asadowsk
06-22-2004, 03:44 AM
Whew, it been a big week, one day I just thought, what a bad a$$$ piece of technology, instead of hauling around cases full of CD's in the car, the threat of theft, or slowly destroying them in the heat, why not use an iPod 3G 20gig with a matching iTrip.
Well quickly learned the iTrip was not going to do the job, soon worried if things don't work out, its not going to be fun returning this expensive toy.
I knew that a inline FM modulator would be far better, but knew it would not be perfect. I thought there has to be a way to tap into the AUX port on the stock head unit.
Searched the whole day, at first did not know what the names of these pieces of hardware to go by, towards the end of searching for some 12 hours, about the 8 hour mark I finnaly started to stumble upon forum post by users discussing things like PIE, SoundGate, and Blitzsafe, among others like ICE link, etc... not to mention those scary ground loop problems, actually my first clue for all this stuff came from searching through the XM site's to see how users installed into their cars.
Jackpot I found the solution. But which one? So this is my isntallation and my thoughts about all the options.
First off, what adapter are you going to use:
Blitzsafe
P.I.E.
SoundGate
ICE link (although not a adapter but allows stock car controls to work iPod -very limited expensive luxury, convienence is expensive)
Next, Which cabling option:
Belkin auto kit w/line out* (volume adjustment slide)
Monster iCharger (not iPlay model)
SIK imp
First I would like to take note that through searching many sites it appears the ground loop noise problem can appear in any certain combination, either because of the car make modle, depending upon certain stereos, stock or aftermarket, this noise problem can occur, more so in some than others. Thanks for those who try the first time and report back here, I say thank you! Give help knowing what to expect and help cure problems.
I liked the Blitzsafe, it seem as though it had higher success accross all the forums I came accross, remember people try all types of adapters in different head unit/car applications with different power sources, some get noise problems while others do not, there are lots of variations so it may not be a particular problem associated with a specific device, its difficult to get an understanding because obviously no one is going to trouble shoot spending money on each option to narrow down the cause. Its up to all of us to provide feed back to compile the information to see what known to work and not.
Next to decide, to Belkin or not to Belkin... this was difficult to choose, again particularly for my application, the Civic, any of the options seem to work without ground noise trouble, seems as thought they got the wiring correctly done in the little Civic, compared to the Accord which apparently has ground loop issues -I will tackle that problem later, hopefuilly the new Blitzsafe AUX adapter (due out July) will help. In considering the maximum flexability, and taming all them wires, keeping it neat, I figured that the SIK would not be considered, yes I could wrap the wires together so not to have two wires hanging around everywhere. I had the Belkin first but did not like the line out* which was not a true line out (note however for some this is good because for some reason there head unit does not play nice with the default line out settings, so this adjustment helps level things correctly).
I did not want a wire on top and bottom to charge, though the iPod batt should last pretty long, hell after 8 hours of driving I would be stopping to recharge myself let alone the iPod. But again I wanted the line out route.
I did think of this option for the Civic, it has a cd music case holder below the stereo, it has a flip down door. Now the dock is too big to fit -so as to flip down (then just plop the iPod in essentially leaning up agains the stereo console in its natural position in the dock, when done, remove, put iPod inside and flip door/dock up closed -I would never leave the iPod in the car). However one can makeshift a slider where when you flip open the door/shut the door it sides in and our. Just a thought for those who are reading this far. A simpler consideration using the fip down door is to use those iPod cases which have a cell phone swivel on the back and make shift a connection on the door, when open one can just simple securly hang the iPod for easy access.
Ok I did like the Belkin pause feature and did check out the possibility of opening it up and manually fixing the cable wire ends directly to power/RCA (a hidden hard wire solution) it would be posibble but I chickened out, I would rather save 30-40 bucks returnig nthe Belkin then rather chancing screwing things up and having nothing in the end -I have not practiced much soldering.
I was sold on the Monster iCharger when I discovered that it had a coiled cord so I could easily feed the audio cable through (so as to be one cable) for a real line out on its dock connector! Also if I needed the cig lighter power for other things such as cell phone or radar detector, I can unplug the iCharger and it will nicely dangle along side (remember the coil cord wraped aroound the audio cable keeps it together) if needed to remove the iCharger altogether I could unwrap the audio cable and just plug into the head phone jack (iPod volume full up for equivalent sound like that of the line out).
