On 9/4/04 10:29 AM, "Rocket J Squirrel" <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
wrote:

> We took our maiden camping trip a few days ago, and I brought a small
> inverter to power the laptop so we could watch DVD movies. But the
> tinny, puny  sound from the laptop's mighty 1'' speakers was
> underwhelming. I had recently installed a better stereo w/ CD changer
> and subwoofer into the 84 Westy and I found that I wished that it had
> spare inputs which the laptop could plug into, but alas, it was not so
> equipped. So I stopped at Target (a chain, sort of an upscale WalMart)
> to look for either powered speakers or maybe a couple of headsets to use
> with the laptop.
>
> While poking around the audio/video/computer accessories section, near
> the portable CD players, I found a very cool solution : a $19.99 FM
> modulator that plugs into the headphone jack of a CD player and converts
> it to a stereo radio signal that any FM tuner can receive. Looks kind of
> like a gray computer mouse, takes two AAA batteries, has a 7'' cord with
> a stereo 1/8'' plug on it -- which fits the headphone jack on a laptop.
>
> A switch on the side permits you to select between four possible FM
> frequencies, 88.1, 88.3, 88.7 and 88.9. You check these frequencies with
> your tuner and find one that does not already have a station on it, and
> set the FM modulator to transmit on that frequency.
>
> Worked like a charm!!! The FM signal had no trouble reaching the
> Vanagon's outside antenna. Suddenly we had great sound: almost like
> surround sound when seated on the rear seat with the Westy's cabinet
> speakers behind us; and with the subwoofer turned on, good bass effects,
> too.
>
> My wife thought I was a genius. I was pretty impressed, too. This one's
> a keeper.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 VW Type 2 / 84 Westy: A poor but proud race.
> KG6RCR
>
I have been doing the same thing with my computer but with one of those
cassette adapters that plugs into the stereo and then into a headphone jack
- for those who still have stereo cassettes.  Also worked great in my
friends fifth wheel stereo
Cory Sammons
84 Westy
99 New Beetle
Gardiner, NY