Improvements

[halfdome, Danny]

I made some improvements to my tear today . I've been wanting a radio to play MP3 disks for the TD for awhile now and after a lot of different ideas it's installed. I was only able to put in two 5" four way speakers but with the tears acoustics it sounds great to me. I didn't want an exterior antenna so I found one that can be installed on the interior. It's inside the radio cabinet and can't be seen but it works great so far. The blue LED light in the picture (under radio shelf) is my "ignition switch" that is required to keep the radio memory without running down the battery, makes a nice night light too.
I received my foot warmer/ stand up heat panel today and it seems to work great even on my 400 watt inverter. There is no exposed wires and you can actually put your feet on it if you like. I can touch it momentarily, since on high it is 140 deg and 120 deg on low. I like the idea of a heater that gives off no fumes, doesn't consume oxygen etc. I have a digital temperature gauge in the TD and with the heater on it got to 70 deg from about 58 deg in 90 minutes or less. More pictures in my album. Danny

Antenna

http://www.audiooutfitter.com/store/69850/44ua200.html

[sdtripper2]

Danny:

Your entertainment improvements do look fine for sure.

Your antenna ... what model did you choose?
You say it picks up the signals well inside your TD?

Could you share why you picked this antenna?
I like the idea of not having and external antenna
but how strong of a signal do you get?

[Ira]

Danny--AREN'T those acoustics amazing?

But what the heck is an MP3 disk?

Is that a car stereo in there, and then you have a separate MP3 player that transmits to its tuner?

[bledsoe3]

Ira, I think (and I'm no expert) MP3's are recorded on a CD that takes up a lot less room on the disc. So you get more songs on one disc. That's the real short version as I understand it.

[Ira]

You're right:

I forget that you can burn them to disk.

Whenever I hear MP3, I just think of a player where they're all stored.

[halfdome, Danny]

Danny--AREN'T those acoustics amazing?

But what the heck is an MP3 disk?

Is that a car stereo in there, and then you have a separate MP3 player that transmits to its tuner?

Ira, I can get up to 325 songs on one regular recordable CD. I can make up any compilation of songs that I desire with ease. Some say the quality is less than a regular CD but I haven't noticed any difference. You are forced to buy only MP3 songs from Itunes where I just rip from my store bought Cd's. I originally was going to buy a MP3 player like the Ipod but found out Apple won't sell replacement batteries. You have to send in your Ipod player along with $105 and Apple will download your songs on a new Ipod and mail it back to you. I think that stinks. This stereo has a remote so I can lay in bed and change songs, stations, volume with ease. Danny

[halfdome, Danny]

Danny:

Your entertainment improvements do look fine for sure.

Your antenna ... what model did you choose?
You say it picks up the signals well inside your TD?

Could you share why you picked this antenna?
I like the idea of not having and external antenna
but how strong of a signal do you get?

Steve, I asked around the different stores if there was an interior car stereo antenna and no one knew of any. I was strolling in one of my favorite stores ( G.I. Joes ) and found this one. It's a Metra Road Works Deluxe Universal Amplified Antenna #AW-UA200, sold for $20. It has a positive wire for power with an LED light to show it is powered up along with a ground wire. Very simple to install. I didn't play with it much but I noticed it found all the local stations while sitting in my shop. Danny

[Ira]

There are a ton of inexpensive MP3 players you can buy, not just iPod.

But if you've ever seen how automated the iPod system is with iTunes on your computer, NOTHING comes close as far as its ease:

It's totally automatic--from computer to iPod. You just plug the cable in and do like NOTHING. It automatically uploads the songs from your computer to the iPod.

And the things are so dang cheap nowadays that if you get a year or two use out of them, you're way ahead of the game.

Easier than burning discs!

[GregB]

Danny,

You can get better replacement batteries for the iPod online for about $30.

GB

[Nitetimes]

Danny,

You can get better replacement batteries for the iPod online for about $30.

GB

If you search just a little longer you can pick them up for around $15. That's what I paid for one this spring.
It'll play for a good 8 - 10 hours.

[halfdome, Danny]

Thanks but no thanks to Ipod/MP3 players. Burning my own Cd's into MP3's is easy, convenient and cheaper than an Ipod for me. I don't have to drag the thing from vehicle to vehicle to shop to house to teardrop. I have a JVC 12 disk changer in each vehicle and a 60 disk player in the house & shop so why would I want a Ipod or a MP3 player?. If anyone is interested in reasonably priced old (new) CD's this is a good place to get them. Danny