Red Fox MP3 FM Modulator
So I got a little itchy and went ahead and bought myself another MP3 FM Modulator. The price has come down and I paid RM$65 for it. This Red Fox version FT20D 6-in-1 MP3/Wireless FM Modulator of course is an improved version over my previous MP3 FM modulator. It has its advantages; however, do not believe what is shown on the packaging as it was misleading. How so? On the packaging it was displayed a 4GB SD card thus giving the impression that the Red Fox MP3 FM Modulator could handle 4GB SDHC and USB Flash Drive.
This Red Fox MP3 FM Modulator was much better than my previous version as it could handle SD/MMC Cards as well as the usual USB flash drive and microphone input jack. Its panel display was also more informative, using pixel based LCD display, it was able to display the song that was played and the display will change as you fiddle with its various functions. The frequency transmitting range was increased to 200 frequencies much more than the 14 presets on my previous FM device. This helps as there are way too many radio stations in the Klang Valley and makes finding a clear channel that will not interfere with the MP3 FM modulator much easier. It also comes with a IR remote control that provide additional function like EQ presets (Normal, Rock, Classic, Pop, etc) and volume control.
Looks good, yes? Well, here’s the low down.
The sound quality: don’t expect too much out of it. It can’t compare to a CD player or even a CD player that can handle MP3 songs. Somehow the device cuts off the bass and treble frequencies giving the music a somewhat muted sound. If you are not too fussy it is still quite acceptable. I went with a 160kbps bit rate which was high enough quality and balance off with a file size that was not too big. 128kbps bit rate sounds terrible though you could save on space capacity while a 192kbps bit rate is a bit on the overkill. Same goes with VBR (variable bit rate) which takes up an extra 1MB per song when compared to a standard bit rate. It all depends on how fussy you are on the fidelity of the music played.
As for supported hardware: First I tried it with my Toshiba 4GB U3 flash drive. It wouldn’t read the USB thumb drive at all. I thought, “Oh, no. It has the same problem with my previous MP3 FM Modulator.” So I tried it out with a 1 GB Kingston SD card and filled it up to full capacity. No problem. It could detect all my MP3, whether the MP3 files were located in the root, in a folder or in a sub folder. That’s one up from my previous MP3 FM modulator which could only read files from flash drive and only from the root directory. Subfolders are good for organizing the MP3 files in the flash storage device.
Out of curiosity, I tested it on my Sandisk 4GB SDHC card (’coz the package showed a 4GB SD card). Nada. Could not read it at all. I guess it didn’t support SDHC hardware. The packaging was quite misleading, thought the picture showed an SD Card but not a SDHC card. It was meant more for the USB flash disk. However it wouldn’t read my 4GB flash drive either.
Then back at the digital mall, another shop who sold the same device said that 4GB flash drive should have no problem, even if it was using a U3 enabled device, because they encountered similar problems and was able to solve the issue. It seems if you have other types of files in the USB flash device, the Red Fox FM Modulator will jam up. “Ok.” I thought, let’s go back and try it.
Instead of deleting those other files, I placed in other folders and change the folder attributes to hidden and gave it a try. Voila! It Red Fox MP3 FM mod works! So I thought I’ve got it clinched and decided to pump up the flash storage full of MP3 songs.
After several hours of removing other files and stuffing it with MP3 songs, I placed tried out the flash drive on the FM mod again. But to my dismay, it wouldn’t read it. “What gives?” Hurling expletives at that the stupid device (which was no point since it is just a dumb device and me dummier fool for scolding it), I took out the Toshiba 4GB flash disk and decided to take it back to my PC for further study as to what was causing the Red Fox FM Modulator from reading it.
It’s strange that it could not read it, so what was the cause?
i) Was 700 MP3 files way too many? (earlier I had 500 MP3 files totaling about 3GB in size and it could read it)
ii) Did it require some MP3 files in the root folder to kick start it?
iii) Were the empty folders causing it to misread?
iv) What other causes was hanging the Red Fox FM modulator?
Sigh…! Perhaps I should not be too ambitious and should get myself a 2GB flash drive instead.
(21/11/2007) Update.
Finally! After scratching my head and thinking hard, I managed to figure out why the Red Fox MP3 FM Modulator was not working. It has a limit to the number of MP3 files it can read. After much walking to and fro between the car and my house desktop PC, I finally managed to find the exact limit – 575 MP3 files. It could still go over a few more handfuls of files, but could still cause the device to hang. To be on the safe side, the number of MP3 files should be less than 575. Fortunately I stayed in a house and not a condo which would have made the trial and error testing process a real big chore!
At my current 160kbps bit rate for 575 files, that came to about 3.5 GB worth of storage used. It seemed quite a waste to leave about 0.5 gig of storage space to waste. Perhaps I could mix and match other type of files but those files will have to stay in some subfolders and not at the root directory.
