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More than one way to stream Bluetooth

by David Winograd Dec 20th 2009 at 4:00PM


Want an easy way to use the Bluetooth in your iPhone/iPod touch to stream music to your traditional stereo? The new Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver, announced this week, should do the job nicely. It's a little dongle that connects to your stereo either through a 3.5mm headphone jack or, using RCA cables, to the AUX inputs in the back of your system. It will remember half a dozen Bluetooth devices and let you stream music up to 33 feet away at a cost of $49.99 US.

Honestly, I didn't see the big deal, since I've been doing this for quite a long time using the now discontinued Griffin BlueTrip. The BlueTrip was made to stream Bluetooth audio from an iPod to a stereo using a dongle that plugs into the 30 pin connector adding BlueTooth to iPods that didn't have it built in. But what if you have an iPhone rather than an iPod? We've got you covered there, too -- read on.

[via Engaget]


Although the Griffin site clearly states that the BlueTrip will not work with any other devices than iPods, it's a lie. Both it and the little Belkin piece will work with any Bluetooth 2.0 enabled device. What Griffin doesn't tell you is that if you throw away the iPod dongle and pair your iPhone/iPod touch using the code: 0000, it'll work like a champ. I have two of these at home, originally bought to work with an iPod Classic, and made this discovery after buying an iPhone using the scientific method of just screwing around.

Here's the best part; I just bought another BlueTrip for $19.47 US including shipping on eBay. There are a lot of them for sale over there and bidding starts at under $10 US. I found some auctions with no bids, and a day later I won the auction as the only bidder.

As far as I can tell, the only differences between the two units are that the BlueTrip is larger, adds an optical connection, needs to be plugged into an A/C outlet and I don't know how many devices the BlueTrip remembers. Both need to be plugged into an AC outlet.

Currently the Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver is out of stock while the BlueTrips are plentiful.

Just don't tell Griffin I told you about it.

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Want an easy way to use the Bluetooth in your iPhone/iPod touch to stream music to your traditional stereo? The new Belkin Bluetooth...
 

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forumckw

David - Attempted a Twitter note to you with no success. I have two Griffin BlueTrips. Attempting to get support from Griffin, but I was hoping to see if you perhaps have run into my same issues. Here is what I am dealing with:

OS X 10.6.4

Issues I have observed:
- I can connect to the BlueTrip using the MBP initially (freshly power cycled both devices), however, once I power off the MBP (not sleep, in this case, although I suspect that is probably an issue also), and then attempt to reconnect with the Bluetrip, I must physically power cycle the Bluetrip.
- iPhone 3GS to Bluetrip connection seems better, i.e. I can connect/reconnect, however attempting to connect the MBP *and* the iPhone 3GS does not seem possible, although, would be very desirable in order to alternate between devices.

August 21 2010 at 12:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
macjedi

Got mine today. I'll post if anything unusual comes up.

December 24 2009 at 12:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
VDRUMPRO

There is a new buy it now listing on ebay for these if you search bluetrip, $30 including same day priority ship, with a 10% donation to toys for tots from each sale. It's more but it's from ebay so easy paypal--10 year seller.

There is also a setup video included specificly for iphones/ipod touch sent after purchase.

I have one for a while, SO FUN making the kids jump in the air with the ultimate remote fart machine.. fun for me to walk around listening to last.fm.. Works with most music apps too, but.. remember there's a latency with bluetooth, so no drumming.. but great for stuff like groovemaker, btbx, DB303 etc..

December 21 2009 at 12:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to VDRUMPRO's comment
macjedi

Just an FYI - icraveit.com takes PayPal - which is how I paid.

I have no connection or interest in icraveit.com. This is the first time I've ever done business with them in fact.

December 21 2009 at 10:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David Winograd

I bought mine from iCraveIt as well.
It took only two days to get here. It took me about 30 seconds to hook it up to a Bose Wave radio.

My only small problem is that since I have 3 BlueTrips now, there are 3 Bluetooth choices that all say 'Griffin BlueTrip Sink', and I have to remember which is which. It would be nice to be able to change the name of a Bluetooth device on the iPhone.

December 22 2009 at 6:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James

I have a Griffin that I bought for about $15 shipped but didn't realize that it wasn't designed to work with an iPhone.

I've hooked it up and tried to use the code '0000' '1234' '9999', none of which worked.

After reading this article I'll give it another try.

Are you using a 3GS or 3G iphone, mine is just the 3G version, I wonder if it makes a difference?

December 21 2009 at 12:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to James's comment
David Winograd

I'm using an iPhone 3GS.

December 21 2009 at 12:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James

It works!

I just tried it out using the code 0000 and in works great.

One thing I noticed is that it sends a line level out so you have no volume control from the iPhone. Not a big problem, but some tunes are much louder than others so you might want to have the remote for the stereo close at hand.

I hooked the Bluetrip up to a Mackie mixer through the 'tape in' RCA and I can see the levels on the board. One tune will average about -7db while another will average +6db.

I have sound check turned on but I don't know if that affects the line out or only the headphone out.

Anyway, I'm glad I found this article and gave the Bluetrip a second try.

Thanks.

December 22 2009 at 7:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

You don't see the big deal? How about the fact the BlueTrip requires a dongle EVERY TIME you want to use it, while the Belkin receiver uses the built-in bluetooth--No dongle required.

Pull the device out of your pocket and press play Vs find the dongle, connect the dongle, then play. You might as well say you don't see the big deal between wired and wireless. In one case you need to connect something and the other you don't.

December 21 2009 at 11:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Scott's comment
David Winograd

Please read it again carefully.
I stated that you can toss away the dongle since with an iPhone it's not needed.

December 21 2009 at 12:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
macjedi

Are you talking about the dongle (on the BlueTrip) that plugs in to the pre-5g iPods? Because, yes, if that's what you've got, you need a dongle. His article focused on iPhones and iTouches, which have built-in bluetooth and don't require the dongle. He's saying you can connect to the base without the dongle in this case.

"What Griffin doesn't tell you is that if you throw away the iPod dongle and pair your iPhone/iPod touch using the code: 0000, it'll work like a champ."

So I'm not sure what you are saying here about requiring a dongle every time you want to use it. ???

December 21 2009 at 12:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
macjedi

icraveit.com has them for $16.95 new - about $23 shipped via Priority Mail. Bought one and looking forward to trying it out. Thanks for the tip!

http://www.icraveit.com/i/item/10000576-11/search/Griffin-Technology-BlueTrip-Wireless-Bluetooth-Audio-for-iPod-4016-BLUET.html

December 21 2009 at 11:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
luka00

Is this the Bluetrip LE or the older gen. Bluetrip?

December 21 2009 at 7:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to luka00's comment
David Winograd

It's the older version as far as I can tell.

December 21 2009 at 11:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iain

ARRG!

The poor journalism on here really pisses me off.

In this case: Folk repeatedly asserting the belkin adapter needs no power adapter. Just cos they don't show one in the belkin-provided press shots!

Look here:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TY277LL/A

It needs a power adapter too!

December 21 2009 at 6:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to iain's comment
David Winograd

Corrected.
As I said in the story, I haven't seen one.

December 21 2009 at 11:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rudy

i'd rather get the belkin, its smaller, more portable and doesnt look like a brick

December 21 2009 at 3:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

Just bought one. $23 shipped, brand new. I hope the quality is up to par with my Bose Lifestyle system...

December 21 2009 at 1:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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