Help! I can’t hear my *$%&! iPod!

Don’t freak out if you can’t seem to play your iPod or other MP3 player through your car stereo. FM transmitters work — but you really need to find an unused spot on the FM dial for clear reception. Belkin has just launched an online tool to help out music-loving road warriors this summer.

Don’t freak out if you can’t seem to play your iPod or other MP3 player through your car stereo. FM transmitters work — but you really need to find an unused spot on the FM dial for clear reception. Belkin has just launched an online tool to help music-loving road warrior.

Going on a road trip throughout the U.S. this summer?

Be sure to bring your portable MP3 player and a FM transmitter so you can wirelessly beam your favourite tunes to your car’s FM radio.

If you haven’t heard of these FM transmitters, they work as follows:

1. Plug into (or snap under) your MP3 player
2. On your car radio, select an unused spot on the FM dial (you should hear nothing or slight static)
3. Match the frequency on your FM transmitter, such as 102.9FM or whatever.
4. Press play on your MP3 player and you should hear the music through your car stereo

How to find the best spot on the FM dial

OK, but the problem is: who has the time to find one of these unused spots? In Toronto, for example, it took me forever to find out the best station – that is, the one that produced the clearest audio – which I found to be 99.5FM.

Well, a handy online tool from Belkin called “My Best FM” posts the best FM radio frequencies in the U.S. from which to play your MP3 player clearly through your car stereo.

Simply go to the site, enter the zip code or city and state you’re going to, and take note of the recommended unused FM frequencies.

Hopefully the site will launch a Canadian version sometime soon!