FM Transmitters for Other MP3 Players

Reader Yendalee writes: I'm looking for an MP3 player for a family member to play in the car via the radio. I know the iPod has an FM transmitter accessory, but they don't need 1GB, they need less! Do transmitters exist for other MP3 players and could you help me find one?

FM transmitters for MP3 players beside the iPod are comparably rare in relation to the seeming dozens that exist for Apple's player, but they do exist.

My first suggestion would be to consider a SanDisk Sansa e130, which has a 512MB capacity. SanDisk, the number two MP3 player manufacturer (by market share), makes a $40 FM Car Transmitter (model SDAMX-FCT). It works with the e130 and e140. However, since the e130 itself costs about $60, you're adding a lot to the cost of the player.

If the Sansa's not for you, you can also get a third-party transmitter that will work with any MP3 player you want. The roughly $30 Belkin TuneCast II (pictured) is universal in design and plugs into your player's headphone jack. Unfortunately reviews of this product have not been glowing, claiming it offers poor audio quality. However, most of the other universal FM transmitters on the market have even worse reviews, so you may be best off with the TuneCast II if you decide to go this route. Just don't set your expectations too high.

Good luck! As always, I invite comments from any users who might be using other products to get the job done.