The TuneCast II works by taking music from an audio player and transmitting it via radio frequency to an FM radio receiver, thus serving as a temporary short-range radio station of sorts. For drivers looking for a fuss-free wireless solution to streaming music to their car stereo, the TuneCast II excels in its simplicity.
Setup was a relatively quick affair -- after plugging in the TuneCast II to the 3.5mm jack of an MP3 player, it was a straightforward matter of finding a clear channel on the stereo receiver to transmit the music to.
Belkin has added some new features that were missing in the earlier TuneCast. First, this new rendition includes an LCD which displays both the selected FM channel and the battery life. Secondly, unlike the original TuneCast which restricted the user to only four preset channels in the 80Mhz range, TuneCast II increases transmitting flexibility by allowing four programmable channels within a frequency range of 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz.
Reception from Tunecast II is reasonably good, but do note that slight distortion is to be expected. We found reception to be rather consistent even in underground tunnels.
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TomFred
05/03/2008, 10:22 PM
rating
6/10
Overall, it is better than average, but the shape is really awkward,especially when used for iPod. A litter pricey, cheap adition but irrelative one, http://www.sourcingmap.com/wireless-transmittermodulator-for-ipod-mp3-pda-p-11932.html
Pros: Can't produce a secure holding for mp3 player or iPod when drive in car, clumsy
Cons: Good reception, easy user interface
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Golfcart Conspiracy
06/01/2008, 07:13 AM
rating
8/10
okay, so this little contraption may not offer CD quality sound... but if you are going for an FM transmitter, that's a given! I actually don't mind it, and find that if you get it on a decently clean FM channel it performs quite well. Although I had a hard time with it at first, I read the instructions through, and was able to get it to work so that it was as good (if not better) than any FM station out there. Overall, not a bad little product at all.
Pros: small size, cord holder built into product, decent reception, decent battery life (so far anyways), car adapter works great.
Cons: a little fuzzy if not set up properly, auto shut-off can kick in if your tunes are too quiet.
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TuneCast HATER
01/08/2007, 05:26 PM
rating
3/10
I was not impressed at all. Very weak and poor quality sound. I ended up buying an extention cable so I could put my iPod on the passenger seat and the TuneCastII in the centre consol below the car stereo - then the reception was reasonable (but still not perfect).
It also uses batteries waaay to fast. Even when wasn't being used it drained the batteries.
One day I took it out of the cupboard and the display had cracked!!! (No - I hadn't dropped or thrown it).
The other day I tried to use it after not using it for a while (probably 6 months or so), and the thing totally refused to turn on. I went out and bought a Griffin iTrip and it craps all over thing thing.
Since it wasn't working anyway I took my frustrations out on it and I've just come back inside after smashing it into a dozen pieces against a brick wall.
Please do NOT buy a Belkin TuneCast - they are JUNK.
Pros: Nothing!!!! They are junk!
Although they are fun to smash into pieces after they've pissed you off enough.
Cons: Poor quality and weak signal.
Goes through batteries fast.
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jt1881
23/04/2007, 03:20 PM
rating
6/10
I purchase three of these. All work inconsistently transmitting from my Zen to the car radio. Better when power is supplied from the cigarette lighter, but still poor - like a distant station.
Used as a transmitter from TV to headphones, no better. When supplied with power from a plugback, total distortion, even though a CRO showed the plugback has minimal hum.
Pros: Absolutely none. The product does not work satisfactorily.
Cons: No technical support - I was told t"they work or they don't" and hung up on when I opined that was not good enough.
Retailer would not refund.
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Suzie Q
31/03/2007, 10:28 PM
rating
2/10
I cannot even get the stupid thing to turn on. any suggestions? i plug into everything i'm supposed to and went through every single station on the radio and stupid thing still won't turn on. maybe i have a defective unit but it stinks b/c i was excited to get it and i can't even use it.
Pros: small
Cons: poor instructions, won't turn on
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Pam
29/12/2006, 04:57 AM
rating
9/10
This is a great product with my cd player. Old car with crapped out tape and crappier adapter, so this is wonderful for the likes of me. C'mon, it's cheap, you get MOSTLY good sound, and the tape that has been stuck in my tape player for 3 years does not have to be fished out. Good deal for me.
Pros: Small size, cord not flopping everywhere, works 99% of the time
Cons: That 1% of the time when you lose an FM channel...but really - not unbearable.
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croak
24/12/2006, 04:18 AM
rating
3/10
Extremely poor product. I wonder why it was ever produced.
Pros: None really
Cons: Sounds awful. We are living in the 21 century, man.
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Soup
25/09/2006, 09:07 PM
rating
8/10
Not a BAD product
I bought this item off of ebay and received it for a fraction of what they go for in the stores. I figured ewven if it didn't work I wasn't out much money.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it worked fine.
I read all the other complaints from the others here, and some are warranted. Reception can get a bit fuzzy at times depending where you are. If you travel distances with this item rather than just around your local area then I wouldn't recommend it. A radio station you may not get at home might be close to or on the same frequency as your FM transmitter.
Just a hint....and I don't know if it makes a difference to others out there, but I found if you had your FM transmitter programmed for frequencies closer to the 88mhz rather than 107mhz. the reception was much better.
All in all, I can play all 8 hours of music from my cheap MP3 player with litter problem. I liked it myself.
Pros: Small, battery operated and includes car adapter.
Cons: reception can fade once in a while depending on the frequency.
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Brett_Russell
27/08/2006, 04:58 PM
rating
2/10
Warped reset on power off logic
Small, compact, expensive and ultimately frustrating to the point that you forget about using it and burn a few more cds. Mr Ford surely an XR6 turbo needs a audio input jack to avoid this product class.
Pros: Small
Ability to customise frequencies
Cons: The biggest design flaw is the unit resets to 88.7 when powered off and powered on despite having four programable frequencies.
The unit will switch itself off at random (or during quite passages).
Poor quality and even in Tasmania interference renders its frustrating.
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21/03/2006, 07:05 PM
Terrible product
Very poor reception. With nano inaudible unless volume turned right up and then very buzzy sound. Carrier wave far too weak. I'm taking it right back
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