IPOD thru car stereo/charging question
 

I have decided to purchase an IPOD, and I have read that there is an adapter that lets you listen play it through your car stereo, has anyone tried this? I have a stock SATURN VUE CD player, but may go to XM in the future.

I have also read where you can charge and/or power the IPOD via your notebook (I have a Dell Inspirion 8600), has anyone tried this either?

Thanks

I have no experience with casette or CD adapters, which is one way to do this. They connect to the headphones port and into the car stereo. I had originally planned to go the cassette adapter route, but a lot of negative reviews on various websites scared me off.

I would up with this device which is an FM transmitter - it takes the audio and transmits it over a low-power transmitter on an FM frequency of your choice, which should match an open one in your area, or at least one with minimal interference. Then all you have to do is set your car radio to that channel.

There are mixed reviews of this, but most seem to agree that among the FM transmitters this is currently the best. (It had better be considering the cost.) There are cheaper options, but if you look at the user reviews on Amazon and other sites they don't seem to work as well, with this one having a better signal. Here in the Philadelphia area, like most major US metros, we're pretty much maxed out on the usage of the FM spectrum, but I'm still able to use it.

The other nice thing with this option is that the radio transmitter is powered from the car's cigarette lighter, and it also charges the iPod while it's plugged in. Just remember to unplug it when done, as it will drain the car battery while the car's not running. For security reasons I wouldn't leave the iPod or the DLO device visible when not in the car anyway.

As for the computer charging option, so long as the laptop has a USB 2 port, it should work. A quick Google on the Inspiron 8600 indicates that it should. This is the same port you'll use to add music to the iPod. I don't even take my iPod AC adapter with me - I just charge it through my laptop (Thinkpad) when it's on AC power. I suppose it's possible to have an older type of USB2 port that doesn't charge an iPod, but it's worked on every USB2 port I have and have encountered.

Thanks for the info phlwookie!.

I second this recommendation. ^

Despite being rather ugly, the TransPod is an excellent piece of kit - far better than the cheaper iTrip (which doesn't charge the iPod and has a very weak FM transmitter).

Monster makes an in-dash gadget to hook your iPod up to your car stereo. I think this would be the best interface. It runs about $250.

Here's the link: http://www.monstercable.com/icruze/

You may be able to get a cheaper "protocol converter" as well for your Saturn. I got one for ~$50-60 for my '01 Civic. Basically, your iPod appears as the CD changer. You still use the iPod's controls.

The protocol converter can also be used to hook up an XM/Sirius radio, or any other portable audio device. The converter just provides a pair of RCA inputs - you just need an RCA -> 1/8" mini-jack cable. I snaked it under the dashboard to the line-out port on my Belkin iPod charger.

Info about my install is here:

http://ben-johnson.org/blog/archives/2003/07/37

There is also a step-by-step description for this process here.

Err why not a much better head unit which can take a direct connection from your iPod? eg http://www.clarion.com/usa/products/.../DXZ555MP.html - has a 2 channel AUX input, or an optional iPod interface...

Has anyone had any experience with this one? http://www.carplayer.com/ It seems to be a similar offering to what Monster has at a slightly lower price point.

I don't want to add a nice head unit because I fear that will attract thieves, and those FM transmitters give sub-par sound quality.

Does it disable the CD changer, then?

For those in Europe with non-US model cars, looks like this will work:

http://www.besecure2000.com/shop/pro...ategoryid=1902

We had the same headaches and ended up with a $170 Kenwood headunit and $110 Ipod interface. The ipod shows up on the Kenwood Kmedia device and gives us full control with track names on the unit. We tried pretty much every other solution, and this one was the best yet.

Yeah, it should disable it since it looks like it needs to use the input that the changer wants to use. Same thing with the Monster product. Although if you had your iPod hooked up, that would hopefully make CD changers obsolete.

I have a much simpler device from Monster.

It is also an FM transmitter. It plugs into the cigarette lighter, charges the iPod, and will transmit on I think it is 6 different FM channels.

It cost about $65.00 a year ago. Perhaps it is no longer available.

Advantages: cost, ease of use and installation, can take it from car to car.

Disadvantages: not so permanent or good looking a solution.

I use it at 88.1 in the SFO Bay Area. Usually quite good reception in my small car, top down. Distance from transmitting device to radio antenna is short.

I did try the unit that plugged into the head of the iPod - iTrip. It looked better, but the signal was not good.

I don't understand the problem[s]. :confused:

My car has a direct iPod connection inside the armrest. Doesn't everyone's? ;)