iPod Car Kit
22 June 2008, 03:19 PM
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iPod Car Kit
Looking to get an iPod car kit, but have no real idea what a decent one is. The only stipulation is that we need to be able to move it between cars, so a fixed/integrated one is not an option..
Any suggestions ?
Thanks
Any suggestions ?
Thanks
22 June 2008, 04:04 PM
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It really depends on what options the stereo's in the cars have.
First thing that springs to mind is something like the iTrip. It plugs into the iPod and you tune the iPod to an unused FM frequency on the car radio and it'll pick up the audio from the iPod. This would allow for very easy use in multiple cars, all you'd need to do is use the same FM channel in each car. Thus all is required in both cars is a stereo with FM capability, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a car that doesn't have that. I did used to use an iTrip and it was pretty good, but you can get interference and as it's not a direct connection, the quality can suffer slightly.
If the cars have an audio in port (3.5mm socket, looks like your normal headphone socket but it's input rather and output) then you can get a 3.5mm to 3.5mm lead which will allow you to plug one end into the headphone socket on the iPod and the other into the audio in socket on the stereo. This is better than the aforementioned iTrip solution as you don't rely on FM reception, it's a straight output to input connection. If you purchased two of the leads then you could keep one in each car and the only thing you'd need to move between cars is the iPod itself.
If the stereo's don't have an audio input socket but do have an AUX in socket at the back then you could get an adaptor, if needed, and a 3.5mm to twin RAC lead, plug that into the back of the stereo and hook up the ipod to that. Obviously it means a bit more work, as you need to find out if the stereo has this capability (general rule of thumb is that if the head unit doesn't have a dedicated aux in port, then if it does have CD changer capability then you should be able to get an adapter that fits in the cd changer input and allows the 3.5mm to RCA cable to be plugged in) and also to find out and purchase an adapter and also pull the stereo out to fit the thing. You'd obviously need to do this on both cars, if they both support it.
First thing that springs to mind is something like the iTrip. It plugs into the iPod and you tune the iPod to an unused FM frequency on the car radio and it'll pick up the audio from the iPod. This would allow for very easy use in multiple cars, all you'd need to do is use the same FM channel in each car. Thus all is required in both cars is a stereo with FM capability, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a car that doesn't have that. I did used to use an iTrip and it was pretty good, but you can get interference and as it's not a direct connection, the quality can suffer slightly.
If the cars have an audio in port (3.5mm socket, looks like your normal headphone socket but it's input rather and output) then you can get a 3.5mm to 3.5mm lead which will allow you to plug one end into the headphone socket on the iPod and the other into the audio in socket on the stereo. This is better than the aforementioned iTrip solution as you don't rely on FM reception, it's a straight output to input connection. If you purchased two of the leads then you could keep one in each car and the only thing you'd need to move between cars is the iPod itself.
If the stereo's don't have an audio input socket but do have an AUX in socket at the back then you could get an adaptor, if needed, and a 3.5mm to twin RAC lead, plug that into the back of the stereo and hook up the ipod to that. Obviously it means a bit more work, as you need to find out if the stereo has this capability (general rule of thumb is that if the head unit doesn't have a dedicated aux in port, then if it does have CD changer capability then you should be able to get an adapter that fits in the cd changer input and allows the 3.5mm to RCA cable to be plugged in) and also to find out and purchase an adapter and also pull the stereo out to fit the thing. You'd obviously need to do this on both cars, if they both support it.
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