IPOD, How do you Install?

[Bill75]

I've been seeing these new IPOD's that look really nice and was wondering if anyone has interfaced one of them to their car, or even an older one. I have a Panasonic CD/MP3 player that works fine but I'm always fumbling around with CD's while driving and burning new ones for use in the car. Thought it might be easier to transport the IPOD and revise the memory as needed.
Also any comments about the sound quality would be appreciated.

Thanks....Bill

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I have used an FM transmitter to play through the car stereo. Considering the exhaust noise and the fact that these old cars are not exactly rattle free the sound was okay.

If you have auxillary inputs into the back of your head unit the connection should be simple.

 

[74bigblock]

I've been seeing these new IPOD's that look really nice and was wondering if anyone has interfaced one of them to their car, or even an older one. I have a Panasonic CD/MP3 player that works fine but I'm always fumbling around with CD's while driving and burning new ones for use in the car. Thought it might be easier to transport the IPOD and revise the memory as needed.
Also any comments about the sound quality would be appreciated.

Thanks....Bill

You can do a couple of things...

1) Get an FM Transciever for the IPod which broadcasts to a selection of a few different stations.

2) If your car stereo has RCA inputs on the back of it, you can get an adapter to go from RCA to the headphone jack of your IPod. Run this wire where ever you want to store your IPod.... Done.

 

[Bill75]

OK....That doesn't sound too bad to do. I like the second option using the inputs in the back, I'll take a look tonight when I get home.
Thanks for the ideas guys.

The leaves are starting to fall up here, not a good sign of things to come, but better than hurricanes!

Bill

 

[82ColEd]

Dont know how viable this is, but i just happen to come across that last night..
If you have a cassette player, you can use it to 'run' your ipod..
http://www.xtrememac.com/adapters/cassette_adapter.shtml


-Stefan

 

[ChuckG]

You can do a couple of things...

1) Get an FM Transciever for the IPod which broadcasts to a selection of a few different stations.

2) If your car stereo has RCA inputs on the back of it, you can get an adapter to go from RCA to the headphone jack of your IPod. Run this wire where ever you want to store your IPod.... Done.

I have an IPOD. I use the FM transceiver. It works on the FM band down in the 88 range. Works well, even with the dead stock radios with analog tuners in both my 63 and 69. It also works well in my 2000.

NO WIRING needed. Plug it into the cigarette lighter, tune your radio to the proper FM, and listen to your tunes. Chuck

 

[Bill75]

Good info...on second thought the FM setup might be a better choice because you can take it to any car and use it. My daily driver doesn't have provisions for a hookup direct to the IPOD but does have an FM radio so it would work there too.

Don't have a tape player but if I did that looks like a clean installation Stefan.

thanx for the ideas!

 

[GATOR454]

Dump the Panasonic head unit and get a Pioneer, Kenwood or Alpine. They all have Ipod adapter boxes that allow control of the Ipod from the head unit, show the song playing on the display and it also recharges the Ipod battery.

http://mobilemag.com/content/100/102/C3558/

Great Sound Quality

The CD-IB100 adapter also takes full advantage of Pioneer’s audio enhancement capabilities such as Easy Equalizer (EEQ) and Bit Media Expander (BMX). Pioneer radios with the built-in EEQ feature let users adjust the sound from their iPod/iTunes device to their audio preference. Units with the BMX feature automatically restore the harmonics lost during recording of compressed music, giving the listener the same warmth and richness found in the original music.

Won't get that from a FM modulator

Pioneer:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/premier/product/specs/0,,2076_58530959_192089315,00.html
Alpine:
http://www.alpine-usa.com/driveyouripod/
Kenwood:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?CategoryID=pcmcat52600050007&id=1109233586109&skuId=7105973&type=product&DCMP=KNC-TLC&ref=25&loc=SMX

 

[Chrisr]

I have an IPOD. I use the FM transceiver. It works on the FM band down in the 88 range. Works well, even with the dead stock radios with analog tuners in both my 63 and 69. It also works well in my 2000.

NO WIRING needed. Plug it into the cigarette lighter, tune your radio to the proper FM, and listen to your tunes. Chuck

I have one of these made by Belkin. Cost about 70 bucks. Plug it in to the cigarette lighter, tune radio and adapter to 88.3FM, plug in iPod and play. Best part is, is that it will also charge your iPod too! It's also on a gooseneck so you can position it anyway/where you want.

