Dension FM Link

[Winker]

I am expecting any day now a Ice Link FM that I got off Ebay for £55 Saving £10 on the cheapest I had found on the web.
After trying the Dension Ice Link Plus and been well and truly dissatisfiecd with the unit I am hoping the FM unit will be more to my liking.

I will post an Install guide with Step by Step instructions for everyone to view when I come to install...

I have scowered the net but havnt really found much information on the FM model. So I hope that means it is a doddle to install.

Just waiting for the post man now!!! If you see him tell him to hurry along! :eek:

[simon hutchings]

Why were you dissatisfied with the ice>link?
Basically they are the same unit but the FM uses a modulator and links with the car ariel, whilst the the ice>link plugs directly into the head unit. I have the ice>link plus in my Accord and it works fine.

[Winker]

I was shocked at the Ice Link Plus inability to display ID3 Tags on my headunit. And only having the option to play songs in Playlist mode is just poor - £100 for the unit I just couldnt warrant.

I have recived my Ice Link FM Today and will be fitting it very soon.

I wanted a Nice neat cradle that would charge my ipod at the same time as listening to music. Althought The Ice Link Plus does this I am hoping I will get more functionallity out of the Ice Link FM and at a cheaper cost.

Install Guide on its Way -

[simon hutchings]

I still use the iPod controls as I didn't like the head unit system either. I put it down to a lack of compatability with the Honda head unit. It was all blocky and way too big. My iPod is in a Brodit cradle down by the gear shift and I have no problems controlling it.
Hope you get on better with the FM unit.

[Winker]

I have fitted my Dension FM Link - It works a charm. unfortunatly I didnt have my Digital Camera to hand to leave a good install guide on the forum - Sorry I know I promised. I will post some pics here when camera is back.

It is real simple to install - Had to custom build a bracket to fix the cradle to my car as not to damage the interior.

the FM link is superb though. No wires to mess about finding when you enter the car, Ipod comes straight out of my pocket into the cradle turn the engine on, radio ignites with power and boom my music is blasting out of the speakers.

word to the wise ensure you find a station that is well away from any in your region, I initially set mine to 88.8 - south yorkshire - Barnsley and I kept picking up a local station, swapping the switch to 88.0 fixed this in a couple of seconds.

More than happy with the unit now.. and it was brand new off Ebay for £50 so the cheapest around.

Feel free to ask me any questions about the install..

Winker

[Digital]

Winker, can I ask a few questions?

If you have the iPod playing through the iceLink FM and you switch the radio off (but not the ignition), does the iPod pause? And if so, if you switch the radio on again, does the iPod start playing once more?

If you select an ordinary radio station while playing the iPod, will it disconnect the FM modulator and pause the iPod?

And if you want to change to the iPod from a radio station, after selecting the appropriate radio channel for the FM modulator, do you have to then manually switch on the iPod?

Given the difficulty of finding anything in the UK that will connect to my Volvo head unit, the iceLink FM modulator seems the best bet as any of the alternatives offer very little by way of head unit integration, and cost a bundle!

Thanks,

SJ

[Winker]

Hi ya mate. Thanks for your Questions hope I can help

Your Q.
If you have the iPod playing through the iceLink FM and you switch the radio off (but not the ignition), does the iPod pause? And if so, if you switch the radio on again, does the iPod start playing once more?

A. Part of the installation of the FM link is you have to using the clips provided join two wires from your headunit power to the modulator (full instructions are provided) This is where I went a bit wrong. I connected mine to the Red and Black as described but didnt realise that I had connected them to the ignitioin power feed and not the battery power feed. (not such a huge problem but I would sugest you connect yours the battery feed).
My Ipod doesnt pause when I turn the ignition off as it but neither does my brothers who has a Alpine unit!

=-=-=-
Your Q.
If you select an ordinary radio station while playing the iPod, will it disconnect the FM modulator and pause the iPod?

A. You are unable to select any other Radio stations while the Ipod is connected you must remove it from its cradle. but as soon as you do the Radio comes back to life.

=-=-=-
Your Q.
And if you want to change to the iPod from a radio station, after selecting the appropriate radio channel for the FM modulator, do you have to then manually switch on the iPod?

Im real sorry mate but I didnt understand this question.

To select the radio channel the modulator uses you have a switch on the modulator that has 3 options FM BAND 88.0 88.4 88.9 (If I remember right) All you do then is tune your headunit into that FM frequency, store the station and plug in your Ipod.

Hope thats a big help to you.

Winker

[Digital]

Winker, many thanks for your reply. It would seem from what you say that the iPod has to be physically disconnected from its cradle to be able to use the radio, and you'd have to manually pause it when you switch the engine off. So the iceLink FM doesn't seem to offer much more than an ordinary audio connection from the headphone socket. Assuming of course that there is an auxilliary input socket available.

Hmmm...still not what I'm looking for.

But thanks again for the info.

[lyndon]

can anyone help i have fm ice link and have been pleased with it until it was knocked out of cradle .
now it says on ipod that it is an unsupported accessory please help lyndon

[Mastiles01]

Winkler - so are you happy with the sound quality from your IceLInk FM? I have a RoadTrip (powered version of the iTrip) which is olkay but has quite a bit of hiss and crackle and drifts off frequency. Can you hear much background noise and interference with the FM?

[greatape]

Had an ICE Link FM™ installed (they say free but the retail price reflects this) by Halfords. Price was £79.99 but the idea of removing the head unit on a new car quite frankly made me crap my pants.

Sound is very good compared to all the iTrips™ I've used before. My only disappointment was the stereo controls on the steering wheel changed the mode and volume but not the forward & back buttons. Pressing these made the car stereo scroll to the next or previous FM frequency rather than iPod™ track. *

It charges the iPod™ and comes with a few cradle adaptors in the box.

*EDIT: After further investigation it seems that when I checked the compatibility database on the Dension (http://www.dension.com/icelink_comp.htm) site for my car they recommended the ICE Link Plus™, whereas Halfords' own instore flip chart said the same car wouldn't be able to use the Plus so ordered the FM version.