FM Transmitters in Germany

[Mani Ram]

I'm thinking of asking my friend to get an iTrip for me from Germany. Just wanted to check whether the sale of such FM transmitter equipment is prohibited in Germany or not (I heard that it is prohibited in UK). Any ideas?

[Helen Thomas]

I'm all for wearing an iPatch on an iTrip playing a pirated iTune on my iPod.
Arrrrrrrr!

[Axel Janssen]

Originally posted by Mani Ram:
I'm thinking of asking my friend to get an iTrip for me from Germany. Just wanted to check whether the sale of such FM transmitter equipment is prohibited in Germany or not (I heard that it is prohibited in UK). Any ideas?

I have no idea what you are talking about, but I am going to ask in a local forum.

[Mani Ram]

Originally posted by Axel Janssen:


I have no idea what you are talking about,

Hope you know about iPod - a much hyped product from Apple, for listening to music. iTrip is an accessory for iPod, which can transmit the songs from iPod in FM mode. That way, I can use the iPod in my car with my FM radio receiver.
The problem is that some countries (like UK) prohibit the sale of FM transmitters. I'm not sure about the related rules in Germany. Hence this question.

Originally posted by Axel Janssen:
but I am going to ask in a local forum.

Thanks a lot for that. Very nice of you

[Axel Janssen]

discussion of local experts seems to head in a direction that you can buy it, but it is not allowed to use it.
Often here you can buy things and they are in regular shops, but its not allowed to use them.
[ October 26, 2004: Message edited by: Axel Janssen ]

[Axel Janssen]

Apple Germany sells them online.
So it must be allowed.

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/germanstore?family=iPod
Good, cheap and not too exploitive to their employees is shop called "Saturn". Should exist in all major cities.
[ October 26, 2004: Message edited by: Axel Janssen ]

[Jeroen Wenting]

Sales of radio transmitters in Europe is generally allowed as long as the range is extremely limited (no more than a few meters) and specific bands only are used.

This device would probably be allowed under the first and banned under the second provision.

Exception are people holding a radio telephony license of course.

iTrip isn't mentioned on Apple's German website btw. probably for that reason.

[Axel Janssen]

iTrip transmits over VHF thats why its prohibited in a lot of countries without having special authorization to run radio station (the law doesn't care that iTrip only covers 5 meter radius).

Its prohibited to use, but its ok to own one. People on this board reported that people sell iTrip on ebay and even in regular stores, though small ones.
http://www.apfeltalk.de/archive/index.php/t-5142.html
[ October 26, 2004: Message edited by: Axel Janssen ]

[Helen Thomas]

iWitness. (that's a book actually, of suffering) very iBrow.

[Helen Thomas]

Are there equivalents of these i-musthaves for humble PC users ?

I'd like to know of alternatives to Garageband for PCs.

It's odd that shops in Germany sell stuff that is illegal to use.
Do they wait for people to make a complaint before it really is illegal to use?
[ October 27, 2004: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]