if you are here, chances are you are annoyed/frustrated with your FM transmitter and want to get more range out of it.

You can, and if you do things right. You will however - there's always a chance you could ruin things and basically turn your toy into a 30 dollar soldering experiment! That being said: Here's what you willl need:

  • a thin piece of wire
  • some pliers or snips
  • a solder
  • possible a mulitmeter.continuity tester
  • the will to perservere.

Once you have obtained these items, set down and take your Belkin FM transmitter apart.
I haven't seen instructions on the black version online before, but the white version instructions are pretty much the same. I'm including photos because the others didn't tell me about certain steps.

Step 1 - take the batteries out and unscrew the lone screw out of the back of the unit.
It will be under the inspection sticker.(You can click on all of these photos for larger versions)

Step 2 - Slowly pry the unit open. You are going to want to slowly open it up with a flathead screwdriver or knife.
When you pull it apart try to pull it straight apart. If  you notice on the below photo there's one piece that COULD snap off near the battery wires. Work slowly and avoid cursing.

 

 
this next portion is sort a tricky, there's another screw (see the above photo) its right up near where the wires come out.
Unscrew that one because you want to be able to reach the wires 'under' the area we are looking at.
Now, look at the photo below:
This is what you should be seeing. Yours SHOULD be just like this but if its not, here's where the multi meter comes in.
There will be 3 wires, two will be for the power. (+ , - ) and the other will be the antenna.
OR if it's just like this one and the white ones - it will say "ant" like I am pointing to with my screwdriver.

 

There's a few schools of thought here, I just opted for the easier and less risky method of clipping the antenna wire and then soldering my wire onto it. I've read that smaller wires do a better job so I got the smallest wire I could find.

You don't have to use a bayonet /utility knife but it looks good in pictures. After soldering this sucker

I went ahead and wrapped a piece of electrical tape over it.


congrats! You are almost all done. Again there's a few routes you can go.I went for the most basic method and routed the wire out through the 'top' . The wire sorta took up more space that wasn't there so I had to snip off a tab off of the bottom section in the above photo. It's around 4 oclock if you are following along at home. I just clipped it off.

We aren't trying to make these things waterproof, besides - you have a screw holding it together.

Below is the finished product! I blared tuns to our home stereo from the other end of the house. I think if I had used thinner gauge wire I might even get a better reception. The car reception imrpved somewhat, the truck reception was AWESOME. So now my commute is going to be great because I'll finally be able to hear my radio station!
Good luck. If you have any questions or comments email me area43.net at gmail.com.