Thoughts on FM transmitter vs streaming the audio through a website?

I stuck with FM for my yard display and never looked back. Ran a wholecaster-style unit from the driveway edge, and the biggest thing I learned is that the QR route falls apart the moment it gets cold. Last December folks were sitting in running cars with the heater on, windows half up, and nobody wanted to pull out a phone, find the page, and keep it awake for a ten minute sequence. The radio button got used by every single car, including my next door neighbor's grandpa who still flips phones.

I've been running the QR webpage setup for three seasons now and honestly it turned into the thing people comment on most. My situation is a bit diffrent from what's been described here, since my crowd is mostly families with kids who already have a phone in hand for taking videos anyway. The scanning part turned out to be a non-issue. What acutally made it work was printing the QR code on a lit sign, just a lightbox from the hardware store with a strip of LED tape behind an acrylic panel. In the dark that thing is unmissable, and people scan it without even slowing down.

The trick I'd suggest if you go this route is putting a plain short web address right under the code, something you can say out loud. About one visitor in ten won't scan anything but will happily type four easy words into a browser. That covers the grandparents riding along who were never going to point a camera at anything. Where the webpage really earns its keep for me is late season. When I added a donation jar replacement link, it paid for my extension cords and then some. I never got that working with a radio setup, obviously, since there's nowhere to hang a link on an FM dial. I'd say run both signs if you can. The transmitter costs next to nothing as a backup, and having the option on the sign means nobody leaves your driveway annoyed either way.

I completley agree with the point made about the QR code becoming a nuisance in the winter. It's just not practical for anyone who is driving through and wants to keep thier hands on the wheel. I ran a test last year and found that the FM signal consistency is way more reliable for the audience. Specifically, I noticed the frequency held steady even when running the booster from a long cable setup, so I never had to worry about a signal drop while a car was passing by.

You need to pay close attention to your placement if you go the FM route. The receiver's pickup distance changes based on obstructions, so I always calculate that the signal drops off after about 150 feet from the main source, even with clear sight lines. I found that mounting the unit up high makes a huge difference in projection compared to leaving it on the ground. It’s way more reliable than relying on the scanning convenience of a QR code, expecially when people are driving by and trying to keep their focus on the street. If you run into dropouts, always check your antenna positioning first.

I am still figuring out the best way to set up the sound system itself. I read a few things about the FM transmitters, but I don't know much about the hardware part. Does the transmitter box ussually need to be plugged into a lot of power, or is it a low-draw thing? I just want to make sure I don't burn out my setup while the show is running.

Update: ran a test tonight with a buddy parked at the curb, engine idling, windows mostly up like that first reply described. QR scan actually worked from inside the car, but he said he wouldn't bother once it gets cold out. So now I'm thinking about doing FM as the main and tossing a small webpage link on a sign near the walk-up spot instead of the curb. whould that split setup be too much of a mess to keep running?