Engine whine with Kensington transmitter

[bdr2]

Got my daughter an iPod Video and Kensington Digital FM transmitter for Christmas. The Kensington transmitter had gotten good reviews here in iLounge and so decided to give it a try. The unit sounds great in the car (her 95 Lexus ES300) until you start the engine. You then get a pronounced engine whine noise that varies according the the engine RPM. If you are listening to loud music you do not notice this, but when the music gets quiet, it is very annoying. I tried it in my Mercedes and my wifes Lincoln and although not quite as bad, it is still very noticable during quiet music and pauses between songs.

I have heard that these FM transmitters have some issues but usually due to static, difficulty finding unused frequencies etc. No one has ever mentioned engine noise (feedback through the cigarette lighter).

Since this is noticable on three different cars, I am thinking that there is a problem with the unit. Anyone else have similar problems.

[urbanlegend]

The problem is that your cars are too expensive. The unit does not make these noises in my Pontiac. I'll trade the Lexus and the Merc for the Pontiac and throw in my Kensington as a spare.

;-)

Serious answer - I have not experienced this. Does it happen on all frequencies? I would suggest trying another unit.

John

[malaflam]

Sounds like a ground loop...thats what happened when I had my ipod in through my aux-in on my stereo. When I hit the gas the sound would get worse.

My solution was to put a ground loop isolator in between the ipod and the aux-in. The only problem here is you are using a Kensington Digital transmitter so there is no where to plug the isolator in to. My personal suggestion would be to go get a different transmitter :(

[traderjoe]

I got the same problem too. I think it has something to do with the temperature of the car. On a cold day I notice the engine whines. I don't get it in the summer time. So when I'm driving with this whine in the winter, the whining will eventually go away once my car warms up. I'm not sure if its the warming of the circuits of the transmitter, or something in the car. I'm experimenting with it right now by taking the transmitter inside when I leave the car.