(23/11/2007) More update
Talk about crappy. I’m using the Red Fox MP3 FM modulator while driving; so I thought, “Let’s see how it goes if the songs were near the last ones.” And there it goes, when I tried to make it play at the no. 500+ song it hanged. It was very difficult to get it unhung by unplugging the device from the cigarette socket plugging it in and pressing various buttons to get it working.
I decided to do another test and did the test after getting back home. After several frustrating hangs from testing it, I found out that there was another limit. The forward button will only allow you to play the next song until 508 then it goes crazy and then hangs. Tested the random play function and it manages to jump randomly to somewhere around song no. 550, if it jumps above song number 550 the number reduces by 100, ie if it hits song #562 it jumps to #462. On normal play it still could play on after song no. 508 and so I presume it could go on playing till song no. 575. But if you wish to manually switch to the next song it will hang.
And so, if you really want a trouble free listening, the recommended number of songs you might want to stuff into your flash drive should be around 500 songs. That would mean a lot of wasted space on the USB flash drive if you were dedicating it solely for the MP FM Modulator.
So the final conclusion about using Red Fox MP3 FM Modulator:
Pros:
1) Ok. So I could still stuff in quite a lot of songs 500+ is still on lot and gets me about 41+ hours of play time assuming each songs length is about 5 minutes.
2) I could use SD/MMC card though the limit is 2GB. Could also use the mic/earphone jack for using with external player like iPod or Creative MP3 player).
3) Good for long distance driving.
4) Many FM channels so the chance of conflict with radio station was much less.
Cons:
1) Buggy software causes it to hang if you exceed 575 songs and to be really safe, about 500 songs. Therefore not maximizing the 4GB flash drive capacity.
2) Cannot expect too much from the sound quality and sometimes some mp3 files seemed to play badly even though you have ripped it with sufficient quality.
3) If car engine is not running, strange thumping sounds could be heard.
Related posts:
- Red Fox MP3 FM Modulator player, 2nd review
- Red Fox MP3 FM Modulator, 1st review
- MP3 FM transmitter for car
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Hi, i bought the same thing for RM55 in Penang PC fair last week. Cool gadget, i like it.
Then i have this one fren and he said having a fm transmitter near your private part (cos the 12V power supply is near the gear) is not so good. He said it is killing sperm..i dunno what it will kill on a girls body. But just wondering have you done any findings on this?
Hi! I just brought the same thing.. but i can’t find the random play button.. where’s it it ar?
Dear Courage,
Don’t know about the sperm killing thing but the airwaves is so full of radio waves from handphones, radio, tv, astro, microwave, and what’s not… it is a wonder we don’t glow at night.
Dear Jocelyn,
Press and hold the play button, it will alternate between normal and random. You need to do a few times coz it jumps very fast to and fro and if let go at wrong time you end up with the original setting. What to expect from a cheap item…
It is a great and comprehensive review and guide, thank you
I am using fm modulator now but when I replaced the fuse it stopped working. I have been through two of them already. Each time I replaced the fuse it does not work anymore. Any suggestions and what type of fuse should I buy?
Dude,
I bought the same device, and very satisfied with it. Your review is the best and the tips really helps. Keep up the good work.
Dear Philip,
I didn’t know it got a fuse… maybe your car cigarette port always got power surge, thus FM modulator always get damaged.
Dear AF,
Thanks for the compliments!
Dear Jan,
Great review on the stuff. I had a problem though….
I’ve just bought the Red Fox FM Modulator yesterday for RM69.90. I asked the sales promoter whether the modulator would support a flash disk full of mixed files (eg: .doc.xls.jpg and .mp3) and she said that it will do juz fine. so, immediately after i reached home i stuffed my Pendrive 1GB USB drive with songs without deleteing the existing files. 1st time tried, there are no indication that the modulator functions properly. The LCD screen did not indicate anything (note: no turn ‘ON’ light whatsoever), so i thot that I had to follow what the packaging says which I must format my USB drive first before using it. So I removed all files, formatted it, and re-enter only MP3 files into the USB drive. 2nd try, no ‘ON’ light indicator also.
My question is;
1. How to know whether the device is functioning? eg: any light indicator, or the screen will appear anything?
2. I am currently using the cigarette socket near my handbrake, I am driving a proton persona, so i dunno whether some cars disable the power socket function or what?
3. I tried using Pendrive USB 1 GB thumbdrive, or is there any specific USB brand to go with the device?
4. Referred to ‘Philip’; is there any fuse at the bottom of the device? coz the 1st time I tried, the fuse got detached from the device, so the 2nd time I tried, i attached the fuse at the bottom.
Thanks Jan, really appreciate it if you cld help me.
does it work in the uk
Dear Riana,
There is no on/off switch. Just plug it straight into the cigarette lighter socket. If it doesn’t work, either the MP3 device or the socket is not working. The MP3 panel should light up if it is working. Any brand should work theoretically. I tested with several thumbdrives including Kingston, Toshiba (U3 type), LG, Dell (M-System), and they all worked fine. Pendrive should work too, unless you password protect it. Pendrive has two partitions, perhaps that’s why it doesn’t work, that’s why the sales lady said you should reformat it, but that would not remove the partitions. Check the PenDrive website, they may have some info about how to remove the partitions. Meantime, you could borrow a friends’ USB flash drive and test see. Thinking about it, there should not be any need to fiddle with the MP3 fuse (if there is one).
