1) First, make sure you're using the latest iPod software update from Apple. To find out what software version your iPod is running, select "Settings" from the main menu, then "About." Look for "Version." It needs to be at least version 2.1 for the new model iPod (dock connector on bottom), version 1.3 for the older model iPod (FireWire connector on top), or version 1.1 for the iPod mini. The iTrip WILL NOT work correctly otherwise. You can download free iPod software updates from Apple's website (http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/).
2) To do a soft reset of the iPod, connect the iTrip and make sure your iPod is sufficiently charged. If the battery is low, let the iPod charge for an hour and then try again. Depress the "MENU" button and the "PLAY/PAUSE" button at the same time until the Apple logo appears on the screen (if you're using the iPod mini, press the "MENU" and "SELECT"
buttons instead). This clears out the iPod of any weirdness that may be living in there. It will not, however, damage any weird music living in your iPod.
3) To retune your iTrip, find a radio station on your FM radio or receiver that does not have any other audio signal being played on it.
You should hear nothing but "white noise," "static," or "hiss". Turn the volume on the radio up loud enough that you can hear the hiss. If your radio picks up a signal on all 100 radio frequencies, the iTrip will not work for you. In fact, no FM transmission device will work for you in that scenario. However, there are very few places you can not use the iTrip. Even in areas with many radio stations broadcasting, you can usually find at least one available frequency. You can use our "iTrip Station Finder" (available on our
website:
<http://griffintechnology.com/software/softwar...>) to assist you, or you can just tune your radio until you find an empty frequency.
Once you've found the station that you want to use, navigate to the iTrip Stations playlist on your iPod. Scroll down to that station. You can select it by using the center "select" button or the "play" button.
After a few seconds, the light on the iTrip will start to flash very rapidly. At the same time, you will notice the progress bar on the screen as the "song" is playing. At this point, you have 3 seconds to push the "play/pause" button. This will stop the iPod from moving on to the next station file, and tells the iTrip that you want to use that station. The "song" will pause. If all goes well, then the blinking light will stop and you will get 3 slow flashes from the iTrip, followed by a steady red light.
(Note: One of the most common problems with the iTrip is that people are using the center "select" button to "pause" the station when you should be using the "play/pause" button to do this. You can use the "select"
button to choose the frequency, but once the iTrip station file starts to play, you'll need to use the "play/pause" button to stop the song from playing to the next frequency. Please be sure to keep this in mind when following the
instructions.)
At this point, the iTrip should be broadcasting at that frequency. The static or white noise should be gone on the radio. If all did not go well, then the iPod will go to the next station in line and flash rapidly there. This will continue until the you have either correctly activated the desired station by pressing the "play/pause" button or you have gone crazy with frustration. You can always menu back to the desired station and try again.
If the "song" does not want to "set" or "hold" (it keeps on going to the next station), make sure that the volume of the iPod is set to between 50-70% when playing the iTrip station file. Anything lower, and the iTrip will think the iPod is off and will go to sleep; anything higher, and the signal will distort, causing problems.
Now, press the "menu" button again to go back to your own music, and select a song to play. While the song is playing, adjust the volume on the iPod to between 50 - 70%. Do NOT use the iPod to increase the volume of the radio output; Use the radio volume knob to control the output volume of the radio. The volume of the iPod will depend on the type of music you are playing and how the music was recorded. If you are playing hardcore Rap, then the volume can be set a little lower then 70%. If you are playing a quiet piece of Bach, then you may need to bring it up to about 70% or 80%. You will find a "sweet spot" when you play around with the volume. Too much iPod volume will cause the audio to distort and make you listen to things like high pitch whines and crackles. While this is acceptable from the passengers in the car it is not desirable as an output from the iTrip.
For the latest and most up-to-date info about how to use the iTrip, please visit the Frequently Asked iTrip Questions section of our
website: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/faq.html
