Help using Shuffle in the car

Question

Level 1

9 points

Help using Shuffle in the car

I actually have a couple of questions, all related to the SHuffle I bought a week ago. I primarily want to use this in the car, using my car stereo speakers as I was doing with my iPod and Belkin FM transmitter (before my wife commandeered the "main" iPod as our home stereo!). Problem is the transmitter that works for the iPod has a different kind of plug (twi different "male" parts) than the Shuffle (only one prong)> So I bought the Belkin cassette adapter at the same time as the Shuffle. That worked beautifully the first time I used it; after that, everytime I put it in the cassette deck, the cassette deck ejected it after trying to "play" the cassette. I'd appreciate any suggestions on this; I already returned the Belkin cassette adapter to the store. Has anybody had this problem with the "Monster" adapter advertised on this website? It's so easy to use the iPod in the car; I never imagined it would be so hard to do the same with the Shuffle!

Also, when I tried to get "support agent chat" on this website, and entered my Shuffle's serial number, I was told that my iPod was purchased in March, 05, and so I wasn't eligible for support! (I bought it last week.) Any suggestions there?
Thanks for any comments, docjohn

Posted on Aug 11, 2005 9:23 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 11, 2005 11:49 PM in response to John Mundt

I use a cassette adpater with the shuffle all the time.. in two different cars

usually when im driving to and from work, or jsut around town

no problems there

the apple store online sells a second FM transmitter that is only a single mini plug and is battery operated (and will thus work with any item that has a mini jack on it example: your computer)

try that...yes the fm transmitters for the ipod and ipod mini will not work witht he shuffle because they use the ipod and mini ipod's extension port to draw power.

hope this helped

as for your tape ejecting...beats me

I have a 1990 corolla so its not smart enough to eject a tape...maybe your car stereo knows its not a real tape :P

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Answer 2

John Mundt Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 12, 2005 7:35 PM in response to Tom Spring

Thanks; yes, that helps! The car that's ejecting the cassette adapter is pretty new (I just got rid of a 1991 car with mostly-blown speakers myself). I'm going to try one of the online store's transmitters, I guess. Reading thru some of the reviews of the cassette adapters, it sounds like maybe even just getting left in a hot car in the sun one time may be enough to fry them; I might have done that and not thought about it.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to respond.
John M, Chicago

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Answer 3

Aug 12, 2005 8:27 PM in response to John Mundt

I forgot to mention that if you look under car audio...they have combination shuffle-car chargers and fm transmitters..which got prrettyg ood reviews

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Answer 4

Filly

Level 1

93 points

Aug 14, 2005 4:00 AM in response to John Mundt

It appears that many had problems with the Belkin cassette...just read all the poor reviews on Amazon. I'm leaning towards this one and Amazon has it for a nice price... http://www.ipodgarage.com/article.php?id=88

Regarding your support issue...I would call them directly.

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Answer 5

Jeff B.

Level 1

5 points

Aug 14, 2005 8:11 AM in response to John Mundt

The problem likely isn't the cassette adapter but your car stereo. Some stereos don't seem compatible. I have been using the same cassette adapter for the past four years, first with a CD player and now with an iPod. It works great in my Chrysler and the Chev I drove previously but not in my wife's Ford. you can also check out the DLO TransPod for iPod shuffle at everythingipod.com, though I have know idea how well it works.

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Answer 6

Aug 27, 2005 8:24 AM in response to John Mundt

My Saturn cd player has a jack for connecting mp3 players and other such devices. What is the method for connecting the Shuffle to this kind of jack? None of the adapters in the Store seem to be for car cd players, just cassette players.

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Answer 7

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Aug 27, 2005 1:35 PM in response to R Trottier

If the jack is a 3.5mm input (minijack), go to RadioShack and get a M-M 3.5mm to 3.5 mm cable, plug one end to the Shuffle, insert one into the receiver on your car and that's it.

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