i-Kit iPhone FM Hands-free car kit & FM transmitter
Posted by Jay Donovan on 08/14/08 in Accessories, Apple, Car Kits, Chargers, iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch
I should probably let you know that I am the master of Jerry-rigging stuff. A few examples: I have a screw/ring that I use to tune one of the broken machine heads on my 1939 Johann Nurnberg double bass… I have two broken guitar pedals that that I use to balance and prop up the front feet of my 1970 Fender Rhodes organ (that is missing one of the leg extenders)… For years, I used a toothpick to hold in the bass boost button on my home stereo… the list goes on and on. It’s just who I am and how I operate. I am cool with it.
Even though I am fairly practical about form/function and am usually forgiving when it comes to aesthetics, I also don’t want you all to think that I am not capable of appreciating something that is beautiful or works well. On the contrary, I’d pimp any Harold Van Doren object, any day of the week. I can appreciate something that is elegant or makes it easy on you, while not always requiring it. I’m kind of “Jekyll and Hyde” like that. Dig?
So when I received the MediaGate i-Kit FM Hands-free car kit & FM transmitter to review, at first I think I questioned if I needed it, but after about 2 days, I really began to appreciate it. Now, I am not trying to say it’s beautiful, like a Van Doren scooter or anything, but for $50-$60 it looks reasonably good and works pretty well. It definitely makes it easy on you, if you want to screw around with your iPhone/iPod in the car.
In a nutshell, the i-Kit is an FM transmitter for you iPhone/iPod that transmits the output of your device, wirelessly, to your car stereo, while at the same time keeping it charged. It has a couple of other extra features too, so lets just go ahead and list them all.
1. It charges your iPhone/iPod while in your car. Plugs right into the cigarette lighter. It has a nice swivel arm that is very strong and well made that holds it well.
2. It transmits the iPhone/iPod signal to your car’s stereo so you can listen to music or talk on the phone, with no wires.
3. It has a charging “pass-thru” USB input, so you can charge other USB powered devices while you charge or use your iPhone/iPod in the cradle (for instance, you could simultaneously charge your other phone or GPS device)
4. It holds it your device in place so you can interact with it more easily and (more safely?)
Let’s get to the review. I just took this on an 1100 mile trip and used it with my iPhone G3, so it got lots of use.
The Good:
The socket fits snuggly and firmly in cigarette lighter. An LED lets you know its connected, which is good, so you don’t accidentally drain your battery. The goose-neck swivel arm is firm yet flexible, so you can easily position the iPhone and it stays in place despite bumps in the road.
Using the i-Kit for “hands-free” access to your phone works pretty well. You have to make sure the volume is not up to loud or people on the other end will hear an echo effect. Also, there is a small 1/8 inch cable connector that you need to plug into the headphone jack on the iPhone and into the side of the i-Kit, to reduce hum when you are using the phone or other applications that stream audio (like Pandora, etc).
You can really pivot the face of you device around easily. This is great for GPS services or map reading.
It is reasonably good looking for being modular (in order to accommodate many device types) and for being mostly made out of plastic.
The Bad:
Personally, I would have preferred the goose-neck to be a bit longer so that it was a little closer to my viewing range while driving. It seems kind of low in my Scion XB. In “normal” cars where you are sitting lower, it is probably just right.
There is also an annoying little beep that takes place every 5 - 10 minutes or so. I am not sure if I have something set incorrectly or what, but I am not sure how to make it stop. I will continue to fiddle with it to see if I can make it stop.
The Weird:
In the notes for the device it says “The use of this device in the course of the minor accompanied by fever, this is a normal phenomenon.”
Um, I am not sure what this means. They might want to re-translate that part.
The Bottom Line
The i-Kit is nifty. A nice accessory for the road warrior. I found it to be mostly intuitive and effective. Thumbs up!
Watch the video review
Written by Jay Donovan · Filed Under Accessories, Apple, Car Kits, Chargers, iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch
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Nice review, Jay. I’m gonna have to one of those videos, too! ;>)
Got one, loved it, then it started beeping. Mine beeps approximately every 45 seconds. I Googled it and found others with this trouble. I turned off 3G, turned off IM, turned off e-mail, turned off car engine, and tried it in the garage… I don’t know why it beeps. Some sites say that the beeping is hardly noticeable if you keep the music turned up, but sometimes the beeps are loud and at other times softer. They come from the left front speaker. What is up with this!!!??? Otherwise, what a great idea. If you can find anything out about the beeps please let me know. :O
I contacted the manufacturer, and in broken English, they replied very promptly. They assured me the beeps were designed in on purpose, to meet CE regulations (beep). I got them to send me the ISO standards which they did. I’m certain they have screwed up. There is a requirement to stop FM transmissions within 5 minutes of the ‘ipod’ playing music (beep) or the phone being used handsfree over the radio. They think that playing a beep (every 40 seconds) gets around this. The beeps are very very annoying. I have to turn (beep) the volume right up to use the phone handsfree. I can hear, and be heard ok, but there is lots of noise around. Its a shame because the ‘ipod’ plays beautifully (beep).
Has anyone found a resolution for the beeps? I noticed that the beeps occur “even” when the iPhone is not plugged into the unit. Thus, just having the i-Kit plugged into the lighter (without the iPhone connected) will generate the beeps. This is such a great unit with the exception of the beeps!
i just bought an i-Kit and love it to pieces; then i heard the ‘beep’……. damn, that’s annoying. Other than the beeping problem it’s a lovely device - just wish they could have worked out a way to have music play and use as a handsfree phone without that damn 3.5mm cable.
If there is a way to open up the i-Kit and snip a wire to turn off the beep can someone let me know?
I’m glad I’m not the only one that gets the beeps. I wonder if there is a way to disable it? I’d happily take it in bits in order to stop it.
BTW - I find if you set the iphone volume to full for playing in the car the beeps are less noticeable as the beeps don’t change in db output. Then turn the volume on your head unit accordingly - you can still hear when music is low but it’s less intrusive.
i want to know it the carkit will work on my car…i have a mercedes ml270 but i don’t have a navigation..and i’m wondering if it will work :D thx
Don’t buy this thing… I bought 3…
They stop working after about 30 days… not sure why… All three…just stopped working.