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What's the best way to get streaming audio in the car?
- Thread starter henry
- Start date
I use a laptop with a wireless card and an aux cable. Works like a champ. (Of course, for long trips you'll need a power adapter to keep your laptop charged.)
Many stations... including eX1065.com... can be launched right from their websites on the iPhone safari browser. Patch it in through an AUX jack or bluetooth and there's your stream on your car's sound system. many of our users listen this way daily.
henry said:
iHeart is just for clear channel streams. Just like CBS, which has an app with only their stuff. There are AOL and Yahoo radio apps that have CBS streams along with their own content. Then there are some stations (a relative handful) with their own dedicated apps.
Shoutcast has a free app with thousands of streams in a searchable database.
I personally like Tunein radio. For three bucks, you get the entire global radiotime database, something like over 10,000 terrestrial and web-only streams searchable by name (call letters), genre, location, bit rate, etc. There's also a cool recorder feature. For a few bucks more, you can have Wunderadio. Similar in operation to Tunein, but instead of a recorder you get searchable NOAA weather radio broadcasts and police scanners. Then there are the apps for Pandora, Accuradio, Last FM, Slacker, etc.
If your car has an auxiliary jack, you can go to Radio Shack, get a $5 connector cable and play the iPhone through your car's system and use that. Otherwise, you can get an FM modulator.
Most modulators you can get at Best Buy, Walmart, etc. are notoriously poor performers in mobile applications. My suggestion is to go online and look up "Whole House Transmitter" and get one of those. Amazon sells them, or you can buy direct from the distributor. $100, but well worth it. It'll overpower just about anything on the FM dial within about 25 feet of the unit. The sound is also great. 3 "AA" batteries will usually last a couple of weeks, but the unit also comes with a adapters for car outlet, computer, or AC outlet.
Hope this helps!
Good advice, but I need to clarify my question: I have a nice AUX jack on my car's stereo deck. That's no problem. It's actually getting streaming audio in the car. I'd thought about the laptop + wireless card route, but that's fairly bulky. I didn't know if there was as smartphone that was good at streaming.
D
Darth_vader
Guest
You mean, the Apple I-Phone will actually play back an audio stream that wasn't designed specifically by/for Apple? *gasp* ;o)
The iPhone streams high bitrate streams pretty well as long as you have a 3G signal. Audio quality is very good. I have a 45-minute 20-mile commute when I'm not traveling. There are two spots on my route where the signal is weak. Sometimes it drops the stream, sometimes I get static, and sometimes nothing happens at all. The problem generally lasts for about a minute, if that.
In rural areas, the slower EDGE signal will not support the higher bitrate streams. 32kbs or less will work, but generally the audio quality suffers (unless you have an AAC+ stream). Note that streaming results in rather high battery drain, so it's a good idea to have a car charger connected.
In rural areas, the slower EDGE signal will not support the higher bitrate streams. 32kbs or less will work, but generally the audio quality suffers (unless you have an AAC+ stream). Note that streaming results in rather high battery drain, so it's a good idea to have a car charger connected.
henry said:
I was a satellite radio subscriber for about 4 years. Being in the 50+ age group, commercial music radio has nothing for me. After the XM/SIRIUS merger some of the specialty shows that I enjoyed on satellite disappeared. I discovered internet radio and cancelled my XM subscription. So this is how desperate I am to hear radio I really like: I record hours of my favorite internet stations in the mp3 format (one of the programs that will do this is available at http://www.dak.com/Reviews/2050story.cfm). I transfer these mp3 files to a CD, which gives me about 12 hours of music per disc. I play the discs in my car, which has an mp3 compatible CD player. A lot of work and hassle, to be sure. But the end result is well worth it. And I donate some of the money I save on the XM subscription to my favorite internet stations.
If you have a smart phone and a unlimited data plan with your carrier, you can get many stations to come at a bit rate you select via http://www.yourmuze.fm
I listen to STAR 107.9 using this method and it sounds great. Since YourMuze allows you to adjust the bit rate, if you are having trouble with the stream at a high bit rate, you can reduce it, and still enjoy the music while away from your computer.
I listen to STAR 107.9 using this method and it sounds great. Since YourMuze allows you to adjust the bit rate, if you are having trouble with the stream at a high bit rate, you can reduce it, and still enjoy the music while away from your computer.