Finnaly now how the hell do I get to the the head unit?
For the 02 Civic I quickly found information that informed me that the lower console the piece which contains the cig lighter can be simply removed, I found the simplest way to flip open the cig lighter cover, place my thumb (when power is off!) into the cig lighter, apply pressure down or to side inorder to get a grip and pull out, you will NEED another tool at this point, you will see a seem seperate around the console piece, with a large flat head driver, with light pressure go around the seem there are three placstic clips, top left, center, top right, slowly pry around these point more and more and it will pop. Now your half way, there are two plastic clips on the bottom, left and right these are tough because its at a down angle and it aukward to get a good position to pull out the console, just keep tugging side to side and it will pop out. Believe me for some reason once aligned its easier to put back in.
With my big hands I was able to reach around and plug in the Blitzsafe... feel around and get to know what what back there, the connector is located on the right passanger side of the head unit. connection tab is up ontop. Took me a few minute and different hand posstions but finnaly it slipped in easily. The Blitsafe is a samll adapter and have RCA inputs, I gathered the slack of the Monster audio cable wrapped it up connected and placed into pocket (lots of room) lead the audio cable down the passanger side toward the bottom of the glove box, came around (replaced the cig lighter console) met with the iCharger and wrapped it up in the coil, and along side of gear shift, and done.
I am considering a cell phone holder mount to hte passanger rail, or the thing with the flip down door. Otherwise its fine as is, I pic it up and scan for a artist album. Oh by the way, all I do to switch to the iPod is to touch the CD/TAPE button on the stereo, it alternates between the stereo cd player and the AUX changer labeled CD-C (iPod).
Still with me? Wow thanks for reading hope it helps in some way.
Anyways I also have a 03 Accord, although there are other adapter, in addition there seems to be a noise issue, I am opting to wait and try Blitsafe adapter due out this July (thats what they told me in email). In the mean time surprisingly iTrip works well, not perfect but tolerable, in the Civic it was bad, here in south florida every station is used. But anyways for now I will use the battery draining iTrip which I place in the big pocket thingy. Lying at am angle its veiwable and workable as is. Another thought is to use the dock and lay it down in the coin tray somehow or even just stick it on top of, plop in the iPod, its in a convienent location.
I'll Post back with pictures.
Any questions will try to answer for you.
Well quickly learned the iTrip was not going to do the job, soon worried if things don't work out, its not going to be fun returning this expensive toy.
I knew that a inline FM modulator would be far better, but knew it would not be perfect. I thought there has to be a way to tap into the AUX port on the stock head unit.
Searched the whole day, at first did not know what the names of these pieces of hardware to go by, towards the end of searching for some 12 hours, about the 8 hour mark I finnaly started to stumble upon forum post by users discussing things like PIE, SoundGate, and Blitzsafe, among others like ICE link, etc... not to mention those scary ground loop problems, actually my first clue for all this stuff came from searching through the XM site's to see how users installed into their cars.
Jackpot I found the solution. But which one? So this is my isntallation and my thoughts about all the options.
First off, what adapter are you going to use:
Blitzsafe
P.I.E.
SoundGate
ICE link (although not a adapter but allows stock car controls to work iPod -very limited expensive luxury, convienence is expensive)
Next, Which cabling option:
Belkin auto kit w/line out* (volume adjustment slide)
Monster iCharger (not iPlay model)
SIK imp
First I would like to take note that through searching many sites it appears the ground loop noise problem can appear in any certain combination, either because of the car make modle, depending upon certain stereos, stock or aftermarket, this noise problem can occur, more so in some than others. Thanks for those who try the first time and report back here, I say thank you! Give help knowing what to expect and help cure problems.
I liked the Blitzsafe, it seem as though it had higher success accross all the forums I came accross, remember people try all types of adapters in different head unit/car applications with different power sources, some get noise problems while others do not, there are lots of variations so it may not be a particular problem associated with a specific device, its difficult to get an understanding because obviously no one is going to trouble shoot spending money on each option to narrow down the cause. Its up to all of us to provide feed back to compile the information to see what known to work and not.
