iPod / MP3 aux in for 9-3

Just been mulling over what method to take, and had a thought on what could potentially be an easy way if you have the optional CD changer.

Once the signal to change to the external player has been sent via the HU, the HU is waiting for audio input from the external CD.

From an audio point this would be Ground L & R chanells.

Surley if you were to intercept the audio feeds, and put a switched socket, you could effectivly stop the music from the cd getting to the amp , and then feed

your MP3 output in via a stereo mini headphone plug.

This would also have the advantage that there would be no 74 minute pause, as the amp woudnt know when the end of a CD is reached.

You wouldnt be able to use the hands free controls to change tracks, but i guess thats a small price to pay

is it feasable


Mart

That'd work fine so long as you're not too fussed about the sound quality

Even encoded at 256Kb/s + the signal's already gone thru enough mangling to get onto and out of your i-Pod/Mp3 Player. To then modulate it, Mux it transmit it, recieve it de-mux and demodulate it seems a bit harsh!!

(tongue firmly in cheek!)

At the end of the day - it's horses for courses - I'm a bit of a stickler for good sound quality (I can't tolerate MP3's coded at anything less than 196 Kb/sec for example) and I think it's worth the effort to maintain the purity of the signal. (If I could wire up my ageing turntable reliably into the car I probably would!!) I've tried FM transmitters and Cassette adaptors (uurgh!) in the past and have never been happy with them, So for me I'd prefer to do it this way. Full existing functionality is maintained - unplug the i-pod and the unit operates as normal.

The great thing about this thread is that there are now a variey of ways documneted and tested of achieving a result with varying degrees of complexity and functionality - so there shoudl be something for everyone.

Can i suggest an easy fix - though it does mean an extra unit in the car. It's called a Pure Highway & what it does is so simple. It is actually a digital radio receiver & you put a small wire in the windscreen to pick up the digital radio, though that is very easy to do, but here's the clever bit, it takes the digital signal & broadcasts it to your analogue radio in your car & as it broadcasts from inside your car the signal is perfect, you just tune your radio to it. but one of the best things is that it has an aux input to plug in your mp3/ipod & it does the same with that - broadcasts it to your normal car stereo. It works i both my grand voyager & our little kangoo, though i must confess i haven't tried it in the saab yet - though i see no reason why it shouldn't.

bought it in argos for about £75 i think.

Hi.
I have an 05 convertible that I wanted a better ipod connection in and a parrot. I have been trawling through many many pages on this and other forums looking for a solution. I went for a parrot MKi9200. I did not want to play through the front speakers only so I got a 't' harness off Ebay that connects into the EHU. The fibre optic cable and bus lines come out of the OE connector and plug into the new connector. The parrot lead plugs straight into the T harness and music comes out of all 7 speakers when using my phone or ipod. I did have to connect the yellow mute wire from the parrot into pin 4 of the 375 plug.
All in all I would say this took about 2 hours....mainly because I couldnt work out how to remove the EHU. Again, dead easy when you know how.

When I use the Parrot, the display shows 'telephone'.
The lead was £12 on ebayand the Parrot was £159 on ebay. THe parrot charges the ipod and it displays the ipod menus on a colour screen.

I hope this helps anyone with upgrading. Options are quite limited with upgrading and the saab ipod connection is pretty poor so if you want a quality ipod connection AND a parrot.....this is the surely the best route.

ps i am a newbie so please scuse any omissions or errors.

Hi,

The CD player in my car doesn't work.
It seems the disk isn't rotating anymore.

If I insert a disk there is some action but I can't hear it rotating.
After a minute or so the inserted disk comes out again.

I don't want to play disks anyway.
But I am wondering, would I be able to modify it to be used as an MP3 player?

It seems a bit silly to buy a new radio system only to disconnect the CD again.
Bypassing my broken player would be the ideal solution.

So I have a UK 2001 Saab 93 with the stock single CD in the dash. Similar to this:
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/Saab9-3/Images/Dash.jpg

I really want to add a line-in but my tinkering ability is pretty limited.

So FM Modulators seem like the best option for me. I have had a professional install quoted but are in the region of £150 so that’s out of the question.

There are a couple I have seen as possibilities for self install
http://www.ipodxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.co.uk/Connects2_iConnect-FM_iPod_Adapter
http://www.ipodxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.co.uk/Dension_ice>Link_FM_Modulator

The only thing I worry about is adding a power connection. Splicing and soldering wires scare the life out of me. However the two solutions linked above seem to suggest its easier than that. Can they just be wired in to the existing wiring harness and is that a relatively easy job?

If anyone has any experience in either of these products Id be really interested to hear how they went. Is one better than the other?

Thanks in advance everyone.

Right scratch that. Seems the company I was linking to has a terrible reputation.

Done some more reading and hoping I can achieve what I want a bit cheaper.

Using a Connects2 system. Planning to use ScotchLoks to keep it simple.

Questions now are:
1. Will splicing in to the 'Ant Trig' wire work to power it? Assume that is the trigger for the motorised aerial so will turn on the modulator when radio is switched on.
2. Can I still use the radio and will there be any interference issues?

Any help much appreciated

Edit. If not which is the best wire to splice in to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/7247883394/