FM Stereo Modulator: An Extension Of Perception

To many of us, music on the go holds a special significance and the human mind was searching for an alternative that would go beyond the Satellite radio, the cassette or the CD player; the FM stereo modulator thus came to rescue as a device with the promise to play the plug-and-play Satellite radio receiver through a FM stereo system installed inside a car. But that's just a part of the story; a FM stereo modulator is also capable of playing other digital audio devices, for example, the iPod, compact discs and magnetic device players.

The FM modulator, though a quicker and simpler way to get a plug-and-play Satellite radio receiver working in a vehicle, was kept a second choice during its initial days to audio cassette adaptors. This was primarily because of a poorer sound quality and the device, also known as a FM transmitter, stood as a backup when the others failed; at the most, they provided a replacement for the cassette player installed in a vehicle.

The people who gained the most out of a FM stereo modulator are the ardent Satellite radio listeners; surveys proved that they have experienced and continue experiencing good reception when they used a FM stereo modulator. The de-graded audio quality that people usually complaint about doesn't occur on a frequent basis and it also depends on how well the Satellite radio receiver is catching the signals. And that inevitably brings forth the question: How the FM Stereo Modulator functions?

Simply put, a FM modulator converts audio signals from a plug-and-play receiver into FM signals. The converted signal is then transmitted using a free FM frequency and conveyed to the listener who selects the frequency by using a tuner.

A FM stereo modulator can either be of a wireless variety or can be hardwired; while the former type comprises a built-in power adaptor meant to be plugged in either to the cigarette lighter socket or the docking station/cradle housing the plug-and-play receiver (if the receiver doesn't allow direct plugging). It is the wireless modulator that users consider more convenient; it is also easier to install and configure. The only drawback with a wireless FM stereo modulator is it broadcasts for very short-ranges; the signals fade readily over an extensive range and also catches interference more if compared to a hardwired FM modulator, which fits in snugly between a vehicle's stereo unit and antenna. This type of a FM stereo modulator is directly connected to the FM antenna socket and provides a better frequency response, thus improving the signals by cutting out the interferences and chances of fading.

The recent FM stereo modulator design has been named, as the revD FM Stereo Modulator after its circuit; the new circuit has been designed to eliminate the fading effect by stopping the transistors' DC bias from changing with the gain.