SanDisk's Sansa Car Transmitter will play music stored on Sansa MP3 digital player through a car radio.
The stereo transmitter plugs into a standard vehicle cigarette lighter and pipes music from the portable player through an unused FM frequency on the radio.
The Sansa Car Transmitter is a one-piece system that has a custom holder for the player. Attached to this is a flexible steel neck for easy positioning and, at the opposite end, a 12-volt connector for the lighter socket. The vehicle's power system runs the player, thus conserving the life of the Sansa's battery.
Mating the Sansa Car Transmitter to the FM radio is an easy three-step process. First, tune the car radio to an unused or weak FM frequency, which often can be found at each end of the dial. Then, locate the same frequency on the Car Transmitter by using the channel search buttons, and then press play.
The transmitter comes with a durable transparent belt clip, which is necessary for inserting the player into the transmitter cradle, and rubber gaskets to establish a snug fit in the 12-volt lighter socket.
"The belt clip serves a dual purpose. It holds the Sansa in the transmitter and it also allows you to carry the player with you when you leave your vehicle," said Matthijs Hutten of SanDisk. "You simply attach it to your clothing, plug in your earphones and continue to use it while walking or exercising."
The transmitter covers the full FM band, from 88.1 to 107.9 megahertz (MHz), so a user can select any weak frequency.
The transmitter is part of a new accessory line for the Sansa e100 series of MP3/WMA players. With the player's built-in SD card slot, users can add as much as two gigs of supplemental memory, giving the 1GB Sansa a capacity of three gigabytes.