Used another FM Transmitter
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 14 years
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One of the most disappointing features of my new 780 is the FM Transmitter. This appears to be an issue that crosses many if not most of the Nuvi units that have the feature.
It is basically useless. Even when set to a blank station, the transmitter is still too weak to make a strong solid signal.
This afternoon, I remembered that I have a FM transmitter that I used with my Creative Zen player. So I pulled it out, plugged it in and put the cord from it into the Nuvi.
For something that I paid a whopping $9 for, this FM Transmitter made the Nuvi a completely different and useful product. With MP3's streaming from the Nuvi (8gb card in the unit), and the voice a POI alerts sounding clear and easy to understand, it was like a completely different unit.
It is hard to fathom why Garmin has not done something about this... Obviously it doesn't cost much to fix the issue as the FM transmitter I used is a relatively cheap unit.
Any trip that I take from now on will be hooked up this way so that I can both hear and use the unit like it should work. I most likely will use it for daily use as well.
It's Not Garmin's Fault
They are making the FM Transmitter comply with FCC rules & regulations...chances are, that $9 one is not, and works
There are alternatives... like adding a line input on some OEM car audio systems where possible, or investing in a new audio system that has a line input... and if you want to be able to make use of multiple audio sources into one line input on a car's audio system - one of these: http://www.mixitproducts.com/index.html - I'm a satisfied customer.
*Keith* MacBook Pro *wifi iPad(2012) w/BadElf GPS & iPhone6 + Navigon*
Yes but...
None of our vehicles have input jacks.
Couple comments...
First, the device I'm using is a Dynex DX-AC101. The packaging had both the FCC# and FCC Compliance number labels on it. It is both farther away from the Radio and farther away from the Antenna than the Garmin is. The sound from it is bit flat though.
Second, In a possible encouraging bit of news... I had a friend send me an email last night that said he plugged a set of ear buds into the output jack of his Garmin, and that the wire acted as an antenna for the internal FM transmitter making the signal easier to get to the radio. I'm going to give this a shot this afternoon.
He said he clipped off the ear buds themselves and trimmed the wire to a certain length, but didn't mention what length that was. I'm waiting for a reply as his initial note said it tried different lengths to get the best signal.
A single wire FM antenna would normally be ~150 cms which is a bit long for most earbuds though. Of course that is for receiving, not transmitting (might be the same ??)
Kevin - Nuvi 57LMT - Software: 4.40 - Map: Lower 49 States 2017.20
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The packaging had both the FCC# and FCC Compliance number labels on it. It is both farther away from the Radio and farther away from the Antenna than the Garmin is.
Just because a manufacturer get FCC certification with a single unit produced to output a max of .5 watts doesn't mean that they actually manufacture units that meet the same restrictions. I'd be willing to bet that your unit would not meet FCC certification requirements -- just like Keith said. A small company can get away with this, but Garmin can't. I know of one company that had a pot on one device to adjust the output during manufacture to exactly .5w -- but they strangely put a hole in the case so that the end-user could adjust it after purchase.
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.
FM Transmitter signal strength
My Model SF120 Trans. sold by ARKON Resources is usable to at least 20 feet. It is licensed under FCC Class b Part 15 rules for wireless transmission in the 88-108 mHz band. That rule states that field strength must be limited to 250 microVolts per meter at a distance of 3 meters from the antenna. The claimed freq. response is +/- 3dB from 50Hz to 15kHz. I believe I paid less than $20 for it. Also it only requires one 1.5V alkaline battery.
Passed Part 15 Device test by NAB...
I suppose that a mfg could fudge the info, but this one apparently was tested for compliance and passed...
http://www.nab.org/xert/corpcomm/NAB_Part15_Study.pdf
pg 5 and pg 7.
It was Device #6
Of the 17 devices tested, it was one of the 4 that passed the tests for FCC compliance.
I've made no adjustments and don't see any that could be made other than changing the frequency.
I would assume that the NAB would have preferred they all failed.
Kevin - Nuvi 57LMT - Software: 4.40 - Map: Lower 49 States 2017.20
Other countries ?
It is also possible that Garmin is adhering to more than just US FCC limits and as a result might be weaker than it could be??
Kevin - Nuvi 57LMT - Software: 4.40 - Map: Lower 49 States 2017.20
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It is also possible that Garmin is adhering to more than just US FCC limits and as a result might be weaker than it could be??
As I understand it, the Garmin units produced for Europe are built to have output at twice the US power. From my experience no manufacturer of an FM transmitter in the US is able to produce a functional unit without cheating. This is not an issue of fudging data. The terminology in the industry is that you produce a "Queen" prototype that passes the tests and gets your FCC number. Then you are "supposed" to produce identical units for sale. However, unless the FCC conducts a surprise inspection (hardly ever), nobody gets caught. It is just that somebody like Garmin is too big to risk it -- one disgruntled employee acting as a whistle-blower and Garmin would have BIG problems.
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.
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It has more to do with a proper antenna not being used, then the Garmin units being underpowered. You can put out 5 watts of transmitting power, but without a properly matched and tuned antenna, that 5 watts will do next to diddly.
FM Transmitter signal strength
None of our vehicles have input jacks.
Couple comments...
First, the device I'm using is a Dynex DX-AC101. The packaging had both the FCC# and FCC Compliance number labels on it. It is both farther away from the Radio and farther away from the Antenna than the Garmin is. The sound from it is bit flat though.
Second, In a possible encouraging bit of news... I had a friend send me an email last night that said he plugged a set of ear buds into the output jack of his Garmin, and that the wire acted as an antenna for the internal FM transmitter making the signal easier to get to the radio. I'm going to give this a shot this afternoon.
He said he clipped off the ear buds themselves and trimmed the wire to a certain length, but didn't mention what length that was. I'm waiting for a reply as his initial note said it tried different lengths to get the best signal.
A single wire FM antenna would normally be ~150 cms which is a bit long for most earbuds though. Of course that is for receiving, not transmitting (might be the same ??)
I tried that idea of installing a dead ended cable in the audio jack and sure enough the signal was noticeably increased. My cable is approx. 30 inches. I believe the mere presence of an additional wire near the nuvis' internal antenna is in effect increasing the antenna length with subsequent greater radiation. Probably most any length of wire will be effective somewhat. The nuvi antenna is vastly undersized anyway. To calculate wave length,in meters, (full length antenna) divide 300,000,000 by transmitter frequency. By the way, that 150cm you mentioned is approx. 1/2 wave length. A transmitter properly tuned will work very well at 1/4 wave length.