Tunecast Auto with Clearscan

Zak Reiter · July 16th, 2008, 12:58 PM

As the first product for the iPhone I’ve tested, I wasn’t too disappointed. The Tunecast® Auto is typical for cord-based FM Transmitters, and it comes equipped with Clearscan which is supposed to find an especially fuzzy channel.

I can’t talk this product up, though. It’s been working on and off, and I’ll admit that it works almost perfectly when I’m alone in the car (Mike might vouch that it’s t3h suxx0rs). If you plan on listening to your device in the car with this, I’d turn the volume up just about as high as your hopes. FM Transmitters are notorious for transmitting a shoddy radio signal, even though the device isn’t more than 3 feet from the buttons and knobs. There is a handy thing called the ‘Pro’ settings, however, that allows you to pretty much adjust the pre-amp coming from the transmitter, and that slightly boosted my appreciation of it.

My hypothesis is that you need to make sure that the device is in direct ‘line of fire’ with the antenna. Since I’m a jack of all trades, master of none, I’ve really got no clue where my antenna is, but I’m willing to bet that it’s located in the rear windshield, furthest from my actual ‘inside mixup’.

Clearscan was a travesty in all my testing, to say it bluntly. I was really excited to just see it work flawlessly, but it seems like I’m in too much of a ‘radio station ridden’ area for my Tunecast® to adequately shimmy me into a solid white noise. I would advise figuring out a certain radio area for yourself, and simply sticking around that general frequency.

In regard to integration with other iPhone products, I tested it with bluetooth headsets, and even with headphones in. iPhone quickly switches to the phone function, and the radio remains unaffected. The results are a clear call in a silent environment, and for that this product pulls through.

I know that there are other products available, and if you plan on getting a transmitter, I would definitely advise going for a Roadtrip, or something to that equivalent. For $80, I expected a lot more from this product, and I enjoy it when it decides to work. All in all, this product is pretty middle-of-the-road. I'm going to have to give it a 3 out of five, citizens.

Pros:
•Clearscan automatically finds the ‘g-spot’
•There are two programmable memory buttons
•It also charges your next-gen iPhone
•‘Pro’ settings allow you to adjust the pre-amp from the transmitter

Cons:
•Clearscan has close to naught effect if any station is remotely active nearby
•I had to triple-check to see if it was actually transmitting a frequency

If you'd like to check its compatibility with your iPod or iPhone, the site is here. The product is $79.99, as previously stated, and can be ordered online or purchased in many stores nationwide.

prince · **dude....** - July 16th, 2008, 01:21 PM #2

dude is that your girlfriend next to you??? she is hot.....

no realy .... i have the tunecast and i like it... it gives me a clear signal all the time and it has been the best one to try by far, and i have tryied alot of them till i got to this one....

PS: dose any one know how i can turn the edge off when i wan to use wifi???

Kevin Dunahee · July 16th, 2008, 02:05 PM #3

Quote:

Originally Posted by prince

dude is that your girlfriend next to you??? she is hot.....

no realy .... i have the tunecast and i like it... it gives me a clear signal all the time and it has been the best one to try by far, and i have tryied alot of them till i got to this one....

PS: dose any one know how i can turn the edge off when i wan to use wifi???

You can turn airplane mode on and go back and turn wifi on. This will keep edge off and wifi active. Just realize that disabling edge prevents you from receiving or making calls.

prince · July 16th, 2008, 02:31 PM #4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

Just realize that disabling edge prevents you from receiving or making calls.

thats why i dont want to do it this way...

when i hade the 1.4 i had the power to controle my edge and my wifi and switch bitween'm but now with the 2.0 i cant do jack shhhhhh.....

i hate apple.... i love apple.... i hate apple.....

Kevin Dunahee · July 16th, 2008, 02:57 PM #5

No...I've been known to be wrong and I could very easily be wrong in this instance as well, but I'm fairly confident that turning off edge using any method stops incoming and outgoing calls.

jedimacfan · July 16th, 2008, 05:33 PM #6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

No...I've been known to be wrong and I could very easily be wrong in this instance as well, but I'm fairly confident that turning off edge using any method stops incoming and outgoing calls.

Yea, but who really uses their iPhone as a phone anyway?

Martian Manhunter · July 21st, 2008, 10:57 PM #7

Thats a valid point who does use their iPhone as a "phone". Yeah though i'm also aware of no way to shut off edge without losing the ability to make/receive calls. Looks like a better FM transmitter than the one i have to put my Iphone into Airplane mode for. Airplane Mode not on a plane = FAIL....

Kevin Dunahee · July 21st, 2008, 11:14 PM #8

I'm completely psyched to have a fellow JLA member here on the board.