If your car radio has an AUX input and you have an iPhone with either the Shoutcast app or Pocket Tunes, just tune in your station and with a two mini-plug patch cable you have instant internet radio emanating from your dash! I listen to Radio Bop or our newest station Radio Swing Worldwide to and from work every day and its a glorious feeling to know that you can hear what you want in your own car! And the combined sound quality of the iPhone and my Subaru audio system is fabulous!
B
bobperry
Guest
The iPhone, Droid and Blackberry offer free apps that you can find stations in a directory by name/genre/locality plus most have the option to "roll your own" and add in a station that isn't otherwise offered.
We made sure that The Penthouse is on most of the known directories (like radiotime.com and iTunes) so we are offered to listeners without much work on their part. That way we on smartphones and internet radio boxes.
As to apps, WUnderRadio is my current choice. Solid streaming (with adjustable buffering that isn't offered in most of the other apps) and it's available on iPhone/iPod Touch and Blackberry.
Bob
ThePenthouse.fm
We made sure that The Penthouse is on most of the known directories (like radiotime.com and iTunes) so we are offered to listeners without much work on their part. That way we on smartphones and internet radio boxes.
As to apps, WUnderRadio is my current choice. Solid streaming (with adjustable buffering that isn't offered in most of the other apps) and it's available on iPhone/iPod Touch and Blackberry.
Bob
ThePenthouse.fm
radiobop said:
Very true. And after a year of driving around with an iPhone playing through my stereo, I can tell you that the service just keep getting better. The dropouts are becoming fewer and fewer and the sound quality is CD-like. If you don't have an AUX input, just get an FM modulator. You can buy cheap ones at Wal-Mart, but (as I posted earlier), if you invest $100 in "Whole House FM Transmitter" (Amazon sells it), and you won't be sorry.
Incidentally, if you like vintage top 40, Radio Bop is one of the best streams out there. 50s-60s sounding even better than when they first hit the airwaves, jukeboxes, record players, etc. And the new Radio Swing Worldwide is a great-sounding fresh approach to some classic music. Congrats on your recent launch.
The Android platform is coming into its own as far as streaming audio goes.
There are now three apps that use the RadioTime database, which is the best (IMHO) one out there.
The first was RadioTime's own self-titled app, which was $2.99 in the Android Market until recently (it's now $1.99). Recently, RadioTime bought out TuneIn, and there's a free, advertising supported version of TuneIn...basically identical to the Android version of RadioTime...in the Market.
And a few months ago, they brought out an Android version of WunderRadio - I believe it is $6.99. I have no idea if it's worth $5 or $7 more than the others
Anyway, I believe all three have the same (or close) RadioTime database...which allows WMV and FLV stations to play on the Android platform. Between it and CC's IHeartRadio, and one thing iOS doesn't have, Flash (in Android 2.2) there are very few streaming stations missing on Android now.
There are now three apps that use the RadioTime database, which is the best (IMHO) one out there.
The first was RadioTime's own self-titled app, which was $2.99 in the Android Market until recently (it's now $1.99). Recently, RadioTime bought out TuneIn, and there's a free, advertising supported version of TuneIn...basically identical to the Android version of RadioTime...in the Market.
And a few months ago, they brought out an Android version of WunderRadio - I believe it is $6.99. I have no idea if it's worth $5 or $7 more than the others
Anyway, I believe all three have the same (or close) RadioTime database...which allows WMV and FLV stations to play on the Android platform. Between it and CC's IHeartRadio, and one thing iOS doesn't have, Flash (in Android 2.2) there are very few streaming stations missing on Android now.
OhioMediaWatch said:
Agree that the Radio Time database is the best one out there. I started with it on WunderRadio for my iPhone. I like WunderRadio, but I have the $1.99 version of TuneIn, which I like even better. In addition to being cheaper and a little easier to use, I like the feature that records as you stream....automatically. You can save anything you like, or just let the recording delete when you quit the app. Shoutcast also has a very good free app.
TuneIn is brand new on Android, and it doesn't have the recording features the iOS version has... yet, but I assume.
M
Mid West Clubber
Guest
I use the shoutcast app on my blackberry,, which still has alot of bug issues and alot of stations either dont play, or they buffer out really bad, luckily my station is solid as a rock in town and between Chicago to indianapolis, to Louisville, However, get too far out in the country and guess what,, no signal... the Laptop connect card would be prefect<< IF<, the prices came down, and IF,, their was some kind of car charger you could use for a laptop.
How do i get my smartphone to stream in the car with bluetooth ? My phone is paired with my car for phone calls but don't know how to streaming radio in my car speakers...I saw an option to make device discoverable do i check this box on my phone for steaming ?
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