Two questions, maybe crazy

**rizaydog** · 07-16-2008, 08:46 AM

I have searched this forum and did google searches but no help. Maybe my terms are incorrect, or maybe it's not possible. Here I go:

1. I know that they make fm transmitors to send audio to your head unit. I have one and it sux. I have to keep changing the frequency to inprove the sound quality. I was thinking that maybe someone makes one that plugs directly into the antenna plug on the back of the headunit. Then, perhaps, when you turn on your transmitor, the signal from the cars antenna would be blocked and you would get a better signal. Does anyone know if this is an actual item?

2. I mounted my laptop in my car. It is difficult to reach from the drivers seat. I would like to instal a desktop dvd drive in my dash. What type of cable, if any, can I use to connect the dvd drive to my laptop? I know I can do usb but I was hoping it would be possible to connect the cable to the laptops drive bay. Is this possible?

Thanks in advance.

**2k1Toaster** · 07-16-2008, 08:51 AM

1) wired FM Modulator

2) Short answer no. 1st, a desktop drive uses tons of power. Multiple amps at full spin. They are fast, big, and work really well which means they consume power. Who cares at home right? A laptop drive is built for the mobile environment. A disk wont boucne around when driving, it wont take as much power, can be powered from the usb bus, and are smaller so easier to fabricate. IDE and SATA connections are limited by length. A span from dash to laptop is probably 3ft to 5ft minimum. 24" is the max really for IDE, SATA I am sure is about the same. USB is about 3 metres, so it will work ok.

**danielkh** · 07-16-2008, 08:51 AM

1. It's called an FM Modulator and yes.

2. Why not USB?? Get a 6" USB 2.0 cable, maybe a 5v lighter adapter, take it apart and hook it into your 12v system to power the DVD, get a slimline case that can be found on ebay, and your golden.

**rizaydog** · 07-17-2008, 09:16 AM

Thanks guys. That helps a great deal.

**hailrazer** · 07-17-2008, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

2) A span from dash to laptop is probably 3ft to 5ft minimum. 24" is the max really for IDE, SATA I am sure is about the same. USB is about 3 metres, so it will work ok.

Sata is 39" . I have a Blu-Ray/Hd-Dvd player in my center console attached with a 39" Sata cable and it works perfectly.