iPod in Car...

[Morgan Ellis]

Has anyone purchased the iPod wireless attachment for in car use? If so, were you happy with it?

I just bought the crappy-ass cassette attachment, and trust me on this - save the $20. It's noisy, rattles, and the song jogs when the tape reaches the end.

I've heard that there are new in car stereo systems that accomodate a fire wire connection for iPods - anyone purchased one?

I'm torn between getting the wireless attachment, or just waiting and putting one of the new car stereos systems in when I get my new car in February.

-- Morgan

 

[auto doctor]

The big question is how much money do you want to throw at it. When my cd player dies. I will consider digital radio that is portable from car office and home. It comes with a walkman style portable box that plugs into car and home bases and is all digital music. The draw back is the monthly charge.

 

[Morgan Ellis]

OK, wait - are you referring to Satellite radio? Because I've been pantingly awaiting the arrival of satellite radio in Canada for what seems like forever!

Is it finally available here?

-- Morgan

 

[onthebottom]

I have an iTrip FM transmitter and am happy with it outside the downtown Toronto Core. The trick in our area is finding a clear FM station to use. Sounds great.

I would agree, I use the above, a car lighter power cord and the dorky white cup holder thing (looks stupid in the store, works very well in my Land Cruiser). Awsome setup.

OTB

 

[auto doctor]

Morgan. (The great geek hunter)

Yeah satelite service in canada has not made the masses here in Canada. (at home cable and satelite yes) But I hope the cd player I have will hold out till then. I found a site in the US of A that will credit you with an upgrade factory radio for all the major manufacturer through SIRIUS.

 

[onthebottom]

Stupid question alert,

How could satellite radio work in Minneapolis but not Toronto? Is this just a licensing thing (couldn't you just go to Buffalo and buy it) or is there a real issue?

OTB

 

[auto doctor]

yep

 

[TheNiteHwk]

Stupid question alert,

How could satellite radio work in Minneapolis but not Toronto? Is this just a licensing thing (couldn't you just go to Buffalo and buy it) or is there a real issue?

OTB

Yes it works in Canada. I know a truck driver who has one in his truck. However you have to subscribe to it just like DirectTV or Dish Network. To do this you need a U.S. address. So you need to have a residence in the U.S. or of course you can always rent a mail box. As far as I know there are no pirate cards or anything else like that.

 

[Morgan Ellis]

Well, that would work. So I can go to Radio Shack in Buffalo (fantastic geek hunting at Radio Shack, btw. I've heard they're even extended the season to 'thin the herd out' in certain locations), buy a Satellite Radio, use a friend's US address for the billing, and it will work in Toronto?

Pleaseplease tell me this is so....

Does anyone have a web link to US satellite radio providers?

-- Morgan

 

[auto doctor]

http://www.sirius.com

don't forget your bright clothing. But I think your headlights should daze them unto submission.

 

[TheNiteHwk]

Links here:

http://www.xmradio.com/index.jsp


http://www.siriusradio.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1018209032790

Oh and answer to your question above is: yes.

 

[robert99]

Alpine has an iPod connector for its headunits.

 

[Morgan Ellis]

headunits.

Dare I even ask what a headunit is? I mean, I can think of a few interesting interpretations, but I'm guessing they'd all be wrong....

Morgan

ps: thanks for the links! I'll be in Michigan this weekend, so I'm going to check it out. They grow their geeks big over there.... I might have to outfit myself at Cabellas (holy grail of all hunting outfitters, for those who've never been - link here ).

 

[robert99]

A headunit is just another name for the car stereo dash unit.

You can read more about the alpine and ipod interface here

http://www.alpine-usa.com/products/leading_technology/leading_tech_kca-420i.htm

PS mods the Automatically parse URLs option isn't working :-(

 

[El_Cid]

Morgan: The itrip works well but sometimes in some areas and in high-er altitude spots your signal might degrade. Also if you only drive in the city mostly it's hard getting the right FM station to set: I use either 88.9 or 87.9

now, on the other hand Sonnet Technologies www.podfreq.com makes the PodFreq which is a bigger device kinda like a plastic see thru case that uses the dataport at the bottom ofthe ipod to get the sound signal out and transmits it via a retractable antenna. The results is really awesome stereo quality sound that will blow you away. It is expensive (about 100$ U.S.) some stores in do carry it but you have to look for it or call their distributors in Canada http://www.emj.ca/ or order it online from amazon or the apple.ca store.
take a look at the playlistmag.com site for a review of podfreq http://playlistmag.com/products/complete/60-detail.php

also you do need a special adapter to supply power to the ipod thru the podfreq. a regular car adapter will not do the trick.

 

[Morgan Ellis]

I'm thinking about just waiting having the Alpine unit installed in my new car, since I'll have to install a better grade stereo than the one it comes with anyways.

That's another issue altogether, of course - anyone on here good about car stereos in general?

I'll be looking at Satellite radio units while I'm in the states this weekend - I'm assuming Best Buy will be the place to check out - but also want something that will play CDs and allow me to direct plug my iPod into it. I wonder if that's too much to expect from one unit...


-- Morgan

 

[robert99]

Look at the alpine 9820xm, you'll have to buy the add on component for the iPod ~ $100 USD

 

[canucklehead]

My 3rd G Ipod just (hehehehe) mounts into a slot into my car stereo and plays directly. in my truck i use the Itrip and as previously stated it works great outside of downtown.
My 1st G Ipod only works with a separate Itrip device.