Bluetooth/car stereo/Android '?'

[Roger Rettig]

I have a 2009 Lincoln Town Car and, for the first time in years, I'm planning a long road-trip.

I sent off for a bluetooth gadget that's supposed to connect to my car's audio via the FM radio setting.

It doesn't.

Has anyone any wisdom to offer? I know this is a bit outside the parameters of this section but I'm hoping that someone can elucidate things for me.

Is what I'm attempting even possible (without buying a whole new car audio system)?

[Bill A. Moore]

I've used the cheap Onn units from Walmart that seem to work pretty well. Stream from your phone or plug a USB stick full of music, I think you can also hear your phone through the radio.
Have you connected your phone to stream Bluetooth before?

[Roger Rettig]

No, so this is uncharted territory.

We sent away for a plug-in Bluetooth adapter which claims to work through an FM channel. We couldn't get anywhere, though; we returned it and have sent for a different brand (they're only about $20) but I'm beginning to wonder if it can actually work.

I'd hoped to hear music-related blogs on my long drive.

[Larry Dering]

Did it ask you to tun to an unused station? Unless the transmitter says it converts Bluetooth to FM i can't see how it would work.

[Bill A. Moore]

Sometimes when pairing to a new device, you need to turn off your phones Bluetooth, and then back on. If it shows its connected, then verify the station frequency is correct. The couple I've had worked fine, although same fidelity as any radio station!

[Roger Rettig]

Thanks, guys!

We have another device coming. The previous one wouldn't allow us to scroll through the FM bands.

Hopefully, the next one will.

[Bill A. Moore]

There is usually only a short range of frequencies to tune to, but usually enough to bypass radio stations.