Friday, November 24, 2006

At last ITRIPS are legal in the UK... (phew)

Under the cover of darkness I and many others have been using an ITRIP - a device that is a FM transmitter that allows iPods and other MP3 players to play through car radios. A great bit of kit by all accounts. The reason for using it under the cover of darkness is that previously the use of a ITRIP has been illegal.

The devices fell foul of the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949, which forbids the use of radio equipment without a licence or an exemption. But strong consumer demand for the devices led Ofcom to rethink the legislation. As a result certain FM transmitters, which can be tuned to spare frequencies, will be legal from 8 December.