OK, So Dawn Got Her iPod

[Ross]

Well, Santa brought Dawn her new iPod Touch for Christmas and she loves it. We are even figuring out how to load songs on it, in spite of our lack of technical prowess. I got a cable and hooked it into the aux inputs on the back of the home stereo and it plays well through that, too.
Now I have to figure out a way to get it to play in our cars. Neither of us have stereos with MP3 inputs on the front. I have the factory MM stereo and she has an aftermarket JVC stereo that is several years old.
From everything I hear, the wireless devices that play through one of the local blank FM stations aren't that good, especially in a large urban area which is saturated with FM stations.
I talked to a couple of stereo guys who say that they probably can't run a cable from an aux input on the back of the car stereo like I did on the home stereo.
So I'm still looking for the best way to play the thing in the car without buying a new stereo with an MP3 input.

[Egon Spengler]

I think... again... I think they make a cable that plugs into your antenna port in the back of the radio and then the radio antenna plugs into that unit and it allows you to override stations completely and sounds as good as an aux port... I know they make one for my Sirius Radio, but I don't know if they make it for iPods... Definitely do not waste you money on the ones that do it through the air... you need a direct plug in to your stereo... there is a high pitched sound that comes over with the song and it also sounds muted. They do make a plug that plugs into an aux port on stereos, but the marauder does not have that port on a stock deck, but the JVC MIGHT have one, depends on how old it is... Hope I helped a LITTLLE... Goodluck!

[crabby125]

On ebay, there is a kit that connects to the back of the Factory Ford radio. as long as you have an Sat button or CD changer controls you can connect your IPOD to it. I think that costs around $130 bux. I just go the uber cheap route and use a Cassette adapter.

[fastblackmerc]

Use the search function.....

Found this

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=40649

[Ross]

Use the search function.....

Found this

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=40649

That might work, but it looks like I'll have to disable my CD changer to use it. Since I'll want my changer when Dawn (and her iPod) isn't in the car with me, this doesn't look like it would be an option for me.

[MercOut]

I just go the uber cheap route and use a Cassette adapter.

This is what i using until i upgrade me stereo

[crabby125]

I would like to upgrade my stereo but almost all the stereos I see have that blue lighting that just clashes with the green dash lights.

[ledzilla]

A few months back I believe I saw a tape deck adapter for iPods at Target that reads what the deck is doing to the adapter and can advance the iPod through songs. I think this might be it:

http://www.target.com/7256-DDECK-DirectDeck-Universal-Adapter/dp/B000IMYDJ4/qid=1198879415/ref=br_1_2/602-8570258-5407034?ie=UTF8&node=128074011&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1

Not sure, the online description doesn't give enough info, but it has the iPod plug on it, and not the 3.5mm jack plug. Either way, a cassette adapter works nicely. That's what I use for my Creative Zen.

[dreydin]

been using a tape deck adapter for over a year in the MM now.. the wires are exposed but it works just fine =)

[martyo]

Radio Shack and a bunch of other places sell RF modulator devices that are supposed to work well and charge the iPod at the same time.

That is what I bought.

I will be trying ity out this weekend and I will let you know how it works.

[Ross]

I was thinking about the tape deck adapter, but some of the reviews I read online weren't too happy about them. You don't get any skips or anything?
Marty, is the RF adapter the one that plays through the FM radio?

[ledzilla]

How can a tape adapter skip? It's just like playing a tape, except the audio information isn't ona tape, it's on a mini hard drive or flash memory drive. No skips at all. I've been using adapters for most of a decade, back in the 90's when I needed one to play CD's in the tape deck of my old Lincoln. The only problems I've ever had were when the cord got worn out from the constant connect/disconnect to the CD/MP3 player (don't want to leave them in the car if I don't have to).

[Ross]

How can a tape adapter skip? It's just like playing a tape, except the audio information isn't ona tape, it's on a mini hard drive or flash memory drive. No skips at all. I've been using adapters for most of a decade, back in the 90's when I needed one to play CD's in the tape deck of my old Lincoln. The only problems I've ever had were when the cord got worn out from the constant connect/disconnect to the CD/MP3 player (don't want to leave them in the car if I don't have to).

All I know is what I've read in the reviews. That's why I'm asking.

[SHERIFF]

My daughter got one too. And a new Explorer. And I got the bills for both. :mad:

This is all you need..... and it works real well.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Griffin-Technology-iTrip-Auto-FM-Transmitter-Auto-Charger-for-iPod-ITRIPAUTO/sem/rpsm/oid/144801/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

[ledzilla]

It won't skip unless it's a total piece of crap (the audio head, or tape, isn't mounted in the adapter properly so it doesn't remain in contact with the reading head in the tape deck; hit a big enough bump and it "skips"). Also, if it's a poor quality adapter, there will be plenty of tape hiss over the speakers. Usually isn't that noticeable unless you're really cranking it, but noise reduction eliminates it pretty well most of the time.

[martyo]

This is all you need..... and it works real well

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Griffin-Technology-iTrip-Auto-FM-Transmitter-Auto-Charger-for-iPod-ITRIPAUTO/sem/rpsm/oid/144801/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I got the same brand, slightly different model that finds the best station automagically.


Marty, is the RF adapter the one that plays through the FM radio?

Yep, that's what it does.

[Mad1]

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/roadtrip

http://www.griffintechnology.com/images/assets/headers/0000/0629/roadtrip_1.jpg?1192587547

I've had a great time with my RoadTrip mount (a radio broadcaster with digital display) and I've used it extensively on long trips in several models of vehicles, as well as around major metro areas. (Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Detroit) It came with multiple adapters to fit any flavor of iPod as well.

Best of all, it charges the iPod, while you drive. I use mine with an iPod nano inside the armrest power point, so that I don't even have to "hide" it when I park somewhere public. The pointpoint plug also comes with a very flexible "extension" so that you can customize it where ever the car designers put those stupid power points in the future or in when you switch makes/models.

It has a few other features that make it worth recommending. You can pull off the "radio" RF part and just use a regular audio jack cable to run into a MP3 input, when or if you get a new vehicle. Then the "strength" of the RF signal is not a factor anymore. (That's how we use it when driving in my wife's new Explorer. The RF part also comes with a USB plug, that lets you put it on your computer and "broadcast" off your computer (just plug in a cable from the computer sound card to the RF box.)

You can also go the 'cassette adapter' route too. Those work fairly well with our OEM stereo and I never had any problems with mine.

Mad1
Jeremy

[SHERIFF]

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/roadtrip
http://www.griffintechnology.com/images/assets/headers/0000/0629/roadtrip_1.jpg?1192587547


Thank You! I went to eBaY and just bought one of those for my Excursion! :coolman:

[RCSignals]

Get the cassette adapter, they work well. on the head portion look for one that has two contacts, not just one. At Best Buy the least expensive had the two contacts on the head.

[Aren Jay]

been using a tape deck adapter for over a year in the MM now.. the wires are exposed but it works just fine =)

Cassette deck adapter, dirt cheap and it works.