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Find the Best FM Frequencies for Your Car Transmitter
Unless you live in a rural area, you may need help finding a clear frequency
By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on November 17, 2021 Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Connected Car Tech Android Auto Apple CarPlay Navigation What to Know
Set your FM transmitter to broadcast on 89.9 FM, then tune your radio to that frequency.If you experience FM interference, use an app like ClearFM to find an open frequency based on your location.To use an FM transmitter to play music from a mobile device, you must find a frequency free of interference. This article explains how to find the best FM frequencies for your car's transmitter. Instructions apply to all FM transmitters compatible with mobile devices. FM Interference and How FM Tuners Work
FM transmitters are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to listen to your mobile device's music on your car stereo, but they have one big drawback: FM interference. To use them properly, you have to find a frequency free of interference. This process is simple if you live in a rural area where there isn't much competition for radio frequencies. However, if you live in a city, finding a clear frequency is harder. FM transmitters work like tiny radios, broadcasting audio from your iPhone or mobile music player over a standard FM frequency that you tune in on your car stereo. Set the transmitter to broadcast on 89.9 FM, tune your radio to that frequency, and you should hear your music. The transmitters are weak and can only broadcast a few feet. This is both good and bad. It's good because you don't want a transmitter in the car next to you on the highway to override your signal. It's bad because weak signals are vulnerable to interference. If there's a radio station broadcasting on the frequency you choose, it will likely prevent you from hearing your music. The interference can even happen at nearby frequencies. For example, a radio station on 89.9 can make 89.7 and 90.1 unusable for transmitter audio, too. Finding interference-free frequencies isn't that hard when you're stationary, but in a moving car, the frequencies that work well with FM transmitters constantly change as you drive. Francesco Marino / Getty Images Tools to Find Open FM Frequencies
The three tools listed below can help you find open FM frequencies to use with your FM transmitter wherever you are, based on your location and their databases of open channels. Use them when traveling to find a frequency for your music. ClearFM: You can download ClearFM from the App Store. This free iOS app uses the GPS features on your iPhone to determine your location and give you the best open frequencies in your current area. The simplicity of one-touch searching and the performance of an app, combined with not needing to visit a website, make this an appealing option. Radio-Locator: The Radio-Locator website can help you find open signals by city, state, and ZIP code. If you visit it on your smartphone, it can use your smartphone's GPS to determine your exact location and suggest stations based on where you are. SiriusXM Channel Finder: SiriusXM satellite radio maintains the FM Channel Finder website for owners of the company's portable and otherwise not-in-dash radios. You don't have to have a satellite radio to use it, though. Just enter your ZIP code, and the site offers five suggestions for clear frequencies near you. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Listen to an iPod in a Car How to Watch the NBA Finals Livestream (2023) 5 Ways to Get the Most out of Your FM Transmitter Criacr Bluetooth FM Transmitter CP24 Review: Compact but Flawed The 6 Best iPhone FM Transmitters for Your Car, Tested by Experts Here's Why You Have Bad Radio Reception How to Improve FM Antenna Reception The 9 Best Free Music Streaming Apps for iOS and Android (2022) How to Use an MP3 Player in Your Car How Are 4G and 5G Different? Nulaxy KM18 Bluetooth Car FM Transmitter Review: A Solid Choice from the Previous Generation How to Listen to Pandora in Your Car 14 Best Places to Listen to Free Music Online How to Listen to Internet Radio The 11 Best Internet Radio Stations of 2022 How to Find a Hidden GPS Tracker on Your Car Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies