The entertainment options available in most vehicles vary quite a lot, depending of course on just how much the future owner is willing to spend. Obviously, one can get a very high-tech system installed in his/her vehicle, but the truth of the matter is that most “normal” drivers don't really upgrade their car's audio systems and go for the stock (typically, AM/FM transmitter plus CD/DVD/MP3 player).

However, the appearance of portable multimedia players (either MP3 or MP4) has led to the following problem: how can one listen to the music stored onto his/her portable player directly on their car's audio system? One solution would be to connect the player to the entertainment console via a dedicated audio cable, but there are still relatively few cars with such an option available on the market, compared to the overall number of vehicles.

Another method is to get an FM transmitter and “broadcast” music directly to the vehicle's radio tuner. An FM transmitter is a small, low-power radio transmitter that typically has a very limited range (5-10 meters, depending on the model) and emits on certain pre-set frequencies (generally, four, but the number can vary).

There are several types of FM transmitters available, but depending on the model, the way in which one can use them in order to transmit music varies slightly. This is why the following steps are rather generic, and they can actually vary a bit.

Step 1: Read your FM transmitter's manual and check exactly the type of connectivity options you have available (either a 3.5-mm audio jack or an USB port);

Step 2: Find a suitable position for the FM transmitter. If your FM transmitter must be connected to a car power adapter, then its position is quite obvious. However, you should take into account the following two issues: 1) place it as close as possible to the car's antenna and 2) Be sure not to have any mobile phones in the close proximity of the transmitter (because they'll disrupt its normal functioning).

Step 2: Power up your FM transmitter. This can be done in several ways, depending on the device's power source. So, if the transmitter is battery powered, then simply switch it on, but if it has a car power adapter (and most of them do), simply insert it in the vehicle's cigarette lighter plug and then switch on the power;

Step 3: Find a free FM frequency on your car's radio and change the broadcasting frequency on your FM transmitter accordingly, in order to match it;

Step 3 (alternative): Choose one of the FM transmitter's pre-set broadcasting frequencies and then manually search for the respective frequency on your car's radio tuner;

Step 4: Connect the portable player to the FM transmitter via the available interface;

Step 5: Adjust the volume of your music player and that of the car's radio in order to obtain the sound level that suits your audiophile needs best.

See? That wasn't so hard, was it now? Now, you'll be able to easily enjoy your music, even if you vehicle is not exactly latest-gen.