From tomorrow (Dec 8, 06), it will be legal in the UK to use miniature battery-powered FM transmitters that allow in-car radios to pick up music wirelessly from iPods and other personal music players.
Other such devices work with home hi-fi tuners and radios - and these become legal, too, if they conform to revised regulations.
Both types have been sold clandestinely in the UK for ages - though sales came out into the open after Ofcom heavily hinted in the summer that it was going to relax the regulations, see this HEXUS.lifestyle.headlines, iPod radio-transmitters soon to be legal in UK?.
Griffin was one of the pioneers - but toed the line in the UK - and, for a mere £17.75, its first UK-legal car model, the iTrip Auto, combines an FM transmitter with an iPod car charger. Click on the image below for a close-up. The company's wide range also includes direct-fit iTrips that can be used at home or in the car.
Virtually all the other music-player-accessory suppliers you know of also do variants but you'd be well advised to check before buying whether the product carries a CE mark showing it's been approved for sale in the EU.
The most common type at the moment seems to be combi FM transmitter/iPod car chargers comparable to the iTrip Auto, with competitors offered by GEAR 4 (the £30 PowerTrip FM) and Sonnet Technologies (the £40 iFreq) and many others.
PowerTrip FM
iFreq
Ofcom heralded tomorrow's legal U-turn in a brief statement on November 23 headed, Change to the law to allow the use of low power FM transmitters for MP3 players. This said,
Ofcom today announced that
the use of certain low power FM transmitters, which wirelessly connect
MP3 players and other personal audio devices to radios and in-car
entertainment systems, will be legal for use in the UK from 8 December
2006.
Equipment previously available carries a high risk of interference to other broadcast services. However, in response to consumer demand Ofcom has led negotiations in Europe to develop a harmonised technical approach designed to limit the potential of interference to other wireless devices.
The FM transmitters that meet these specifications, and which will be legal to use in the UK, will carry a CE mark indicating approval for sale in the European Union. Their use will be legalised under the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 which come into effect on 8 December. The regulations set out the technical specifications for FM transmitters.
Equipment previously available carries a high risk of interference to other broadcast services. However, in response to consumer demand Ofcom has led negotiations in Europe to develop a harmonised technical approach designed to limit the potential of interference to other wireless devices.
The FM transmitters that meet these specifications, and which will be legal to use in the UK, will carry a CE mark indicating approval for sale in the European Union. Their use will be legalised under the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 which come into effect on 8 December. The regulations set out the technical specifications for FM transmitters.
A more fulsome version is available here. Those who like their small print can read The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 here.
Fancy going wireless? Tell us about it in this thread in the HEXUS.lifestyle.news forum.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this articleHEXUS.lifestyle.headlines :: iPod radio-transmitters soon to be legal in UK?
HEXUS.lifestyle.press.releases :: Griffin unveils iTalkPro, iKaraoke and TuneCenter at Paris Apple Expo
External.links
Ofcom - Change to the law to allow the use of low power FM transmitters for MP3 playersOfcom - Change to the law to allow the use of low power FM transmitters for MP3 players (full statement)
Ofcom - The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
Griffin - iTrip Auto
Griffin - iTrip range
GEAR 4 - PowerTrip FM
Sonnet Technologies - iFreq
