FM Transmitter - Staples

[hypersight]

For those are thinking about getting an FM transmitter so you can run your scanner audio through your vehicles' sound system, Staples has a very nice Kengsington FM xmitter on sale - was $60, now it's $26. I got one for myself. It sounds very nice connected to my PRO96.
I think the sale is on until the end of the month.

 

[Rat]

Fm Xmitter

Do you have a part number? Can't seem to find it on the Staples
website.

Thanks
Rat

 

[DaveH]

I think Hyper means here on the Staples Canada website:

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=83,3368,3369&webid=723576&affixedcode=WW


Dave

 

[akroeze]

I have one that is similar but there is a high pitched whine. Tried it with all 3 scanners I have owned and it always happens. Never happens with my MP3 player, just the scanner. Gets annoying so I don't use it for that.

No clue why it is there.

 

[SkipSanders]

Do be aware that using an FM band transmitter to link your scanner to an audio system, especially if you're monitoring VHF Hi Band, WILL desense your receiver, cutting its sensitivity quite seriously. Scanners aren't made to operate in the near proximity of transmitters.

 

[mikewazowski]

Do be aware that using an FM band transmitter to link your scanner to an audio system, especially if you're monitoring VHF Hi Band, WILL desense your receiver, cutting its sensitivity quite seriously. Scanners aren't made to operate in the near proximity of transmitters.

I can't believe a low power transmitter operating in the FM band would seriously desense anything except something actually on the same frequency (+/- a few hundred khz).

I have problems with my Sirius FM transmitter if a regular broadcast station is on the same frequency.

 

[SkipSanders]

Up to you. I've tried it, and it wipes out the front end. Just putting an outdoor (good) antenna on a VHF Hi-Band scanner in a city, with a commercial FM transmitter somewhere within several MILES, will result in desense, as shown by significant improved sensitivity when an FM trap is added to the antenna feed.

That 'low power' transmitter is a LOT stronger than some commercial broadcaster miles away. It's right THERE, almost in contact.

 

[mikewazowski]

That 'low power' transmitter is a LOT stronger than some commercial broadcaster miles away. It's right THERE, almost in contact.

As I said before, my Sirius FM transmitter is seriously desensed if I tune it to a frequency already in use or with an adjacent commercial station. IOTW, the commercial broadcaster miles away is much stronger then my lowly fm transmitter. You do realize that these rebroadcasters are extremely low power?

My Sirius transmitter is 2 feet away from my BC396T in my truck and I experience no desense at all. It's tuned around 88Mhz which is 50Mhz away from the start of the VHF Hi band. I'm also running an FM transmitter on my iPod just above the Sirius frequency and even with both FM transmitters running at the same time, my BC396T has no problems with desense. Unless I tune them within 300khz of each other, they don't even interfere with each other.

I think most people running mobile will also be using an external antenna which will place some distance between the receiving antenna and the transmitter.

If you're still experiencing interference, then you've got a seriously defective scanner.

Looks like Hypersight is running his without any problems.

 

[hypersight]

I am having no problems whatsoever with this particular xmitter on my PRO96. I'm still getting the same reception on far away fleetnet towers such as Edgar and Welland. I'm not noticing any difference in signal strength or interference on analog or digital. I'm using a 144/440 mag mount on the roof of my car.

 

[hypersight]

Do you have a part number? Can't seem to find it on the Staples
website.

Thanks
Rat

Ya, it's on page 4 of the current weelky flyer on the Staples website.

 

[transam76]

You guys where lucky i waited to long, they say their out of stock. My GF was going to get me one as a late Xmas present. And she ask me what i wanted and i told her about this after i seen it last night. But now i see their out of stock. Can i go to staples and get it for the sale price. Or is this just on here. I thought they were on until Dec. 31, even if i could get a raincheck on them for that price, i would be happy to wait for the item.

 

[DaveH]

These FM mini-broadcast transmitters must be in the microwatt range to
limit their range. It's possible some are "dirty" i.e. harmonics, sideband
noise, that might cause some scanners some grief; or may be a mixing
product with something. Which brand/model is causing this problem
(so that we know and might avoid the problem?).

I'll have to check out the $10 Maxell unit from Princess Auto. Only minor
problem is the integral fold-out audio plug which prevents it being plugged
into the top of the scanner...easily solved with a dollar-store audio
extension cable.

Dave