I have a car stereo with a cassette and cd player. What is the best way to play MP3 files on my axim through the car stereo. Can I just use the standard "fake tape" thing with the cord plugged into my axim headphone jack or will this mess something up or cause harm. Is there a better way?

Phill

That's going to be the easiest/cheapest way and there shouldn't be any reason to worry about harming anything.

Since the "fake tape" plugs into the headphone jack, it should work without messing anything up. I have not tried mine, but out of curiosity I will tonight when I get home.

I have one of those CD/Cassette adapters (the fake tape thinggy) and it works wonderfully in my car.
Just watch out for the volume. It may be distorted if the volume is set to high on the Axim.

What God has brought together, let man not part. Matt 19:6

 

Strange but true...the cassette player in one of my cars actually ejects the "fake tape" adapter. It works great in the other car, however, and it's a permanent fixture

Another alternative is an FM transmitter. I've included a couple of links. Maximum transmission range is about two meters -- so if your antenna is in the rear, this could be a problem.

Here are some of the available models:

irock

Audiax

Arkon

I have a CD deck (Aiwa) in one of my cars with an AUX port that accepts a standard headphone jack. Basically, all I had to do was get a cable from Radio Shack that had a stereo headphone jack on both ends and plug one end into the ax and one into the deck. Works extremely well with little or no distortion.

I use a "fake tape" adapter in my car and it works great with the Axim. I have found that I get the best sound if I keep the Axim volume set at it's lowest setting (not off).

That's pretty much what I do, EB. I set the Axim's volume somewhere between level 2 of 6 to level 4 of 6, if that makes any sense.

What God has brought together, let man not part. Matt 19:6

 

I tried the fake tape adapter, but was not happy with the sound and had some problems with it ejecting the tape. I retuned it and bought the FM radio transmitter at Radio Shack and love it! It is small, easier to use and sounds much better than the fake tape.

How obnoxious is the FM transmitter? I have not been happy with the fake tape thingy. both sound quality and all the stupid wires everywhere is an unsightly nuisance. power for ax, power for cell phone, tape thingy. any more wires and i'll be traped in my car.

Ahh, The octopus effect. Too many wires would drive me crazy as well. I drive about an hour in the morn and an hour at night so I charge my Ax and cellphone everynight to limit the wires around.

So far my sound quality has been all right these past months.

What God has brought together, let man not part. Matt 19:6

 

If your tape deck is ejecting your "fake tape," check your owner's manual. I was able to perform a power-on button sequence that was described in the manual (Chevy Suburban) that over-rode the deck's auto-ejection of the fake tape. I've been using one of them with my Delphi XM receiver for several months.

I'm also a big fan of the FM adapters. I've got an Irock that I picked up from Radio Shack for my jukebox. They're not obnoxious at all, the clarity is good (on occasion you may have to change the frequency or move the transmitter around but for the most part it's crystal clear), and they're very unobtrusive.

With the Irock the only thing I can tell you is make sure you mind the power button. It's VERY easy to turn on accidentally. It's a big button and requires very little travel. When you only get 8-10 hours per battery on them, and it's been on for 4 without you knowing it can make the car trip you planned on listening to your new playlist seem a bit longer.

I've got both a fake tape, and an FM transmitter.
I use the fake tape.

I bought the FM transmitter hoping it would solve the tape hiss problem, but for me it was worse because there isn't a single frequency in the range it uses that doesn't have a station on it in the Oshawa-Toronto-Hamilton stretch that I drive through.

I'd say unless you are sure you have a consistant empty station in the 88-91 range on your FM dial go with the tape, at least it will work, and it's a lot cheaper.

My radio has an AUX IN oh my goodness I LOV it coupled with my Axim, this is what I have been waiting for all these years listining to suck music on the radio.