the photo, its much thinner. Doesnt work very well on nanos because the headphone socket and the sereal input are too close to one another. Would probably work for bigger apple products like iphone and ipod classic

  • 

    SomeGuyOnOzB on 04/12/2009 - 11:24

    Thanks Davo111 :)

    Oops :P They just shipped it …

    Fingers crossed then that the model I get is okay … :)

    • 

      SomeGuyOnOzB on 24/12/2009 - 00:58

      gave it to my friend :)

      now to see how it goes