Dear Tanya,
If you got a car radio, a cigarette lighter socket, I don’t see why it shouldn’t work.
Hello, i just bought the same item for RM47 at PC fair in Kch today… I can’t seem to get it work on my Mercedes E220, i plug it into the cigratte plug and turn on the radio but no power was sent to the modulator… Anyone had the same prob as mine?
Dear Sean,
That’s really strange that it didn’t work. Unless the MP3 player is faulty, or your cigarette socket is faulty. I think you may need to push the MP3 FM Modulator harder into the socket ’cause the connectors may not be touching. I have to push mine in to make sure the power is supplied to the Red Fox MP3 player.
Yesterday just bought 1 at penang PISA PC fair at RM37 plus 8 CD-R, real price should be RM35, cos saw 1 stall selling at RM35. Mine 1 is ‘EDGE’ branded, but same as the picture u post. Got 1 month warranty, cos the seller said is made in China =.=;, got other model cost at RM68 to RM78, which claim sound quality is better with lesser distortion, can reader MS-PRO-DUO, but I decide buy this 1 for testing.
So i tested on MP3, WMA from apacer n kingtons pendrive up to 4GB. Tested 2GB SD card, oso tested on card reader, work good with MS-PRO-DUO on card reader, dunno SDHC can work if got proper card reader, card reader cost RM9.
only can display ABC, cannot display chinese character.
FM radio sound quality, work on all radio device which can reveive FM signal.
Got 5 band equalizer for sound.
Great product for wireless streamming of MP3 based on FM signal.
hmm thanks for the tips on the random fuction…. does anyone knows about the repeat function?
hey would you help on how do set a playlist so that the songs which are in the usb play accordingly?
Hello,
It’s nice to go through your webpage… I am a manager from INNO SUPPLY & SERVICES S/B
Which the company sole distributor of the Product of RedFox Modulator.This is our Office TEL: 03 80700674. If you are free please do contact me.
Since there is brand new product coming for The RedFox Modulator, we would like to share some info with you and your friends. ~~~ RedFox Bluetooth Modulator.
after 1 year my modulator getting bad sounds.. sometime make torn sound.. i pull to socket plug again and again but the result is there no stereo sound detect.. juussst a very soft sound can hear. i thought it was a modulator problem, or something to do with my flash disk.. any one can help me..?
Dear Agus,
I can only guess.
1) Our airwaves is getting very crowded. FM channels that used to be empty suddenly got a radio station which then clash with MP3 FM modulator device. Switch to another channel frequency. Nowadays very hard to find one very empty FM frequency which you can use throughout your traveling.
2) You device finally call it quits. You have to buy a new. It is getting cheaper nowadays with some new models coming out.
thx…….jan
HI,
Can anyone tell me how to use the repeat function.
I can’t find the button at the remote.
And thanks for the random function.
Great review. I still have issues with it though. It can read mp4 files or not? I ripped songs off a pirated CD and the file type turned out to be mpeg-4. Anyway, the FM modulator read my thumbdrive, but the songs can’t be heard.
Am I doing it right?
1. I plug the FM modulator into the socket.
2. Change the station channel on the modulator to the radio station that is on (say, Mix FM, 95.4)
3. Play?
I just don’t get it why the songs won’t be heard. Is it the thumbdrive problem? I formatted the pendrive before I plugged it in…
Dear Tom,
Sorry. I never tried the repeat button. Can’t test the remote now coz the button battery dead. Not planning to replace the battery for the remote. Didn’t find any need for it.
Dear Wei-Jan,
Nope. It will not work with MP4. Only MP3. There are some versions that can work with WMA but those cost more. Check your ripping software settings. eg in ITUNES you can set what format to convert.
1) Goto “Edit”
2) click “Preference”
3) click the “Advance” tab
4) then the “Importing” tab
5) change the “Import using” drop down list and select MP3 Encoder
6) Set your quality to High Quality 160kbps
7) Press “OK” and you are done.
Dear All,
I seem to have a problem with the Red Fox FM modulator. I’ve attached a 4GB Kingston thumbdrive to it and it works fine, generally.
What I don’t understand is that it tends to skip/ not read certain songs. All the songs are in MP3 format. Also, when I sometimes search for a song, the song number appears on the display, but then it skips to the next song. Or, the song in particular can only be played when the previous song concludes.
Does anyone else have this weird problem?
Btw, I only have around 400 songs on the thumbdrive, amounting to about 2.5GB.
thanks, and have a nice day.
prav.
Hi,
I just bought this device a few days ago. I found that the cigarette lighter socket heated up. Will it burn down my mp3 modulator? I am worried about it. I am not sure whether is because of get heated up, there are some ’sa..sa..’ sound appearing.