The title says it all. GF has her b-day coming up and her car doesn't have a tape deck, so she will need an FM Transmitter. What should I get her? I see lots of models out there. Ideally, I would want one that connects to the iPod and charges it, and would also be able to transmit on multiple frequencies, as she spends plenty of time between Toronto and Windsor, so a set frequency that works in one city may not work in another.

Get one that fits the car, seriously. I've had a few that just don't fit my car- unit is too big for the location of the cig lighter, or the head unit faces the wrong way from the accessory outlet and can't be read etc. It's really a crapshoot what works where in what car, TO is a challenge because there is something on every frequency.

Has anyone had any success stories that they can share about good units they got recently then?

The white ones from Cdn Tire that are always on sale are quite good and very cheap. They all have issues if you live in an area with a lot of FM stations but the Cdn Tire ones are as good as any and far cheaper.

Are there none that let you choose what frequency you want? Do some pump out more juice than others? I would think those would be the two most important factors, no?

Personally I've found the simple white ones at CT that only have 5 bands to be the strongest of them all so they work well enough for me as they don't conflict with local stations running at 88.1 etc. Different markets may be different but at least with CT if it doesn't work just return it.

This is the one I use daily. Just don't pay full price for it (or anything at CT!)

Digipower iPod Navigator | Canadian Tire (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoSafetySecurity/AutoElectronics/PRD~0374465P/Digipower+iPod+Navigator.jsp?locale=en)

Griffin iTrip. Won't charge (not the model I have) but it has three frequency choices and works with any iOS device anywhere in the car.

I just use an extension cord to plug the iPad into the FM transmitter when the kids want to watch a movie on it in the back seat. i've had ours playing music in my car and the car in front of me traveling down the road.

I use the 2006 iTrip. Works quite well with my iPhone 4, barely worked with my iPod Nanos. Of the transmitters that have worked ok, none work downtown TO.

The white ones from Cdn Tire that are always on sale are quite good and very cheap. They all have issues if you live in an area with a lot of FM stations but the Cdn Tire ones are as good as any and far cheaper.

That's the one I use, only mine is black. The white ones are more common. I don't have any of the problems that people always complain about with the fm transmitters and we have a couple FM stations right in it's range but it is god enough to block them out. Definately wait until they are on sale.

Are the black ones also from DigiPower? I thought those were from a different company and the one I tried wasn't as good as the basic 4 station white one from Digipower.