Airplane mode not on a plane does equal FAIL. I think most of the transmitters with that dock connector will pretty much be shielded from here on out. I just wish there were more to choose from now though. Preferably one with a mount of some kind. I hate having my iPod/iPhone sliding around in the car.

gtershel · November 24th, 2008, 07:31 PM #9

Just bought the tunecast and I am a little disappointed with it. I'm vac. in San Diego and it jumps stations alot to find a clear station. When I'm in the car that is a lot of playing with the phone and not concentrating on driving. Overall I want to be happy with it hope I have better luck in chicago finding a clear station. All in all when it works it is great.

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Zak Reiter Forum Ninja Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Killanoise! Posts: 144 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Tunecast Auto with Clearscan - July 16th, 2008, 12:58 PM #1
	<script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script> As the first product for the iPhone I’ve tested, I wasn’t too disappointed. The Tunecast® Auto is typical for cord-based FM Transmitters, and it comes equipped with Clearscan which is supposed to find an especially fuzzy channel. I can’t talk this product up, though. It’s been working on and off, and I’ll admit that it works almost perfectly when I’m alone in the car (Mike might vouch that it’s t3h suxx0rs). If you plan on listening to your device in the car with this, I’d turn the volume up just about as high as your hopes. FM Transmitters are notorious for transmitting a shoddy radio signal, even though the device isn’t more than 3 feet from the buttons and knobs. There is a handy thing called the ‘Pro’ settings, however, that allows you to pretty much adjust the pre-amp coming from the transmitter, and that slightly boosted my appreciation of it. My hypothesis is that you need to make sure that the device is in direct ‘line of fire’ with the antenna. Since I’m a jack of all trades, master of none, I’ve really got no clue where my antenna is, but I’m willing to bet that it’s located in the rear windshield, furthest from my actual ‘inside mixup’. Clearscan was a travesty in all my testing, to say it bluntly. I was really excited to just see it work flawlessly, but it seems like I’m in too much of a ‘radio station ridden’ area for my Tunecast® to adequately shimmy me into a solid white noise. I would advise figuring out a certain radio area for yourself, and simply sticking around that general frequency. In regard to integration with other iPhone products, I tested it with bluetooth headsets, and even with headphones in. iPhone quickly switches to the phone function, and the radio remains unaffected. The results are a clear call in a silent environment, and for that this product pulls through. I know that there are other products available, and if you plan on getting a transmitter, I would definitely advise going for a Roadtrip, or something to that equivalent. For $80, I expected a lot more from this product, and I enjoy it when it decides to work. All in all, this product is pretty middle-of-the-road. I'm going to have to give it a 3 out of five, citizens. Pros: •Clearscan automatically finds the ‘g-spot’ •There are two programmable memory buttons •It also charges your next-gen iPhone •‘Pro’ settings allow you to adjust the pre-amp from the transmitter Cons: •Clearscan has close to naught effect if any station is remotely active nearby •I had to triple-check to see if it was actually transmitting a frequency If you'd like to check its compatibility with your iPod or iPhone, the site is here. The product is $79.99, as previously stated, and can be ordered online or purchased in many stores nationwide.

prince iPA Regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: in the big apple Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	dude.... - July 16th, 2008, 01:21 PM #2
	dude is that your girlfriend next to you??? she is hot..... no realy .... i have the tunecast and i like it... it gives me a clear signal all the time and it has been the best one to try by far, and i have tryied alot of them till i got to this one.... PS: dose any one know how i can turn the edge off when i wan to use wifi???

Kevin Dunahee iPhone 3G Winner Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Metropolis Posts: 507 Thanks: 6 Thanked 19 Times in 18 Posts	July 16th, 2008, 02:57 PM #5
	No...I've been known to be wrong and I could very easily be wrong in this instance as well, but I'm fairly confident that turning off edge using any method stops incoming and outgoing calls.

Martian Manhunter New Recruit Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Mars Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	July 21st, 2008, 10:57 PM #7
	Thats a valid point who does use their iPhone as a "phone". Yeah though i'm also aware of no way to shut off edge without losing the ability to make/receive calls. Looks like a better FM transmitter than the one i have to put my Iphone into Airplane mode for. Airplane Mode not on a plane = FAIL....

Kevin Dunahee iPhone 3G Winner Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Metropolis Posts: 507 Thanks: 6 Thanked 19 Times in 18 Posts	July 21st, 2008, 11:14 PM #8
	I'm completely psyched to have a fellow JLA member here on the board. Airplane mode not on a plane does equal FAIL. I think most of the transmitters with that dock connector will pretty much be shielded from here on out. I just wish there were more to choose from now though. Preferably one with a mount of some kind. I hate having my iPod/iPhone sliding around in the car.

gtershel Forum Lurker Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	November 24th, 2008, 07:31 PM #9
	Just bought the tunecast and I am a little disappointed with it. I'm vac. in San Diego and it jumps stations alot to find a clear station. When I'm in the car that is a lot of playing with the phone and not concentrating on driving. Overall I want to be happy with it hope I have better luck in chicago finding a clear station. All in all when it works it is great.