FM radio is one of the most popular ways to listen to music. It has been around for many years and still provides a great way to enjoy your favorite tunes.
However, how do you connect it with a Bluetooth headset? The answer is quite simple. All you need is an adapter or FM transmitter that can connect your FM radio with your Bluetooth headset.
When you want to listen to the FM radio in your car or during working time, what are your options? You can either purchase a new car with built-in Bluetooth technology, or you could buy an FM transmitter. But how do these devices work?
An FM transmitter is designed for people who want to play their stereo music through their vehicle’s speakers. However, this will only work if they have a wireless Bluetooth headset compatible with the device.
This article provides information on how to connect FM radio with a Bluetooth headset!
How to Use FM Radio with Bluetooth Headset?
To use an FM radio with a Bluetooth headset, you need to pair the two devices. Here’s how it’s done:
- Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings.
- Set the device turned on with “pairing mode” (for specific instructions, please refer to the manual).
- When you find a nearby Bluetooth device, select the name of your Bluetooth headset to initiate pairing.
- Your phone should automatically open the FM radio and start playing.
Note: Your phone should support the A2DP profile. This is usually found in high-end phones. Mid-range phones do not have this feature.
- If you want to play FM radio without your phone’s sound, close the Bluetooth settings on your phone.
- Some phones apply higher power consumption for Bluetooth, so the battery may drain faster when it is turned on.
Please note that this will only work if your headset supports receiving audio through A2DP. This includes most Bluetooth headsets with stereo support. Also, more advanced phones are required for this sort of integration.
How to Use FM Radio with Car Stereo?
To use FM radio on your car stereo, you’ll need to set it up to be compatible with an auxiliary input. This varies greatly depending on the model of your car stereo.
- On some devices, you can find a setting that says “FM modulator” or something similar.
- If your device doesn’t have an FM modulator, you’ll need to get an FM Modulator/Transmitter for your Car Stereo.
With the correct setup, you should use the FM radio on your phone through your car stereo.
Note: This feature is designed for compatible devices only. For various reasons, not all phones support this feature.
Can you Listen to Radio with Wireless Headphones?
Yes, you can listen to the radio using wireless headphones. The wireless headphone function is mainly based on the Radio Frequency (RF).
RF uses several different methods to transmit the data from your audio device to your headphones, including Bluetooth, RF, and infrared, among others.
Radio Frequency (RF) or radio waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation used to send information and data through the air.
You can think of RF as a bunch of tiny telephone cables that transmit signals at high speeds and over long distances.
How can Wireless Headphones Work with Radio?
RF can pass through walls, concrete, and even water; this means that it can easily pass through headphones.
The headphone will receive the signal from a transmitter and pass it on to your audio device to play through the speakers.
Wireless headphones require a power source, which is usually in batteries or an outlet because RF emits radio waves that need to be converted into sound waves by a speaker for people to hear them.
In simple terms, wireless headphones receive radio waves and convert them into sound.
How can I play FM radio on my Bluetooth headset?
FM radio is not directly supported by the FM chip included in most phones and headsets.
However, you can use a free app like TuneIn Radio and play your favorite stations over your Bluetooth headset using your phone as an antenna (just like those old-fashioned car radios).
Essentially, you will need to create a Bluetooth hotspot on your phone and select it when you stream to your Bluetooth headset.
Note that this does not work with all phone/headset combinations, and there are some things to consider when using it:
1. TuneIn Radio limits the number of hours you can use the app for free, but if you upgrade to a paid account through an in-app purchase (or purchase the TuneIn Pro app), you can listen for free.
2. You cannot use your phone to make calls while streaming over FM – you will have to decline the call and hang up after dropping the connection with your headset. Again, this might be a problem depending on your circumstances, so use this with caution.
3. Some headsets have a power save mode that will drop your phone’s connection if the headset does not detect any audio for too long. You can usually disable this feature in your headset’s settings, but you should consider it before setting up an FM Bluetooth hotspot.
4. TuneIn Radio has ads that you hear every few songs or which play before a song. You can disable ad-supported stations in TuneIn Radio’s settings to limit the ads you hear, but then you will have to pay for an upgrade through an in-app purchase if you want to listen without ads.
5. Some headsets have difficulty maintaining a solid connection with your phone when they are further than 30 feet/10 meters away. This is normal and can happen with any Bluetooth connection. If this is a problem, try moving your phone closer to your headset or use one of the FM transmitter boxes that plug into your car’s cigarette lighter.
6. TuneIn Radio uses quite a bit of data (about 1MB per hour at mid-quality and 2MB per hour at high quality). If you use too much data, your cell phone company might charge you. To minimize the amount of data TuneIn Radio uses, adjust your playback quality settings in the app.
With everything considered, it is still a very convenient way to stream FM radio stations over Bluetooth while driving or when you can’t get a good FM signal.
How Do Wireless Headphones Work with Radio?
If you’ve ever browsed for wireless headphones, you may have wondered how they can transmit audio through the air without needing a cord.
Wireless headphones use radio frequencies to send audio from a source, such as your television or smartphone to the headphones themselves.
A headphone’s transmitter receives signals from a device and transforms them into radio waves. A headphone’s receiver is the device that picks up these radio waves and turns them back into sound.
Why Are Radio Frequencies Used?
Radio frequencies are the ideal way to send wireless signals because they travel through most types of matter, don’t require line-of-sight like optical transmission, can pass through walls, and don’t require direct contact with devices.
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves transmitted as a series of modulated pulses at a frequency on the order of millions or billions of cycles per second, depending on their use.
How Are Radio Waves Produced?
A radio wave consists of an electrical field and a magnetic field traveling together through free space. When an electrical charge moves concerning a magnetic field, it creates radio waves. This is how most wireless headphones send signals to the receiver.