Next to decide, to Belkin or not to Belkin... this was difficult to choose, again particularly for my application, the Civic, any of the options seem to work without ground noise trouble, seems as thought they got the wiring correctly done in the little Civic, compared to the Accord which apparently has ground loop issues -I will tackle that problem later, hopefuilly the new Blitzsafe AUX adapter (due out July) will help. In considering the maximum flexability, and taming all them wires, keeping it neat, I figured that the SIK would not be considered, yes I could wrap the wires together so not to have two wires hanging around everywhere. I had the Belkin first but did not like the line out* which was not a true line out (note however for some this is good because for some reason there head unit does not play nice with the default line out settings, so this adjustment helps level things correctly).
I did not want a wire on top and bottom to charge, though the iPod batt should last pretty long, hell after 8 hours of driving I would be stopping to recharge myself let alone the iPod. But again I wanted the line out route.
I did think of this option for the Civic, it has a cd music case holder below the stereo, it has a flip down door. Now the dock is too big to fit -so as to flip down (then just plop the iPod in essentially leaning up agains the stereo console in its natural position in the dock, when done, remove, put iPod inside and flip door/dock up closed -I would never leave the iPod in the car). However one can makeshift a slider where when you flip open the door/shut the door it sides in and our. Just a thought for those who are reading this far. A simpler consideration using the fip down door is to use those iPod cases which have a cell phone swivel on the back and make shift a connection on the door, when open one can just simple securly hang the iPod for easy access.
Ok I did like the Belkin pause feature and did check out the possibility of opening it up and manually fixing the cable wire ends directly to power/RCA (a hidden hard wire solution) it would be posibble but I chickened out, I would rather save 30-40 bucks returnig nthe Belkin then rather chancing screwing things up and having nothing in the end -I have not practiced much soldering.
I was sold on the Monster iCharger when I discovered that it had a coiled cord so I could easily feed the audio cable through (so as to be one cable) for a real line out on its dock connector! Also if I needed the cig lighter power for other things such as cell phone or radar detector, I can unplug the iCharger and it will nicely dangle along side (remember the coil cord wraped aroound the audio cable keeps it together) if needed to remove the iCharger altogether I could unwrap the audio cable and just plug into the head phone jack (iPod volume full up for equivalent sound like that of the line out).
Finnaly now how the hell do I get to the the head unit?
For the 02 Civic I quickly found information that informed me that the lower console the piece which contains the cig lighter can be simply removed, I found the simplest way to flip open the cig lighter cover, place my thumb (when power is off!) into the cig lighter, apply pressure down or to side inorder to get a grip and pull out, you will NEED another tool at this point, you will see a seem seperate around the console piece, with a large flat head driver, with light pressure go around the seem there are three placstic clips, top left, center, top right, slowly pry around these point more and more and it will pop. Now your half way, there are two plastic clips on the bottom, left and right these are tough because its at a down angle and it aukward to get a good position to pull out the console, just keep tugging side to side and it will pop out. Believe me for some reason once aligned its easier to put back in.
With my big hands I was able to reach around and plug in the Blitzsafe... feel around and get to know what what back there, the connector is located on the right passanger side of the head unit. connection tab is up ontop. Took me a few minute and different hand posstions but finnaly it slipped in easily. The Blitsafe is a samll adapter and have RCA inputs, I gathered the slack of the Monster audio cable wrapped it up connected and placed into pocket (lots of room) lead the audio cable down the passanger side toward the bottom of the glove box, came around (replaced the cig lighter console) met with the iCharger and wrapped it up in the coil, and along side of gear shift, and done.
I am considering a cell phone holder mount to hte passanger rail, or the thing with the flip down door. Otherwise its fine as is, I pic it up and scan for a artist album. Oh by the way, all I do to switch to the iPod is to touch the CD/TAPE button on the stereo, it alternates between the stereo cd player and the AUX changer labeled CD-C (iPod).
Still with me? Wow thanks for reading hope it helps in some way.
Anyways I also have a 03 Accord, although there are other adapter, in addition there seems to be a noise issue, I am opting to wait and try Blitsafe adapter due out this July (thats what they told me in email). In the mean time surprisingly iTrip works well, not perfect but tolerable, in the Civic it was bad, here in south florida every station is used. But anyways for now I will use the battery draining iTrip which I place in the big pocket thingy. Lying at am angle its veiwable and workable as is. Another thought is to use the dock and lay it down in the coin tray somehow or even just stick it on top of, plop in the iPod, its in a convienent location.
I'll Post back with pictures.
Any questions will try to answer for you.