Stereo Repeater - Play music from one boat on other boats

[h_gerry]

I am wondering if anyone can help me track this down. Recently I either received an email or saw an add in a boating magazine about a repeater that can be installed on your boat so your stereo system can play the music from another boat's system. When I saw it I thought it would be a great idea for raft ups and wanted to look at it when I had more time to review it, but now I cannot find it! :smt021 I cant remember if it was an email from the boat magazine publishers, AIM Media or Bonnier, or in one of the boat magazines itself. I tried searching for it, but I cant locate it. Unfortunately, I don't remember the manufacturer or the model name. :smt021 It was a rectangular black box in the picture and I think it was $149 :grin: Did anyone get this email or see this device??:smt100

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

Wet Sounds wireless A-Link allows for a single transmitter source to broadcast to multiple systems. Main transmitter becomes the DJ's boat. https://wetsounds.com/pages/products/WS-A-LINK

 

[Carbo]

Google Chromecast Audio. Costs about $35, only drawback is one of the boats has to have wifi or act as a hotspot and use data. works real well for what you're trying to do. we have 10 boats that bump up and use them.

 

[importmonkey]

Or you could all tune to the same radio station. Just sayin'.

That wetsounds looks pretty sweet...even with the dirty name.

 

[Stee6043]

Based on the research I've done I believe the "best" way to accomplish this with strong range and without delay/lag is with FM.

This is the direction I was heading:

https://www.amazon.com/0-5-Fail-Saf...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8BQBN1V37XEFW5SJFHYB

Note that these types of transmitters are technically not legal to operate at high power. But I also assume enforcement is far more likely for folks trying to run actual radio stations from their homes vs sharing tunes on weekends while floating.

 

[TheWolfTC]

I know that Jl Audio makes a unit like this. I have seen it used on a couple of different applications including Marine. E.X. Our local audio store installed the main unit in a truck that was pulling a trailer in a parade. The trailer had speaker's powered on it as well as 2 Arctic cat side by sides that were moving around the parade route in proximity to the main vehicle. All 4 locations had the same exact music playing without delay from a bluetooth connected smartphone.

I don't recall the model number for it, but you could connect with Swift Audio in Elk Rapids MI. on Facebook and he could steer you in the right direction.

 

[HUMPH]

Interesting stuff! It would be great to have this ability while out with our group. It's sometimes tough to have enough room to get everyone in or around the boat playing music and we don't want to "compete" by playing different music.
On another note (slight hijack), I have an Alpine head unit and need to expand the Bluetooth range. I must keep my mobile device within the cabin or I lose connection. Any advice on an extender, even a hard wired one? Since there are a number of knowledgeable audiophiles on this thread, I thought I should ask.

 

[ASH]

Save your money.......It is cool for about 1 day, then your buddies realize they like their own music a little better than yours......We used to try it years ago and the delay was enough to drive you crazy!!!!

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

the delay was enough to drive you crazy!!!!

We are not hearing of any delay with the Wet Sounds A-Link

 

[All's Well]

Ever try the tune mob app?

 

[Stee6043]

Save your money.......It is cool for about 1 day, then your buddies realize they like their own music a little better than yours......We used to try it years ago and the delay was enough to drive you crazy!!!!

We have a "large" raft up each year with hundreds of boats with one guy broadcasting over FM. There is no perceptible delay unless it's being caused by a specific boat having some kind of processing going on. I think the delay issue comes more from lower-end non-FM based repeaters and their associated processing time.

 

[h_gerry]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will look into each one and get input from my fellows rafters.

Ken, one thought I have is to locate and possibly relocate your Bluetooth receiver. The one on my boat is located at the stereo which is situated just inside the cabin ( virtually under the helm ) so it reaches the cockpit fine. If yours is buried deep in the cabin or inside panels, etc., it may be blocking the signal.