Anyone with an iTrip?
 

I got an iTrip for Christmas and I was really excited over the idea of being able to listen to my iPod in the car, but there's one problem--it's very staticky, no matter what station I use. The instructions say to choose a station that's clear of any noise or static, preferably with nothing on the neighboring frequencies either, but that's impossible around here as every other station either has gospel singing or country on it. Every time I find a "blank" station it works for a few blocks, then it starts getting staticky again and it's very annoying. Has anyone else had this problem, by chance? I'm just wondering if it's just that there aren't any suitable stations around here, or if the iTrip thing itself sucks.

Have you tried using the iTrip on a stereo at home? That would determine if it sucks or if it's just the lack of stations. Also, where in the car are you holding it? Mine really sucked in my mom's SUV for a while until I started keeping it closer to the antenna.

It depends on the topography of your area, and whether you can get a clear station. I have the same static issue with mine, but it took a fair amount of hunting and pecking to find a station that finally worked.

If you don't have one already, see if you can get a list of all the radio frequencies in your area and then just play around to find one that is less staticky than the other. Also, make sure that you don't have the volume on your iPod up too loud, as that can also cause distortion.

Good luck! :)

Hmmm...those are all good suggestions. I usually keep my iPod on this little ledge thingy on the dashboard right above my radio because it's got a rubbery surface so the iPod doesn't slide around. I guess the biggest issue is actually finding a station that will work. My boyfriend has Sirius and I tried the station he suggested because it seems to work for him, but I still had the same problem--don't know if the iTrip's signal is just really weak or what. But anyway, I guess I'll play with it some more. ;)

What do you have the volume set at? I found mine works best at about 80%.

This is why my Scion has a ipod hookup in the armrest...perfect digital sound.

I have an iTrip and Sirius, and Sirius's signal is way stronger than the iTrip's.

When I use my iTrip I plug it into the PowerJolt charger, which works great - charges it pretty quickly! :D

I don't have an iTrip personally, however, on a road trip with some friends, we listened to her iPod with the iTrip for about 6 hours.

I would think that your problem might be the lack of radio stations?

I bought the iTrip this past summer and used it all of 5 times before I tossed it into my backseat. The suggested station was waaay staticky (maybe it's a Lexington thing) and I didn't want to go through the trouble of scanning every channel on the radio. Overall, I wish my car had a tape deck, because the things that plug into your iPod through those work a million times better.

You're right, but as you're using it you can plug in a separate car charger in the bottom, so that the battery doesn't run out.

I had to try a lot of stations before I found two that are the least static-y. I just alternate between the two. Also, the volume makes a huge difference.

I have a non-Apple brand one I've used for my CD player on my old car that didn't have one built in as well as for my iPod, and I personally think it stinks. I can never find a station that isn't full of static. When I find one, it gets static as I drive. I'm about to bite the bullet and take my car into a car stereo place to see if they can install an auxilliary plug somewhere since my CD player (an '02) doesn't have one.

No - the PowerJolt charger is a separate thing.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powerjolt/

Do you have your iPod on shuffle? That drains the battery more quickly than listening to a playlist does.

ETA: I've taken my iTrip on some pretty long road trips and it usually lasts about 4.5 - 5 hours, depending on how I'm listening to it.

I have a $10.00 cassette adapter and it works WONDERFULLY. No complaints. I bought an ITrip but it didn't fit onto my IPod (it's the new video one) so I returned it. Afterward, I had lots of people tell me that the ITrips don't work well around here anyway because we have SO many radio stations.

Thanks to everyone who posted--glad to know it's not just me!

I have noticed that the iTrip definitely seems to use up my battery pretty fast, but again, I thought it was just me. :p

To be quite honest, I'm not very impressed with the iTrip thing. There are no suitable radio stations around here to use it with (I know, 'cause I've been playing around with it some more). My boyfriend got it for me because one of his friends has one and apparently likes it pretty well, but I don't know...guess that guy's just lucky, 'cause mine just doesn't work all that well. Guess it's back to lugging around my big case full of CDs whenever I go anywhere in the car...

I think it really depends where you live. Here in Los Angeles, it's near impossible to find a good station (my boyfriend has an itrip and never uses it for driving around the city). But for drives between here and northern california, it's a lifesaver. He has a car charger, so we just use that when it's in the car.

hey Lexington Girls...

I used 89.5 & I get a pretty strong signal without much static..I cover up any static by turning the volume on the iPod to about 75% or a little less & turn the volume on the car speakers up...it's not perfect..but it's close.

Thanks! Now I'm going to have to dig up both my iPod and iTrip... I have a terrible habit of losing things that I don't use often

i couldn't imagine letting my iPod out of my sight...it's my child.