Question for the Techies

As you know, I’m not much of a tech dude. So I’m hoping you guys can answer a question for me.

I’m in the process of ripping all my CDs onto iTunes on my groovy new Dell laptop. And here’s what I’d like to know. Is there a product for PC that’s similar to Apple’s AirPort – i.e. something I could hook up to my laptop to transmit the music from iTunes directly to an FM stereo receiver?

Thanks!

As you know, I’m not much of a tech dude. So I’m hoping you guys can answer a question for me.

I’m in the process of ripping all my CDs onto iTunes on my groovy new Dell laptop. And here’s what I’d like to know. Is there a product for PC that’s similar to Apple’s AirPort – i.e. something I could hook up to my laptop to transmit the music from iTunes directly to an FM stereo receiver?

Thanks!

2 thoughts on “Question for the Techies”

  1. My next birthday present

    Benjamin,
    You have hit on something I just discovered myself, and am accepting donations for so I can get one on my birthday 😉

    Look here via Best Buy, see if Graber can get you a discounts still 😉

    Or here via Buy.Com, your online electronics superstore.

    The technology you’re looking for is called Wireless Entertainment Gateways or something similar. When you have lots of, uhm, *snort*, “preview only” digital content on your PC, it’s a must have…

    My $.02
    Weed
    “Running from the law, the press, and the parents.
    Is your name Michael Diamond? Naw, my name’s Clarence”

  2. AirTunes

    You can pick up an AirTunes for about $100, and it works with PCs running iTunes as well as Macs. You’d also need to have a wireless network in your house in order to transmit the music.

    Now, if you’re really talking about something that converts a line-level input into an FM broadcast channel, most of them are made for vehicles, and are available really cheap at your local Wal-Mart or something. In those cases, what you’d do is actually hook up the little FM broadcaster dongle to the audio-out port of your PC, and position a radio nearby tuned to the correct station.

    The biggest downside in that case is audio fidelity. FM is not CD-quality, and the quality of most high-quality MP3 files actually exceeds that of an FM stereo broadcast. You generally have very strong range limitations — on the order of a few yards — which will prevent you from, for instance, having your receiver in another room.

    I’d say, if you’re using iTunes though, there’s no reason not to use an AirPort and AirTunes adapter. It works, it’s high-fidelity, and it’s not horribly expensive (though a bit on the pricey side).

    —
    Matthew P. Barnson

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