Product Description

Uses any frequency form 87.7 to 107.9. High stability crystal oscillator, phase-lock loop control. Compatible with iPod 3G, 4G, 5G, nano 1G, 2G, 3G, iPod classic and touch.

Product Details

• Color: White
• Brand: Griffin Technology
• Model: 9500-TRIPDA-2
• Released on: 2005-11-15
• Original language: English, French, Spanish
• Dimensions: 6.20" h x 1.20" w x 4.70" l, .18 pounds

Features

• Uses any frequency form 87.7 to 107.9
• High stability crystal oscillator, phase-lock loop control
• Compatible with iPod 3G, 4G, 5G, nano 1G, 2G, 3G, iPod classic and touch
• Compatibility: iPod nano (1G and 2G), iPod mini, 3G iPod, 4G iPod with click wheel, iPod Color, iPod Video

Amazon.com Product Description
The Griffin Technology 9500-TRIPDA iTrip LCD/FM Transmitter with Dock Connector for iPod is the most popular iPod FM transmitter in the world. It lets you avoid the hassle of bad reception and bad music on your car's radio by transmitting your iPod's music directly to your FM radio. The iTrip has a large, easy to read backlit LCD screen, memory settings, and a snazzy compact and self-contained design that's great for car travel. iTrip even has international modes for when you're in Europe or Japan and are looking for a frequency below what's available in the U.S. mode. Meanwhile, the new option of selecting between LX and DX modes allows you to hear audio with minimal interference from stations on crowded urban dials.

iPod Compatibility
iPod nano 1G, iPod nano 2G, iPod mini, iPod 3G, iPod 4G (Clickwheel), iPod Color, iPod 5G/5.5G Video

Customer Reviews

THE 1 STAR REVIEWS ARE WRONG!!!
I had two friends who HATED this thing. They said they got terrible reception no matter what they did. I said, "What are you talking about? My iTrip is brilliant." Then I realized that they had not read the manual; the iPod MUST BE at a volume level of 50-70% and NO HIGHER -- any higher and the signal distorts causing a sound like the radio reception is breaking up. Now that they are using the device properly, they LOVE this thing.

Works great for what it is
This review applies to the following products:
Griffin 9781-TRP30BK iTrip FM Transmitter with Dock Connector for iPod (Black)
Griffin Technology 9500-TRIPDA iTrip LCD/FM Transmitter with Dock Connector for iPod

This transmitter works quite well if you understand its limitations.

First of all, it broadcasts on the FM band so don't expect the sound to be better than your FM radio. Secondly, it's designed to be small and portable, so it's not going to have a very powerful transmitter built in, not to mention there are probably FCC rules regarding how few watts a personal device like this is allowed to transmit (in order to prevent interference with other electronics).

If your car doesn't have an alternate method of connecting an iPod (such as via a cassette adapter, line-in jack, etc.), and you don't want to spend the money to upgrade your stereo, this is a good, cheap solution to listen to your iPod in your car.

The product description (on Griffin's web page, the product packaging, and Amazon) mistakenly states that the iTrip works with frequencies ranging from 88.1 to 107.9MHz. It's actually designed to broadcast from 87.9 to 107.9MHz. I was happy to discover that my unit was tuned to 87.9MHz out of the package, which is a barely used fringe frequency in my area, making it ideal for FM transmitters. I just had to change it from DX (mono) to LX (stereo) mode and I was in business.

The controls are extremely simple and user friendly. Changing the broadcast frequency is easy as moving the toggle switch on the side of the unit up and down. Changing it from DX to LX involves pressing the toggle switch for about 3 seconds, then toggling between the two modes, and pressing the switch again to save the setting.

The built-in mini-USB charging port is a very smart feature. It allows you to use the same charger for many popular cell phones (MOTORAZR, Blackberry, etc.) and GPS devices, reducing the need to carry around a proprietary charger just for your iPod. And unlike the iTrip Auto, you only charge when you want to, instead of letting it charge all the time (and possibly using up unnecessary charge cycles). Also, some people have reported interference when using car powered transmitters, especially if they don't have a noise suppressor installed in their stereo, so allowing the iTrip Dock to use the power from the iPod gives additional flexibility in that regard.

My iTrip Dock works pretty well if I leave it in the cup holder of my car, which is about a foot away from the stereo. I may hear a little interference if I shift it around, but for the most part it provides a satisfactory performance, and I can't really complain considering the price and convenience.

By the way, Griffin has a web-based station finder application called SmartScan that tells you the clearest frequencies in your area. Just google "griffin smartscan" and give it a try if you have problems finding usable frequencies. Good luck!

UPDATE: Be aware that the iTrip does not work well in cold temperatures. I left mine in a car overnight during a cold spell, and it did not work well (low volume and increased susceptible to interference) until the ambient air temperature warmed up. So try not to leave it in your car if you park outside in the cold.

It's not bad, really!
Three keys to my success with the iTrip were:
1) Set the unit to International rather than U.S. frequency mode.
If your car radio allows you to use a frequency below the U.S.
range of 88.9, then setting iTrip to Intl frequency mode and
then choosing a frequency below 88.9 essentially guarantees a
clear frequency that you can use anywhere (in the U.S.).
2) Set iTrip to Dx rather than Lx transmission mode.
2) Set the iPod internal equalizer setting (EQ) to "flat"

The instructions for accomplishing steps 1 and 2 are included with the iTrip. The issue of power drain is unavoidable but I get about 3.5 hours on a charge.