Until recently, the driver was "entertained" by the radio on the road, and now - his favorite songs recorded on a CD or flash drive. Indeed, progress does not stand still: at the moment there are already a large number of electronic devices that, in one way or another, make our life more pleasant. Today you will learn what a car FM modulator is for, how to use it correctly, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
Why do you need an FM modulator for auto
An FM modulator is a small electronic device that is used to play sound files stored on a special flash drive. However, the modulator has neither speakers nor. It is just a transmitter between the car radio and the flash drive. Modulators have established themselves as the cheapest alternative to an expensive radio tape recorder, which has a special connector for USB or any other storage device.
The principle of operation of this device is as follows. It connects to the vehicle's on-board network and adjusts to a specific wave selected by the driver. At the same time, the radio installed in the car is tuned to the same wavelength. Now the flash card is connected to the modulator, and it converts the playback of audio files into radio waves at the required frequency. The car radio receives this signal and the music on the card is played in the radio speakers. The playlist is controlled using the buttons located on the transmitter itself.
This is how we get a radio tape recorder that has the ability to play sound files from a flash card. In fact, it is very convenient.
At first glance, everything seems extremely simple: tune the radio and transmitter to the desired frequency and insert the flash drive. However, if you do not take into account some of the nuances, then you will not be satisfied with the sound quality.
- Prepare a powerful antenna... For the transmission quality to be really good, it is necessary and careful to take care of its good "mass" with the body.
- Use only those frequencies that are free from broadcasting... So, for example, if you take the frequency on which the local radio transmits sound signals, then this will create unnecessary interference, which interferes with the normal playback of music.
- Don't use too large flash cards... A large amount of memory is not always readable by the device. This is exactly the case when, before choosing a device, you need to choose the optimal memory for yourself.
Pros and cons of FM transmitters
Like any device, the modulator also has its pros and cons. Below we will try to list them all.
Pros:
- Relative small price... Such an FM modulator costs 2 times cheaper than a radio. It is economically viable to buy a modulator. However, the price of a modulator is directly dependent on its quality and additional functionality. After all, there are devices with built-in displays.
- Reading ability any flash drive... Modern modulators have connectors for any flash card, which makes them universal.
Minuses:
- All modulators are manufactured according to standard voltage 12 volts. This means that their use on heavy diesel vehicles with a voltage of 24 Volts will be impossible, since the device can simply burn out.
- The main disadvantage of modulators is interference, which are always and everywhere, but first of all, it concerns high-voltage wires. They generate enough magnetic field to confuse absolutely any FM transmitter.
- The sound quality of the modulator will be slightly worse than that of a conventional radio, therefore, in the pursuit of better sound, it is more advisable to have a good audio system.
Of course, today the FM modulator is an obsolete device, the demand for which is gradually becoming a thing of the past. After all, now there are already special radio tape recorders that have connectors for different types of flash cards and even floppy drives. Therefore, based on the pros and cons of the FM transmitter, you can decide for yourself whether you need it or not.
