no line in, how to connect

[Rod Findley]

i don't have a line-in in my car stereo. i also don't have a cassette deck, just a rockford-fosgate CD player. any ideas about how to use the ipod in the car?

i have tried i-trip, but i can't get a good clean signal here in L.A.

[Kc2iLq]

Get an FM modulator. They sound very good considering the narrow bandwidth for FM.

-Kc2iLq

[jmk]

Most of those allow you to hook up a cd changer. You get best sound by getting an interface - go to pie.net to see a typical one for your car model/year. You put that in back. It gives you standard rca jacks. You connect those through a standard rca to mini cable to the ipod or your charger (the Belkin one has a line out) or a dock that you keep in the car.

You can find instructions for taking apart your dash on installdr.com. It's usually very easy.

The sound is much, much better than fm or cassette adapator.

[tinsoldier]

I was wondering how to do the same thing. I have a 1998 toyota corolla. it has a switch for a non existant cd changer.
I checked out pie.net and they have a cable that will connect to the 12 pindata port on the back of the head unit.

My question is how do I plug my iPod into this cable. It looks like there is a connection that is a single plug as opposed to a pair of rca-type jacks to use as a line in.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-tinsoldier
3g 20G iPod, imacse OSX

[STAT 007]

Originally posted by jmk
You get best sound by getting an interface - go to pie.net to see a typical one for your car model/year.
How do the adapters at pie.net compare to other brands (such as the adapters made by the stereo companies themselves--like Pioneer for Pioneer stereos, etc.)? I'm looking to get the highest-quality available.

Originally posted by tinsoldier
I have a 1998 toyota corolla. I checked out pie.net and they have a cable that will connect to the 12 pindata port on the back of the head unit.

My question is how do I plug my iPod into this cable.
Unfortunately for you, it seems that the Toyota aux input adapters are kind of expensive. <shrugs> Oh well. Cheaper than a new car.

The cheapest adapter that should serve you perfectly is here:

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/pietoyaux.html

Then you need an "RCA to Minijack" cable like the one seen here:

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/pie35rca6mm.html

You can get less expensive (and probably just as good or better) ones than that one at LogJam literally anywhere (meaning BestBuy, RadioShack, Crutchfield, etc.) but that's what they look like. Pretty simple. :)

[Rod Findley]

thanks for the input (no pun intended). . . however, i'm still confused. it seems like people are suggesting this p.i.e. interface, but if my head unit doesn't have an aux input, i can't figure out where to connect it. is there always a 12 pin input in the backs of these head units?

i actually went to a car audio place and they said that i had to buy a whole new head unit, however, they then tried to sell me one, so i'm thinking that their info might be a bit suspect.

any help would be appreciated, especially if anyone knows about the Rockford-Fosgate 6 CD changer that is in the Nissan Xterra.

Thanks!

[STAT 007]

Why don't you just pull out your stereo and look at the back to see what you've got?