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#1
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bobb Wrote: By the time one spends enough$ and time, may as well replace that HU. I agree, besides the improved sq from line in and the possibility using the hu to operate the ipod. -- mdh ------------------------------------------------------------------------ mdh's Profile: http://www.caraudioforum.com/vbb3/me...p?userid=30155 View this thread: http://www.caraudioforum.com/vbb3/sh...d.php?t=211209 CarAudioForum.com - Usenet Gateway w/over one million posts online! |
#2
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hard-wired fm modulator
I want to wire my iPod into my 4-year-old Clarion head unit, which does
not appear to have an "Aux In" (CDX-765), but I'm otherwise happy with it and in no hurry to junk it (good, clean 4V signal, etc). I live in SoCal, where those little wireless FM modulators (the iTrip, etc) don't work for sh!t -- too much interference, there's no one place on the radio dial that's empty enough. So I'd like to hard-wire a modulator, ideally one intelligent enough to sense a singal on the "line in" jacks and switch off the external antenna. I've seen lots of cheap ones that have a manual on/off switch, but I'd like something a little more intelligent, so when I want to listen to the iPod I click "play" and when I don't, I just turn the iPod off, no messing with anything else. Is there such a beast? Google's not of much help. Thanks! Wendell |
#3
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I want to wire my iPod into my 4-year-old Clarion head unit, which does
not appear to have an "Aux In" (CDX-765), but I'm otherwise happy with it and in no hurry to junk it (good, clean 4V signal, etc). I live in SoCal, where those little wireless FM modulators (the iTrip, etc) don't work for sh!t -- too much interference, there's no one place on the radio dial that's empty enough. So I'd like to hard-wire a modulator, ideally one intelligent enough to sense a singal on the "line in" jacks and switch off the external antenna. I've seen lots of cheap ones that have a manual on/off switch, but I'd like something a little more intelligent, so when I want to listen to the iPod I click "play" and when I don't, I just turn the iPod off, no messing with anything else. Is there such a beast? Google's not of much help. Thanks! Wendell I've never heard of such a device, but I see no reason why one could not exist. Check PartsExpress, MCM Electronics, David Levy Company (DLC), MAT Electronics and maybe even J&R Music World. These companies specialize in obscure, hard to find electronic components. DLC in particular has a huge selection of automotive audio components. If it exists, one of these companies will have it. But I'm wondering, have you actually tried the FM interface? Forgive me if you have, but I have never seen one unable to work because of too much interference (granted, I don't live in LA). MOSFET |
#4
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MOSFET wrote: I've never heard of such a device, but I see no reason why one could not exist. They exist all over (froogle.google.com for 'fm modulator') and start around $17, and I've seen 'em as expensive as $60, but even the expensive ones have an "on/off switch," one more thing to mess with. I'm sure there's a way to 'sense' when the RCA leads are carrying a signal; maybe I can work up a secondary circuit with a BOSCH relay... But I'm wondering, have you actually tried the FM interface? Forgive me if you have, but I have never seen one unable to work because of too much interference (granted, I don't live in LA). Yes, I've tried several, from the two iTrips to a non-iPod specific device I got at Good Guys. None of them worked; they advise finding a station with nothing on either side. (E.g., 88.7 if 88.5 and 88.9 are both empty.) Here in L.A., though, there are no such stations - our FM dial is completely saturated to the extent permissible by the FCC (e.g., 90.1, 90.5 (with 90.3 being empty), etc. It's so bad there's a hill that, when you cross it, you literally go from getting a salsa station to getting X103 (alternative/hard rock) in about twenty seconds, both are strong stations divided only by the physical hill... It's insane. |
#6
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It'll run me about $300 to replace the head unit with one that will
control an iPod and has 4V pre-amp outputs (I've tried the lower output line-level signals and I've been unsatisfied.) I'm hoping to find a device for around $50. Actually, I'd be okay with a CeNet version of the Alpine KCA-121B. What I'm thinking I might end up doing is getting the Alpine adapter for my CDA-7840, moving that to the Jeep, and installing a new iPod-ready Alpine deck + KCA-420i into the Porsche. I'm trying to avoid spending much money on the Jeep (it's a rainy-weather-only or need-to-carry-more-than-one-passenger car, which in SoCal amounts to a few weeks a year of operation), but I'll happily spend on the p-car (obviously ... |
#7
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#8
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On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 14:20:13 -0500, Scott Gardner
wrote: On 11 Feb 2005 11:09:13 -0800, wrote: It'll run me about $300 to replace the head unit with one that will control an iPod and has 4V pre-amp outputs (I've tried the lower output line-level signals and I've been unsatisfied.) I'm hoping to find a device for around $50. 4V pre-out voltage does not provide any audible improvement over 2V pre-outs. If a deck with 4V pre-outs sounds better to you than another deck with 2V pre-outs, it's for other reasons, and completely unrelated to the pre-out voltage. I wouldn't make the pre-out voltage one of your "make-or-break" purchasing criteria, since you'll be needlessly ruling out scads of excellent decks. Yeah, but unless u want to go help him find out what the root problem is, if 4V sounds better over 2V without spending tons of time, that's what he wants. WENDELL, are u sure the back of the unit doesn't have any kind of line-in input? Many times, there is a jack for an external changer that nobody uses, maybe u can tap in there. |
#9
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seems like XO Vision has what you want.
Here's a whole page full of 'em.... Bound to find atleast one that will do wht you want. http://shop.store.yahoo.com/csexpo/fmmodulator.html Steve B. |
#10
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bobb wrote: On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 14:20:13 -0500, Scott Gardner wrote: 4V pre-out voltage does not provide any audible improvement over 2V pre-outs. Yeah, but unless u want to go help him find out what the root problem is, if 4V sounds better over 2V without spending tons of time, that's what he wants. The issue is alternator whine; I (and all of the installers I've taken it to) have been unable to get rid of it entirely; the Jeep's just not a well-integrated electrical system. And yeah, we've tried grounding everything to the battery, etc. We can get it almost gone, but not all the way. Running a 4V pre-amp allows me to ratchet the gain on the amplifier back to where it's unnoticeable. WENDELL, are u sure the back of the unit doesn't have any kind of line-in input? Many times, there is a jack for an external changer that nobody uses, maybe u can tap in there. Positive. There's a CeNet connector, but the RCA - CeNet connector is evidently discontinued. I like the deck, and I'm loath to replace functional equipment (consumerism bugs me , but I'm beginning to think doing a deck-swap-and-handmedown (maybe selling the Clarion for $10 on eBay) is the way to go... Thanks all! |
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