Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

Unlike the FM radio, there is no way to connect an external antenna to the N900. Not even through the USB jack or the headphone jack. The FCC may be the reason for that. The wavelength of the FM band makes an internal antenna next to being useless. One possibility is to make a passive antenna repeater that the N900 can be placed next to.

Maybe duct taping a coat hanger to the phone will work. A little bit tin foil can be used for fine tuning. :D

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

There's (both headphones and USB cable helps; that's why I don't consider the "power level decreases while a USB cable is connected" a bug). Though I'm worried packaging "an enabler" for this might make Nokia less inclined to allow enabling it as trivially as currently is (the fmtx is a V4L device!).
And of course, connecting headphones to it makes it _finally_ usable, like they do in every other device with an FMTX I've used, including multiple car GPS devices that you can practically buy in any shop in Spain. I have to wonder if the FCC is really so restrictive.

That's what I was trying to say previously; just wrapping the device with VGA cable seems to do wonders. Of course, this is all very random :)

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

Without the enabler the fm-transmitter is useless.

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

The trick is to orient the N900 for vertical polarization(as most vehicle antennas are) and use a reflector to make the signal as directional as possible.

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

Time to install a parabol dish on the passenger seat of my car. If I have to take people in the car with me, there's always the back row left for them. :D

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

You know, his use of the the phrase "FCC countries" in the bug tracker statement made me assume that a lot of other countries have adopted the FCC regulations for FM broadcast, but after a bit more searching i can't find any indication that is true.

Does anyone know of a country besides the US where that band is regulated?

It may just come down to the FCC requiring devices sold in the US to conform to the frequency restrictions, and Nokia taking the easy way out of blocking it so they can release only one version worldwide.

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

OK i got a stupid question, do I run the FM boost script before opening the media player & FM transmitter or is it OK if I run the script while FM transmitter is turned on and media player is also running ?

Also, do I need to run the script everytime I turn the FM transmitter ON ?

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

Funny you should mention that, cuz while testing the fm booster app, I found that if I could be at least over 20 feet away and have a clear static free signal... if I place the n900 on the corn of the wall ... were those metal end cover are on dry walls.

Also line of sight seemed to help also.

x

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

Thought I'd chime in here.

Volvo S40, N900 with the latest available firmware. Reception is excellent, I even get 'Nokia' on my radio (which was a nice surprise).

In fact, its so good I keep the device in the center console armrest.

I didn't notice any difference with the screen being open or closed.

Frequency: 90.7

But on a related note, is there some app or widget to toggle the radio from the home screen? Its really a pain to go to settings > fm transmitter > on every time :/

Re: N900 Radio Transmitter: ways to amplify the radio signal
 

Ya there is a desktop widget for FM transmitter that you can use to turn it on or off and also to set the frequency.