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Overall Rating:  (out of 68 reviews)
More Info
The Belkin TuneCast Auto lets you listen to your iPhone or iPod through the radio in your car, while it charges.
Flexible design lets passengers control playlists. (Click image to view larger.) |
Transmits audio wirelessly on multiple FM channels from 88.1MHz-107.9MHz. (Click image to view larger.) |
Attached auto power cord powers and charges your iPhone or iPod in the car. (Click image to view larger.) |
Cut through the static with ClearScan–your TuneCast will automatically (and quickly) scan the FM spectrum to find a clear frequency at the push of a button. Avoid the frustration of manually finding a clear FM station. When find a couple of favorites, store them with the two programmable preset buttons.
The TuneCast’s high-contrast backlit display provides high visibility, and its small size offers flexibility in placement. The device is powered by your car’s cigarette lighter/power outlet, and it charges your iPod while you enjoy your music.
The included PRO setting can make your music sound louder and fuller by decreasing the amount of attenuation in the audio signal. Professional FM stations use dynamic compression to make music louder and fuller while limiting distortion. You can use the three PRO settings on your TuneCast Auto to add dynamic compression to your audio, thereby optimizing audio and boosting volume.
The TuneCast Auto is compatible with iPod 4G, 5G, 6G; iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod touch; and iPhone. What’s in the Box
TuneCast Auto with ClearScan for iPhone and iPod
- Compatibility: iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod nano 2G, 3G; iPod touch; iPhone
- Transmits audio wirelessly on multiple FM channels from 88.1MHz-107.9MHz
- Attached auto power cord powers and charges your iPhone or iPod in the car
- ClearScan technology finds clearest frequency; PRO setting optimizes audio and boosts volume
- Includes line-out for use with car-stereo inputs or cassette adapter
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(out of reviews)
Review submitted by CC
Author’s Rating:
After reading lots of reviews on this, I had expected a good product. It was awful. When I pressed the autoscan button, it would scan to stations that were already in use, or partially in use. It rarely scanned to empty stations. I used to have a Kensington digital FM transmitter, and when I tuned to my go-to station, it would work no problem, no static at all. When I tried that same station with the Belkin, I heard static non-stop, along with my music. The only time I heard no static was when I went through a tunnel (obviously, since there’s no radio station to interfere). I’m going back to my Kensington – very disappointed with this Belkin model. Note: I live in Fairfield County, and used this on the way to NYC. Maybe it would work better in other areas, but around here, it was terrible.
Review submitted by AAPL Fan
Author’s Rating:
I bought this because I’ve saw mixed reviews on the iPhone car chargers. The charging works fine..although there were a few times when the iPhone would display “this product is not designed for the iphone,…do you want to switch to airplane mode?”.
The FM reception is pretty choppy. If you can secure a clear station…I’d suggest you stick with that one. There is some static at times.
I’m not sure if I’d recommend this. If you’re in an area where there’s not a lot of FM stations..it may work well.
Review submitted by Carter Bradford
Author’s Rating:
I bought this for my girlfriend and we were severely disappointed. She has a Nissan Murano (with the antenna in the front) and I could not find a clear station after cycling through the entire FM spectrum.
My complaints are completely inline with other folks:
* The signal strength is just too weak to get a clear, consistent audio experience. If you touch or move the unit around, you are sure to hear static.
* The auto tuner is horrible. Many times it seems to randomly pick a station. Sometimes with a signal strength so strong, I’m unable to hear anything being broadcast by the Belkin unit
* The iPhone complains about this not being a compatible device, although it does charge the phone (both first-gen and 3G) and transmit audio.
This unit is going back to the store today. Not what I expected from Belkin.
Review submitted by Angela B. Tela
Author’s Rating:
I live in Central Massachusetts, and recently upgraded from and iPhone to an iPhone 3G. I had been using a Monster iCarplay, and found that while it allowed me to play music from my 3G it no longer charged the device during use. I read the reviews for the Belkin TuneCast, and was skeptical. I love the Monster device, and was having a hard time finding something comparable so I decided to give it a shot. The bottom line, this device does exactly what it says it does. It allows me to play music from my 3G’s iPod over my car radio, charges, and even allows me to keep the phone enabled without interference. I have two stations set using the memory buttons that seem to work the best with the device. I found that the “ClearScan” seems to mostly choose stations at random, and these are not always the clearest. I’ve found that if you place the tuner portion of the Belkin closer to the actual radio, it works much better, so I have applied it directly to a panel on my dash using sticky-back Velcro. HD radio this is not. If you want crystal clear sound with no static then install a stereo that directly links your iPod with it. There’s some static, and sometimes you need to use a different channel, but for a device this affordable, that broadcasts over FM radio waves, I am satisfied with the product, and the sound.
Review submitted by The Goocat
Author’s Rating:
I had an experience nearly identical to “CC” from Stamford, except that I live in rural NC instead of the urban, tri-state area. It was as if this thing were trying to find the *strongest* competing signal instead of an open channel. It’s performance on a clear channel could best be described as “perpetual static.” The kicker was that it completely stopped working after 24 days of use!!
What a POS. I will never buy another thing from Belkin, as I will never be able to trust a company that knowingly marketed an item of such poor quality. Why not change your logo to an extended middle finger at the same time?
I, too, had a better experience with Kensington and am going back. I had tried this because the Kensington *only* lasted 1-1/2 years…or roughly 25x as long as this piece of Belkin.