how to make stock radio compatable w/ipod???

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Oct 8, 2009
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Does any one know if this is possible? I love having the stock radio but i'm missing my Ipod
 
I can't understand the love of the iPod in the rig. I have almost crashed while playing with the unit while driving. And even in units that let you control them from the head unit, I don't want to leave my iPod in the rig while I leave the rig.

Car stereos are relatively cheap. I would get one that I could stick a MP3 CD or MP3 SD card in instead of my expensive iPod. That way I have no reason to leave my expensive iPod in the rig. JMHO.
 
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One near stock option is to put in a Scion head unit. The T1808 has the ipod and XM interface, and I believe T1806 may have it as well. I put one in last week but don't have a ipod so didn't go through the trouble of buying and running the cable. It takes a bit of cutting on the faceplate to get it to fit but I did it without touching the dash. IMHO it has a very OEM look.
 
Just use a cigarrette lighter charger/FM transmitter and then tune the factory radio into the Ipod. Easy, cheap, works, what more can you ask for?
 
FM modulators certainly are a viable alternative but have very, very poor sound quality. An aux input adapter has arguably the best/CD sound quality but your radio must have the ability for an auxiliary CD player/controls. Next 'best' is the cassette adapter if you have one to utilize. Plus very easy to install at compared to either option above.

I have put these in every car I have owned or driven for the last 3-4 years since going satellite radio.
 
Try something like this: Amazon.com: Scosche Audio FM Modulator - Universal: Electronics as dgangle above says. I run one behind a cheapo Kenwood tape deck, and it works fine. It also allows me to somewhat hide the iPhone/iPod cord, so it just looks like a cheapo deck (and not something worth stealing).

Huge benefit if you use an iPhone, as your calls can also go through the sound system. Except for answering or making calls (tap the screen), it's hands-free.
 
x2 on the Scosche modulator (but make sure that it's the FM-MOD02 model, not the older one). I recently installed one in my wife's Civic, and can tell you that it's WAY better than any over-the-air FM transmitter that I've ever used.
 
I started out with a fm wireless adapter. hated it not good sound quality, could never get it loud enough through the stock speakers. Plus I hated trying to find new stations when I left an area, pain in the butt!!! Especially since I can barely see what station the radio is on!!!Then I tried a cassette adapter. It is like night and day, way louder which is helpful on the cruise into work. Thing is great, gonna keep the stock stereo and still have good tunes.
 
Here's a pretty good description of the ways to connect another audio source to a car stereo, although the first applies only to satellite radio.

From: Crutchfield: LCD TV, Car Stereo, Home Theater, Speakers, Plasma TV



There are several ways to get the sound to play through your car stereo:

•Wireless FM transmitter. Many Dock & Play radios feature a built-in wireless FM transmitter, which "broadcasts" the signal over an FM frequency that's unused in your area. The advantage: convenience — you won't have to connect the satellite radio directly to your in-dash stereo. The quality is pretty good, too (as good as standard FM). The downside: interference from FM signals can sometimes creep in, and you'll often have to switch frequencies if you're driving long distances.
•Auxiliary input. If your in-dash stereo has an auxiliary input, you can plug the satellite radio directly into it. You just need to run a patch cable from the satellite radio's cradle to the stereo's input. Because it's a direct connection, this will give you the best sound quality. Not all stereos have auxiliary inputs built in; some require auxiliary input adapters.
•Wired FM modulator. Some Dock & Play radios let you use a wired FM modulator to get the sound to your stereo. Like a wireless transmitter, a wired modulator "broadcasts" the signal over an unused frequency. You plug the modulator directly into your stereo's antenna input, then plug the stereo's antenna into the modulator so you won't lose AM/FM capability. Because it's a direct connection, it's less susceptible to outide interference (although, you may still have to change frequencies on long drives).
•Cassette adapter. If your stereo plays cassettes, you can connect your satellite radio directly to it (via the radio's cradle) with a cassette adapter. It's a convenient, easy connection to make.
 
not sure you can...and get decent sound quality.
 
guess it depends on how one defines "decent sound quality"
 
Installed the Scion unit and got the cable from sleebay, plugged right into the back of the unit, Ipod works and sounds great. Head unit controls the ipod.
 
Since my FM on the stock radio wasnt that great for a long time i just used a cassette player adaptor.

Basically put the cassette into the radio, and it has a miniplug jack that you put into your mp3 player (i prefer zune :flipoff2:)

That worked for a while until the radio started to think it needed to rewind the tape like every 10 minutes or so and it got annoying so i just bought a Kenwood H/U and Cobra CB and put em in the same loc.
 
Ya... I think most folks will end up changing the head unit.
 
Installed the Scion unit and got the cable from sleebay, plugged right into the back of the unit, Ipod works and sounds great. Head unit controls the ipod.

Which scion unit/cable did you end up using?
 

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