I have had several years good service from a Beklin Tunecast Auto Live FM transmitter for my phone. An absolute necessity for charging while using GPS, broadcasting my own tunes over the radio etc.

However, recently trips in a less than well-maintained Ford Ikon mean the Belkin has blown what appears to be a soldered-in fuse.

I could, in theory, source the correct fuse, break out the soldering iron and remove the offending part, then purchase a roll of solder and fix. There is no guarantee this will actually work and I'd then still fork out for a replacement unit.

So my question is this:

in the field of FM transmitters for iphones, should I just swallow the rather large cost of the Belkin again, or are there better offerings out there now?

(and yes, I've used google, read reviews etc - half ow which relate to products that appear to be available only in the US)

There ARE radio apps out there but they sap your battery reserves VERY quickly as they need to ;stream' music over the net.

I would avoid this option if a mains socket is not readily accessible.

It's not for you to listen to radio, it's for you to integrate your ipod into the stereo of a car with a radio but no ipod input.

I'd have a look at amazon and work out the cost of the whole device vs the cost of a fuse.

Personally I'd look at something such as a connect2 system, but if you want FM and charging, then it sounds like you were happy with the one you had.

They're pretty hit and miss too, so it's not such a bad thing if you've found one that works for you.

The tunecast ones seem to be the best. I work all over the country and the belkin has never failed me or anyone that I work with. My belkin has a inline fuse that can be pulled out and changed, I'm a little surprised yours is not the same.

Also as a much more expensive option but maybe worthwhile if its just for your car is the new parrot system and that has a memory card slot as well. Not what you were asking for I know but maybe a option.

Edited 23 January, 201313 yr by gavla cradd

The tunecast ones seem to be the best. I work all over the country and the belkin has never failed me or anyone that I work with. My belkin has a inline fuse that can be pulled out and changed, I'm a little surprised yours is not the same.

I thought mine had a replaceable fuse, 2amp.

However,having had to crack open the adaptor(as what might be a fuse didn't give) the damn thing is soldered in and for the faff & time restraint, I bought the same again.

Might take a punt on some fuses on eBay and have a tinker.

Just need to get a central Brodie mount now for the mondeo.

I thought mine had a replaceable fuse, 2amp.

However,having had to crack open the adaptor(as what might be a fuse didn't give) the damn thing is soldered in and for the faff & time restraint, I bought the same again.

Might take a punt on some fuses on eBay and have a tinker.

Just need to get a central Brodie mount now for the mondeo.

Just checked mine buddy and its 2amp and pulls out quite easily, don't know why yours would be different. I got mine from amazon is think and paid about £20 / £25 if memory serves. Really can't rate it enough and it's worked in a 24 volt truck in the past without damage.

I can confirm that it does actually pull out, but by no means easily.Removal of the fuse resulted in that fateful "crack, TWWWANG!" that you just know isn't going to be good.

plug has split three ways into pieces, the metal bit on the end has pinged off to oblivion.

Ah well.

Have you tried to contact the customer service and explain it to them. I would think that the problems you had would call for a replacement product.