Ipod Car Audio Query

[ECOdork]

I might as well tap the collective knowledge of all the cool cats on STR:

Anyone know the deal with those apparatus to listen to Ipod via the car stereo?

I know enough to know that my truck radio is too old to have a direct port connection.

Any other considerations???

I'm used to PC's...Apple tends to makes things so simple I can't figure them out! #-o

 

[Kid A]

i have used old style cassette adapter and that worked fine from a sound stand point but a bit ugly with wires hanging. seeing that not many cars have cassettes any more (inlcuding my truck) I use itrip. http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/

works pretty good (need to find a freq that is not strong in local area) fairly easly to use but i experiance a bit of static (not best sound quality). I also have an older belkin unit
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=166893

mine (old) only works on a limited set of freq (I think 4...newer has much more), that works okay as long as those freq are free in area you are. since i never use it more than willing to let you have to test (and probably keep if you want). Not sure where you are riding this week but if local more than willing to meet up for a spin and let you check out both

 

[ECOdork]

Appreciate the offer and the info Kid A!

Yeah the tricky thing is that since we will be moving soon, I'll need the ability to choose any radio station as I have no idea which freqs are taken in NC. Plus, we really want it for the drive out there, and there are a whole lotta miles between SJC and NC!

 

[Jordansrealm]

what kind of radio do u have? stock? what kind of vehicle?

 

[Kid A]

Appreciate the offer and the info Kid A!

Yeah the tricky thing is that since we will be moving soon, I'll need the ability to choose any radio station as I have no idea which freqs are taken in NC. Plus, we really want it for the drive out there, and there are a whole lotta miles between SJC and NC!

I believ any of the new one (includng Belkins) accommodate ALL freq's. only issue you may encounter is you have to change freq periodically over trip- not a big deal IMO (I have drive east/west 3x and cool music is a must). as an aside, I also have satellite radio (sirius) and love it-best purchase i have made in last year or two. was able to grab receivier on cheap and service is ~$13/month - basically cost of 1 cd./month (think cheaper if you purchase in mass). Certainly, not trying to convince you, but i am happy with decision and another option partically if are you are moving to doesn't have decent station for the music you listen to.

Good luck

 

[ECOdork]

I have an 2000 Xterra with stock in-dash CD player--only mod would be blown speakers :lol:....what can I say, all my extra cash goes to bike before vehicle.

We'll probably be buying a new car for my wife when we move out to NC as her 95 maxima is starting to show it's age and would cost more than it is worth to move the long-distance. I'm hoping that whatever we get, it can accomodate ipods/mp3/etc... We're thinking a VW Jetta TDI as my pops gets like 45 mpg on his! :bang:Too bad they aren't available in Cali...

I hear ya' on the sat radio...those that have it seem to love it.

 

[Jordansrealm]

I dont know if it works with your model but Nissan makes an Ipod cable that connects to their stock factory deck. You might wanna look into that. If not, I would go with a simple casette adapter that way you can control your Ipod from the Ipod and get some form of a car charger for it so you can be charging it while you drive. As you know the batteries suck. You can get both at any Best Buy or Circuit City.

 

[Andrew]

Without an auxillary input, you choices are limited to the broadcasting FM method, or by using an adapter through the tape deck. Both of these methods will negatively affect the sound quality (I don't have enough experience with them to say how well they may work for you).

In my case, I purchased a new deck that included an auxillary input. Following instructions on the internet, I modified a Belkin accessory so that the iPod is simultaneously playing and being charged with a single connector that attaches to the dock connector. The cable is stashed in the ash tray when not in use.

 

[ECOdork]

Hmmmm, no tape playa in the xterra, so that is out.

Glad to hear that there may be a ipod cable for the stock xterra radio, but we'd want the thing to work on other vehicles too.

But using this info as a guide, I was able to track down one of the FM Broadcasters online http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...re.woa/wo/1.RSLID?mco=771A3D73&nplm=TD145LL/A

After 6 years of scientific research my new philosophy is that I will not modify any electronic/computing hardware if I don't have to until I'm done with my current project....](*,) Looks like this one comes ready to go without much hassle.

 

[zuma_sicks]

Radio Frequency Tuners/Ipod

I have used my freq tuner all over CA. It works great, south of L.A. However L.A. an dout Vegas way, etc, it sucks.

Your best bet is either a cassette adapter, or buy a new head unit that has a direct input.

 

[roadkillross]

does ur ride have a tape player there is an ipod player that u plug in the tape player
and there is also the fm transmitters that are wayy more complicated and more expensive

 

[tkblazer]

i bought this alpine head unit for $150 and bought a cable thats around $25 and it plugs right into my ipod. you have to use the head unit to scroll around the menu system so it takes a little longer to search for songs, but the quality sounds great.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/product.php?model=CDE-9852

you connect your ipod to the head unit with this cable

http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/product.php?model=KCE-422i

 

[Jordansrealm]

good call that was going to be my next suggested. just buy a cheap head unit from alpine or kenwood and get their ipod adapter. problem solved

 

[ECOdork]

Thanks again for all the good input!

...everytime I go shopping for stuff unrelated to the bike I think to myself, "man, instead of spending $xx on that, I could upgrade the ____ on my bike" :?:

good call that was going to be my next suggested. just buy a cheap head unit from alpine or kenwood and get their ipod adapter. problem solved

 

[Franky]

Gurp13 had rf attachment on his iPod. We just tuned the radio and listened to his iPod through the stereo to Kernville and back.

 

[Von-Skipp]

i bought this alpine head unit for $150 and bought a cable thats around $25 and it plugs right into my ipod. you have to use the head unit to scroll around the menu system so it takes a little longer to search for songs, but the quality sounds great.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/product.php?model=CDE-9852

you connect your ipod to the head unit with this cable

http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/product.php?model=KCE-422i

I also have this Alpine deck in my car. The iPod feature is incredible. I have the cable run through my glove-box. I keep my iPod locked in there and never have to mess with it. Its pretty easy to seach for songs using the deck. The sound quality is very nice.

I think the iPod quality is better than the cd quality.

BTW. I have an iTrip I do not use if anybody wants it.