Belkin TuneStage for iPod Review - Part 2

Article Index
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3

What’s Included

  • TuneStage Bluetooth Transmitter for iPod
  • TuneStage Bluetooth Receiver
  • 12V/1A AC Power Adapter
  • 7 Ft. RCA Stereo Cable
  • User Manual

Features

  • Bluetooth A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
  • Low Power Consumption
  • Extended Range
  • Plug and Play Installation
  • LED Display
  • Gold Series 3.5mm to 2 RCA Stereo Cable

Installation and Pairing

With plug-and-play technology setup is a breeze—there's no software to install and nothing to adjust on your iPod. Right out of the box, setting up the Belkin TuneStage took less than 5 minutes. The hardest part was making sure we set the stereo to the right input channel so we could actually hear the music playing. Belkin Tunestage Box

The first step involves plugging the AC-powered TuneStage Receiver (It is the size of a paperback) into your home stereo system. The receiver has two analog outputs including 2xRCA jacks and a 3.5mm mini-jack stereo connection. Next, snap the tiny matchbook-sized TuneStage Transmitter into the headphone and remote jacks on the top edge of your iPod (We should note that the transmitter is compatible only with the iPod mini, 3G, 4G and photo models. However, Belkin has informed BlueTomorrow.com that they will be introducing a TuneStage II, which will work with all iPods offering a dock connector including the nano and video models. TuneStage II is scheduled to be available later in 2006).

Lastly, press the power button on the receiver and watch the blue LEDs on the transmitter and receiver to determine when they have paired together (Pairing occurs automatically). When paired, the receiver’s LED will remain solid blue, and when unpaired, the LED will flash blue. As far as setup is concerned, that's it: now you can use your iPod as you normally would.

iPod with Belkin TuneStage Transmitter

We at BlueTomorrow.com, being the total Bluetooth junkies we are, took pairing to the next level. Our goal was to pair a laptop with the TuneStage Receiver using a Bluetooth USB adapter. We wanted to be able to stream the digital music stored on our laptop to the TuneStage Receiver. We figured since we were using a Bluetooth adapter featuring A2DP, this would have been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

When we tried to pair the laptop, our computer’s Bluetooth application prompted us for a passkey. Thinking it would be the standard Bluetooth passkey, we tried 0000. When that didn’t work, we consulted the user manual. However, nowhere in the manual was there any mention of a passkey.

Belkin needs to include this information, regardless of the fact that the TuneStage is primarily intended for use with the included iPod transmitter. After speaking with many representatives from Belkin’s Customer Support, we finally figured out the passkey, which is 1111. Hopefully this information will assist some other TuneStage user because we spent entirely too much time figuring out what should have been an easy answer. This is our only major gripe about the TuneStage.



Comments
Add New
Administrator  - Passkey clarification   |December 31, 2009, 01:13 AM
Please see Jack\'s comment below providing clarification on the
device\'s documented passkey. Thanks Jack! We must have overlooked that
detail.
Jack   |December 29, 2009, 09:01 AM
Just thought I'd point out it does say the passcode on the box, under
specifications ;0
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