The signal source alternates between sending positive and negative charges, making waves that travel away from the device like ripples on the water’s surface.
How Are Radio Frequencies Measured?
Radio frequencies are measured in hertz, with 1 Hz being one cycle per second. To determine the frequency of a radio wave, multiply the number of times the signal changes direction by its frequency.
For example, a radio wave that alternates between positive and negative charges 50 times per second has a frequency of 50 Hz. Radio waves can also be measured in megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz). One MHz is 1 million Hz, while one GHz is 1 billion Hz.
How Are Radio Frequencies Bandwidth?
The bandwidth of a radiofrequency refers to the range of frequencies it can access. For wireless headphones, the transmitters and receivers need to be within the same bandwidth to communicate. The larger the bandwidth, the more data can be packed into a signal.
A narrowband radiofrequency has a small bandwidth and thus transfers less information than a broadband frequency.
How to Connect FM Radio with Bluetooth Headset?
Nowadays, FM Radio has become a part of our mobile phones as well as Bluetooth headsets.
We can enjoy the FM Radio through a Bluetooth headset without any wire connection. But sometimes we cannot hear FM Radio properly due to disconnection between the earplug pin and mobile phone.
To solve this problem, you have to connect your Bluetooth headset with FM Radio to enjoy the music.
Here are some easy steps to connect FM Radio with a Bluetooth headset:
1. Take out the FM antenna wire from the mobile phone.
2. Now, without any wire connection between your mobile phone and Bluetooth headset, turn on the Bluetooth of both devices, i.e., your mobile phone and Bluetooth headset.
3. Connect FM Radio with a Bluetooth headset using wire and select the channel by tuning the headphone. You can also create a group of different channels so that you can switch between other FM stations. This is an easy method to connect FM radio with Bluetooth Headset.
Now, enjoy your favorite melody on FM Radio with a Bluetooth headset.
How to Connect Bluetooth Headset to Mobile Radio?
You’ll need a Bluetooth headset. This article assumes that your Bluetooth headset is already paired with the mobile radio. If it’s not, refer to your manual on how to pair them together.
1. Determine which port of the radio
Determine which port of the radio you’d like to connect your Bluetooth headset. There are two possibilities; either 1 or 2. If you’re uncertain which port is which, plug something into them both and take note of the behavior.
2. Connect your Bluetooth Headset to Port 1
The first option is to connect your Bluetooth headset to Port 1, then use one of two available adapters to convert this signal into a male TRS connector – the same kind used in the headphone jack for your phone computer, etc.
3. Connect your Bluetooth Headset to Port 2
The second option is to connect your Bluetooth headset to Port 2, then use a straightforward adapter that converts the port from TRS to single-ended. This can be easily made yourself (here’s an example) or purchased as well.
This can only be used for radios with a specified 2.5mm auxiliary connector, like Kenwoods.
4. Purchased an adapter
Once you’ve chosen your port and made or purchased an adapter, plug your Bluetooth headset into the corresponding port.
5. Choose a program
Now choose a program to use with the radio, most people prefer Chirp. If you don’t have it already, you should download it. Load it up and configure it to your radio of choice.
6. Configure Chirp
To configure Chirp, you’ll need some programming cable for the radio. The most popular ones are the USB-K4Y cable made by RT Systems, which will work with Baofengs and Quanshengs, or Kenwoods.
In addition, the RS-UV3 line is made by Kenwood, which will work with Kenwoods, and the CP2102 cable, which can be used with Quanshengs.
If you’re unsure which of these cables to get, check out the RT Systems website – they make all three!
7. Make a New Radio Configuration File
Once Chirp is paired up with your radio, click “Radio” from the menu bar, then select “Make a New Radio Configuration File.” Please give it a name and remember where you saved it.
Next, click “Connect” from the menu bar to connect your radio with Chirp, as shown.
8. Configure Kenwood-style
The first thing you’ll need to do is configure Kenwood-style CI-V commands. For this, you’ll need to look up the radio’s settings.
9. Read From Radio
If you’ve completed steps 8 and 9 listed above, click “Read From Radio” from the menu bar. Chirp will read all of your radio’s configuration settings into its list.
10. Write to Radio
Now that Chirp has all of your radio’s settings click “Write to Radio” from the menu bar.
This will write your changes back to your radio so you can use it with Bluetooth. One thing remains – we need to set up the Bluetooth connection to work with your radio.
11. Bluetooth program
For this, you’ll need a Bluetooth program, and the most popular is a piece of freeware called R-JAD file transfer protocol.
Once installed, load it up and ensure the correct COM port is selected from the dropdown menu in the top left corner.
Next, you’ll need to pair your radio with a Bluetooth device.
12. Receive Files
Once paired, open up R-JAD and click “Receive Files.” The box next to “Filename” will auto-fill with a random numerical filename.
Change this to something like BT-0731 and click “Receive.” A popup will appear saying that your radio is connected – click “Ok” to continue.
Now, any audio files sent to your Bluetooth headset device should play through your radio’s speaker!
13. If you’re using the TRRS-TRS cable
If you’re using the TRRS-TRS cable, be sure to follow these next few steps regarding audio levels.
First, set your radio to receive audio with ALC.
Second, adjust the volume on your speaker so you can hear it during quiet parts of songs, but not so high that you blow out people’s ears when they call in!
Next, change the Aux volume on Chirp to roughly 75%. Finally, set the Aux volume on your Bluetooth device to 100%. If the audio is too loud or low, check your levels with a screwdriver!
Conclusion
We hope you found this article helpful to find out how FM radio can be connected with Bluetooth headsets.
These two devices work together in different ways, so if you’ve been looking for an answer about how they interact, we hope that now you know!
As always, feel free to reach out via social media or email if any other questions or topics interest you.
