Customer Reviews

Griffin iTrip LCD Dock Connector for iPod (Black)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I bought this item because I use to have the older one that slots on top of the photo ipods (pre-video bottom slots). I loved it even though it broke and had to purchase a new one. Eventually my Ipod needed to be replaced so I purchased one of the video Ipods. Trusting Griffin iTrips I bought this despite bad feedback it already had. After having it now for a few months, I have hated it from day one. No matter what stations I try I always get static. I live about an hour away from Atlanta, so there really should be no reason for this. Ive tried every single radio station possible with no luck. The second thing that I hate about this iTrip is that there is no way to boost the signal level with the Ipods volume. You can only use your car volume to control it. This is because of some change with these newer ipods and only having the slot on the bottom for syncing and such. SO on top of getting static on all stations there is no way to boost the sound or level to try and "drown out" the static. My suggestion, find a way to plug directly into your system, the new iTrips are all horrible.

I bought this product thinking that it would be a great replacement for my old Belkin iTrip, which only allowed you to change radio stations when hooked up to a computer. Boy was I wrong. The signal from this thing is so weak that when you're less than three feet from the car antenna, you can still hearing static while songs are playing. Don't waste your money.

I loved the original iTrip from Griffin, and thought I would love this one as well. It is a great product, and is extremely easy to use, however, unlike the original iTrip, you cannot access the clearest channel, which for me was 87.9. The new version only goes down to station 88.1. I did find one channel that plays very nicely, however, and the iTrip fits on my ipod touch perfectly, even with a plastic cover.

I bought this product, used it twice, and when I tried to play my iPod in my car on the third use, it stopped responding. I've tried looking everywhere for troubleshooting tips and solutions but as far as I can see, I was sent a defective FM transmitter. When it DID work, I had a hard time finding a station and when I finally did, I couldn't move my iPod more than a foot away from the radio. I would not suggest buying this.

The product works as described, it allows you to get audio from your iPod/iPhone to the car radio wirelessly via the FM band. It disappoints because it is difficult (especially on the East Coast) to find FM channels that are clear enough to listen without interference. The unit itself is easy to use and understand. Not a bad deal for the price, but beware of the device's limitations.

Pros
1. The new itrip looks nicer than the previous 2006 version and is less bulky.
2. Sound is about the same as the 2006 itrip.

Cons
1. The new itrip does not broadcast on 87.9 (FM channel that's generally not used by radio stations)! This was a big thing for me. It's renders the itrip practically useless on long trips.
2. The tuner adjustment switch was changed and is much more difficult to use than the 2006 itrip. I don't know why this was changed.

Bottom Line
Though the new itrip is aesthetically nicer, it's functionality is subpar when compared to it's predecessor, the 2006 itrip. Another example demonstrating that a newer version does not necessarily mean better.

I purcharsed this item with high expectations however I must admit I'm a bit desappointed. Not so good signal.

I bought this item early in August, and although I was slightly bummed that it does not sound as "crystal clear" in the car as I had hoped, it did have some decent frequency in certain areas (if you're in the L.A. area, you'll likely be bouncing between 90.1 FM and 90.5 FM, and maybe even 90.9 FM too). But it was especially nice to use around the house since I would often place it on top of my stereo (up against the antenna for awesome clarity) to play my music through the radio.

However, because I used it so frequently since I have no other means of listening to my iPod in the car (I don't have a tape deck), the casing began falling apart and I often had to wrap tape around the sides to keep the plug from coming off. It's definitely on its last legs now since it just won't turn on anymore when I try and play my iPod. I understand that my having used it so much must have torn it apart, but it had only been six months since I bought it... so that tips me off as to how cheap the casing might be.

Overall, however, this product was good to me (and who knows, maybe I was just lucky I was able to find a good frequency... especially by placing my iPod upside-down in my lap seatbelt as I drove), but just so you know:

1) Don't expect ultimately clarity in your car (and I doubt any product like this actually offers that, anyway... if you HAVE a tape deck, just buy a cassette adapter).

2) Don't expect ultimate durability. This is definitely a product that's not to be used ALL the time because frequently pulling the item out of the iPod will definitely wear out the plug and eventually pull it out of its casing.

3) Don't think it can find a good frequency on its own. It says it can, but I never figured out how it could... I had to skim the airwaves by hand to find the frequencies I provided above.

You might be thinking that I've provided more cons than pros... and maybe I did. But for me, personally, it has been good to me overall; however, it might be more of a "buyer beware" for others. Depending on where you live, what frequencies are provided to you, and how often you will use it... it's a bit of a "wild card" kind of item to buy. If you do get it, though, I hope it'll good to you, too.

FM Modulators as a rule do not provide as clear reception as a direct line. However, if your current vehicle doesn't provide that option, you don't want a bunch of wires in your way, or you find yourself switching vehicles quite a bit, this is the perfect solution for you!

The iTrip is tiny, doesn't need wires (but they are included just in case you want to simultaneously charge your iPod while you're using it), and provides almost perfect sound. The only caveat to this is that you need to find the best station to broadcast through, but that isn't difficult to do. The iTrip also remembers the last station used, so if you find a good one, make it a preset and you'll be all set.

The only warning I will give is that when you first purchase your iTrip, it may drain the battery from your iPod more rapidly than should be expected, so make sure to bring the extra charging cables with you just in case. This is a symptom that wears off, so you won't have to worry about it too long.

For the past 2 years I have been using an older version of the itrip: (Griffin 9781-TRP30BK iTrip FM Transmitter with Dock Connector for iPod (Black)). I misplaced that iTrip and bought this one as a replacement. This product was a major downgrade from the earlier version because the frequency range for the newer one bottomed out at 88.1. I had been using 87.9 on my old one because no radio station uses that frequency. This newer iTrip supposedly automatically adjusted its signal strength to overpower anything on a certain frequency but when I tried to put it on a frequency with complete static, the iTrip would not overpower it. Yet somehow it was able to overpower a select group of full stations (although the static was so bad that if I wasn't holding it and using my body as an amplifier I would just hear the radio station). I strongly recommend to anyone, especially those near big cities, to go with the older model which I included earlier in this review.