Aerielle AudioBUG RF Transmitter

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

June 16, 2003

Product Requirements:
Device:
An audio device with a 3.5mm stereo headset jack

I have a satellite radio receiver installed in my vehicle, but there are still times when I want to listen to the MP3s I have stored on my PDA. My new truck (I just got a 2003 Harley Davidson edition F-150) does not have a built in cassette player, so using a traditional cassette adapter is not even an option for me - not that I would if I could. There is something that speaks to my inner geek when I am able to wirelessly transmit my tunes through my vehicle's sound system. Obviously, what is need to accomplish this is a gadget that uses an FM frequency to broadcast my audio device's output.

I recently had the opportunity to put such a gadget, the Aerielle AudioBUG, through its paces.

As I looked at the AudioBUG for the first time, I thought that it might have been more appropriate for the makers to name it the "audioMOUSE", as that is what its shape made me think of. But I suppose someone else would look at it and be reminded of the ladybug in the Aerielle site pictures. Whatever it is that this little gem reminds you of, the important thing is how easy it is to use and how well it performs its duties.

Using the AudioBUG is certainly easy enough. There are four slots on the side to which you can slide the plastic lever - each indicating a different setting on the lower end of the FM dial (88.1, 88.3, 88.5, and 88.7 MHz). Remember that I live in a smaller city, so only having four presets is not much of an issue for me. Well...I actually only have three, because my satellite uses 88.5 to broadcast over, but I digress.

If you live in a larger city, one that has lots of stations on the lower end of the FM dial, then only having four choices may be a major issue for you.

Once you have chosen a frequency, you then tune the FM receiver you will be broadcasting over to the same setting. The 3.5mm plug is then inserted into the jack on your portable  PDA, MP3, CD or DVD player, you press the power button (or left "eye") of the bug, and then voilą! you are in business.

I tested the AudioBUG's signal in my truck, and was pleased to find that I could get good clear playback from anywhere in the super-crew's cab. This means that if my daughter is watching a DVD in the backseat that I would like to play over the truck's sound system for her, I can with no problem.

The literature that I received with the AudioBUG says that the CR2 Lithium battery that it comes with will last 40+ hours. I find that exceptional! The only problem that I can foresee is that when we are on long road trips, if the battery were to die, it would not be a simple matter of running into any mom or pop's convenience store to replace.

Additionally, the literature says that if "after more than 80 seconds there is no detection of audio, the AudioBUG will turn off." This is an excellent feature, one that the other FM transmitters I have reviewed did not have. The only problem is that without any kind of LCD light to tell me that the bug is off, I really don't know that it is...which kind of annoys me in a way I can't quite explain.

One thing that I found surprising, as I was testing out the sound quality of the AudioBUG, was that it seemed as if it transmitted cleaner and louder than the other RF devices I have previously reviewed. While as with all devices of this nature a little bit of sound quality was lost in the broadcasting, it didn't seem to be as much. I also didn't have to crank my volume knob up as high to compensate.

Overall, I am very impressed with the performance of the AudioBUG. It is cute, does what it says it will do, and is easy to operate.

Price: $39.95

Pros:
Auto off after 80 seconds of no signal or when audio source is turned off
Uses a CR2 Lithium battery - offers longer battery life in smaller form factor
Very small and "cute"
Excellent range with little distortion

Cons:
Expensive
No LED light to indicate power on/off status
Uses CR2 Lithium battery - will be hard to find at convenience stores while on a trip
Choice of only four FM frequencies