C. Crane FMT Digital FM Transmitter with AC Adapter
by C. Crane
Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: C. CraneModel: FMT
Product features:
- Wireless transfer of any audio to any FM receiver
- Highest Quality, full stereo on any FM Frequency of your choice
- Listen to streaming audio from your computer on your kitchen radio
- Send your MP3 audio to your home stereo system
- Runs on AC power adapter or 2 AA batteries (not included)
- Energizer L91BP-8 Lithium AA Photo Battery (8-Pack)
- Sanyo Eneloop AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargable Batteries with Charger - 4 Pack
- Sanyo Eneloop AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries - 8 Pack
- Rayovac NM715-8 Rechargeable NiMH AA Batteries, 8-Count Package
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of C. Crane FMT Digital FM Transmitter with AC Adapter
Customer Review: Terrific product for me
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a audio program junkie.
My habit started with Sondra Gair's program on WBEZ and Studs Terkel on WFMT. It was further fed with the addition of more programs on WBEZ. I knew the schedules for the discussion and music programs on WBEZ, WFMT, and WDCB. Eventually internet technology, and the very nice stations providing live streams, allowed me to broaden my listening area beyond Chicago's Southwest Suburbs. With the aid of [...] I have found many new-to-me shows and stations. Many of these radio shows offer mp3 downloads and I can find many more interesting mp3's on iTunes and from searching through open courseware.
I can throw the mp3's on my Sony Walkman, but the for the live streaming shows, I was tied to my computer.
The most convenient, cost effective solution seemed to be an fm transmitter, so I tried C. Crane's.
The reviews for this product vary greatly, and I found this worrisome. I wanted it to work, but I did not want to throw 70 bucks down the drain. I planned to do the tweak.
Out of the box, I went to my back porch, worked out what seemed to be the emptiest frequency on the fm radio in my 4GB Sony Walkman NWZ-E436F digital media player, tossed the batteries in the transmitter, attached it to my laptop, adjusted the volume, and listened to it through my Walkman. It sounded okay a couple of feet away. At 7 feet, it was too scratchy to understand what was being said. The computer volume was at 100%. Adjusting the volume control on the transmitter only showed that I had previously optimally adjusted the volume.
I was a little disappointed because although the pre-tweak distance varied considerably in reviews, the difference between pre-tweak and post-tweak distance seemed to consistently max at about a 10 fold increase. I was hoping for greater than 70 feet post-tweak distance.
Having no very close neighbors, I performed the tweak.
I do not recommend anybody else do this tweak. It is illegal and voids the warranty.
Repeat: I am not in any way suggesting that you do this tweak.
I did this awhile ago, so I am trying to recall what I then encountered.
After removing the batteries, first I tried peeling back the sticker and rotating the dial. Although I had searched the internet for information and found a photo of an opened transmitter with the V2 control clearly pointed out, I had difficulty understanding what I was trying to do through the little hole under the sticker. I am comfortable with replacing computer parts and adjusting DIP switches, but I have not otherwise played with electronics.
I put the sticker back. I removed the feet. I realized I removed the wrong feet, put them back, and removed the two little round feet and the screws underneath them. Being careful of the volume control and wires, I took the device apart. It was easy. I then carefully turned the V2 dial. I think I used a small screwdriver? I was careful to try and be sensitive to the dial ceasing to turn. I think I turned it far enough. It stopped turning, but it was a soft stop and I did not want to break it by attempting to turn it further. I put the batteries back and tested it out.
The reception was greatly improved and it worked as I expected. At about 70 feet, I could no longer understand what was being said. I reassembled the device. I have had no problems with the the round feet/stickers coming back off.
Setting the device on the dining room table next to where I usually have my laptop, I can easily listen through my Walkman throughout the house - upstairs, basement - but toward the garage door, about 55 feet and 2 interior walls and 1 exterior wall away it is a bit scratchy. Not bad at all. Sometimes I forget I am listening to streaming media over the radio, not a mp3 on the Walkman, and I start to walk out of range about 30 feet out the back door.
I tried replacing the antenna with one of appropriate length from Radio Shack, but it was too wide to insert where the current antenna is screwed in. Attaching a copper wire, besides being cumbersome, did not seem to help much. Placing device on a cookie sheet did not seem to help either. I am soon moving to another location, perhaps I'll try increasing range again then.
While I do wish the range was even farther (more, more, I want more), it does pretty good, especially for the price. I like very much that I can choose the frequency.
After giving this device 5 stars for working so well for the price, I was asked to give stars for Sound Quality, Distance, Ease of Use, and Compactness. I gave three stars for each of these, except 5 stars for compactness, because the mod was necessary for this device to be at all useful to me. I found the mod easy, and, post-mod, I have found the device very liberating. I expect I would feel differently if the range was any less, or if something went awry in performing the mod.
If I were to do anything different, I maybe ought to have tried to exchange this device for another one upon discovering that the range was only nearly 7 feet before the mod.
Description of C. Crane FMT Digital FM Transmitter with AC Adapter
The FM Transmitter is a way to listen to streaming or MP3 audio. Just plug it into the headphone jack of your computer's speakers or sound card and listen on any FM radio anywhere in the house. It does this by taking the audio and turning it into an FM radio broadcast. Use it to send a satellite radio signal, MP3 audio, and more, to nearby radios around your home or workplace, even in your car.Digital Cameras and Photo Categories
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