256MB MP3player SD card slot & FM Transmit (Disabled in EU??)

RogerPJ

It will be the firmware that disables the FM transmitter function. In theory you should just be able to flash it with the US firmware and the FM transmitter will then work. Of course using it in the UK will then be illegal....

welshblob

RogerPJ wrote:

It will be the firmware that disables the FM transmitter function. In theory you should just be able to flash it with the US firmware and the FM transmitter will then work. Of course using it in the UK will then be illegal....

Assuming you can trust the person on the support desk :-)

sainthalo

bakerrev wrote:

Does this mean it's down to the firmware to enable the FM transmitter?
Strange that nothing is mentioned about this on their website or on google.

This is the most likely scenario. Nothing will be mentioned officially as its an unofficial backdoor "hack" effectively!

If it works...

Ive gone off this as it doesnt have a mic input.

sam2142

The is killing me.

I want to buy as it would be great fo the car as no need to burn Cds to play :j

BUT only if the FM TX is working so some brave sole who has it pls try the flashing of the palyer :T

Sam

ollywood68

Re the FM transmitter, you know you can buy a good one on ebay for about £8. I bought for myself, bro and bro-inlaw. They work within 5 metres of the radio so are perfect for the car.

martint123

RogerPJ wrote:

It will be the firmware that disables the FM transmitter function. In theory you should just be able to flash it with the US firmware and the FM transmitter will then work. Of course using it in the UK will then be illegal....

The FM radio option would become problematical if you update to US firmware - if the radio were to be used of course. Some years ago I got a disk mp3 player and found the radio bit quite useful when out and about.

welshblob

martint123 wrote:

The FM radio option would become problematical if you update to US firmware - if the radio were to be used of course. Some years ago I got a disk mp3 player and found the radio bit quite useful when out and about.

Why would this be? I thought the US and UK FM frequency range was the same? Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
Rob

RufusA

welshblob wrote:

Why would this be? I thought the US and UK FM frequency range was the same? Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
Rob

Indeed, the frequency range is the same but there are 2 key differences:

1) US radio stations broadcast at "odd" frequency numbers with 200khz spacing i.e. 94.1, 94.3, 94.5 with their tuners usually set to skip the even numbers. In the UK (and rest of europe) we broadcast on even numbers as well and most tuners increment in 50khz to allow you to fine tune i.e. 94.1, 94.1+, 94.2, 94.2+ Therefore a US tuner may miss a number of UK radio stations (possibly not a bad thing missing Virgin, Heart but getting Radio4, X-FM etc.)

2) US uses a different pre-emphasis range (similar concept to Dolby noise suppression on tapes), with a time of 75µs vs our 50µs, essentially meaning that a US radio will de-emphasis in the wrong place resulting in a tinny sound with high pitched notes being too loud! Though this probably won't be noticeable on a lower quality MP3 player's radio, and could easily be compensated for if it has a graphic equilizer or treble adjustment.

HTH - Rufus.

welshblob

Cheers for that rufus, I've learnt something today. I think this calls for someone to try it then and report back the results.

cpjackso

They're back in stock at https://www.mymemory.co.uk @ 31.99.

I've bought one - I'll post back if I can get the FM transmitter to work using the firmware updates.