 

[Bill75]

Hi Chrisr and Gator454,

Well since my last post I did buy the FM module to give it a try and I must say I was not happy at all with the sound quality so I returned it. Honestly, Chrisr I don't remember if it was a Belkin so it could be the one I bought was just poor quality. I didn't pay quite that much so that could be it. Others have said they were happy with theirs. There was too much white noise in the backround for me no matter what frequency I used and just moving the cord around would create interferrence.

Gator.....Thanks for spending the time with the links attached. I looked them all over and I think that what I'm looking for in sound is probably what you've recommended. There's nothing better than transferring information directly from one unit to the other. I've been downloading my music to CD's as MP3 files in the mean time instead of wav files. I haven't noticed any objectionable difference in the sound quality of the compressed files and I can get MANY times more on a CD with MP3's and I can add more later to the CD. Off to the store this weekend to check out the head units.

Thanks, Bill

 

[Chrisr]

Bill,
Sorry to hear about the transmitter. I think I still have the box at home. I'll dig it up and get an actual part/model number for you if you'd like. I am sure it's a Belkin part though. I have no problems at all with mine. Though at times, I do get a tiny bit of static/white noise in between songs, but nothing to distract form the music.

 

[Bill75]

Bill,
Sorry to hear about the transmitter. I think I still have the box at home. I'll dig it up and get an actual part/model number for you if you'd like. I am sure it's a Belkin part though. I have no problems at all with mine. Though at times, I do get a tiny bit of static/white noise in between songs, but nothing to distract form the music.

Hi Chris,

That's OK. I've seen the Belkin units at Circuit city so I can check them out. I'll trade cars with you instead!! Nice Ride!!

Thanks, Bill

 

[Chrisr]

Hi Chris,

That's OK. I've seen the Belkin units at Circuit city so I can check them out. I'll trade cars with you instead!! Nice Ride!!

Thanks, Bill

Good luck with whatever you decide on. I really like having my iPod in the car. This way, I don't have a bunch of CD's cluttering up the interior.

Sounds like you have a nice ride also! As for trading cars.........uhhhmmm........I don't think so Bill! :L

 

[Eventhelosers05]

I own both tape deck and FM transmitters (I am an Apple guy) and really have my own problems with both.

Like it has been said, the FM transmitters aren't powerful enough to provide the sound necessary to overcome ridenoise in older cars, and the quality isn't all that good. The problem is that they feed off the regular earphone jack and amplified - losing quality. The Belkin I have and it is far better than the iTrip as not only does it charge but it uses the data port instead of the earphone jack. The sound is far better for the purpose.

The tape deck adapters can leave you with a lot of static noise - again simple due to the earphone jack. Regular earphones aren't actually loud enough to pick up on the static, but it is there.

You best bet would be a direct hookup to the back of your stereo utilizing the dataport on the ipod, rather then the earphone jack. You will never be thrilled with the sound which I get a feeling is really important to you..... unfortunately, I don't think that exists so if you have the funds, get a new head unit. The old one should sell easily on ebay or just take it to a local shop and someone there will buy it off of you.

 

[Bill75]

You best bet would be a direct hookup to the back of your stereo utilizing the dataport on the ipod, rather then the earphone jack. You will never be thrilled with the sound which I get a feeling is really important to you..... unfortunately, I don't think that exists so if you have the funds, get a new head unit. The old one should sell easily on ebay or just take it to a local shop and someone there will buy it off of you.

ETL,

Yes, it looks like that's the best solution, I agree. The units suggested by Gator looked pretty nice, but I haven't take the plunge yet. I'm saving $$ for an engine job this winter so maybe Santa will take pitty on me and drop one out of his bag. Thanks for the advice......Bill

 

[Bender]

Best way to install.


http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/28513154298.jpg&s=x10

 

[Bob Chadwick]

This is a little pricey. Well maybe not when you start looking at the kits that integrate. Provides Bluetooth connectivity to stereos with RCA input jacks.

I got a bluetooth IPAQ and phone recently and love the technology.

 

[Bill75]

Best way to install.


http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/28513154298.jpg&s=x10

Looks Good Bender. Right at your finger tips.

 

[Bill75]

This is a little pricey. Well maybe not when you start looking at the kits that integrate. Provides Bluetooth connectivity to stereos with RCA input jacks.

I got a bluetooth IPAQ and phone recently and love the technology.

I'll have to get educated on Blue Tooth technology. I could guess and say digital RF by what I looked at but not sure. I wish they made a receiver that had a USB port that I could just plug in my little portable USB drive. They're great for transferring stuff.