car tape/cd converter

[mazzywoo]

Hello. Has anyone used a device which converts an in-car tape cassette player into a CD/ipod player? It's shaped like a tape cassette and is supposed to be inserted into the tape deck and then the mobile device is plugged into it. We bought one, and connected a walkman cd player. It plays for a few seconds then spits the tape device out! What could we be doing wrong? Is it something fairly simple? We know people who have used this thingy sucessfully but it's so frustrating that we cannot get it to go in our car!
Thank you

[Catso]

This could be something to do with the tape player trying to detect the end of the tape. I know some players try to detect the tension in the tape to work out whether the end has been reached. There's a little nylon arm that rests against the tapoe, and when the tape pulls tight, it move the arm and trips the eject (or reverse). Have a look inside yuor tape player - if there is one, make sure your dummy tape isn't pushing against it.

BTW, I have to say IMHO these devices are cr4p, and you're wasting your time. They are just too flaky to use seriously. The alignment has to be exact, and as soon as you go over a bump, or knock the dummy tape, you lose the sound.

[mazzywoo]

Thanks for that Catso-we are going to get a cd player for the car-seems as if the tape device is useless!

[SpyWriter]

If you want to play an iPod through car stereo far better to use a device that sends signal to a radio frequency, best are the ones that hold the iPod and keep it charged.