Sorry, another iPOD question. (Yes I've searched!) ;)

[Scotty]

Hi All,

Ok, I've done a review on every iPOD post on this forum, but there is one thing not clear.

I intend on using my stock OEM HU, due to theiving ba$tard$ having stole my Alpine 7998R. >, so I am thinking of hooking up my iPOD so that I can still have mp3's.

Now, what I'm after is a clean installation. I don't care, that I cannot use the HU controls for my iPOD, but I prefer not to go down the path of FM transmitters or tapes.

So, as this is an OEM, I do not have any aux inputs. I now own a R33 Skyline, so the original unit came in 2 bits. Radio and tape in one din, but as a seperate unit, there was also a CD player. Which from what I can gather, the input is the same as a CD stacker.

So what interests me, is that I have heard that somehow, you can use the line out of an iPOD (docking station) and convert it into an RCA output. Then from your RCA's convert it the CD stacker input.

Is this correct? Now, the docking station is by now way meant for a car, but I still want to use the line out (refuse to use the head phone output) Is there anyway of doing it, outside of expensive aftermarket designs. You know, like hacking up some cable or something???

Anyway, another thing is that I don't know whether my OEM unit has the traditional stacker input. I have attached a photo here for your reference. The unit on the right is the tape deck, and has the input, the unit on the right, is the CD player, where you can see the cable pins. I guessing even if I did use this input, I'm going to still need to power the iPOD up seperately right. How can this be done??? (Battery maybe)

Anyway, please advise if this can be done.

Thanks heaps.

[someonestolecc]

The screenshot you've posted is the whatever-bus connector/port for cd changers.

I have no idea how you'd splice this from an ipod dock but the way you said seems possible.

Ipod dock> rca> your cd thing

Now - as far as I know the cd thingy (the connector in your photo) is proprietry. They all look the same but I've been told some are different. Unfortunately I'm not too sure about those as I've never had or played with a stacker.

What I can say is that there is info on the net to make the ipod dock go to RCA. So if you can find the pin layout for your cd stacker connector and can make it into rca then you should be right.

Barring that you could just do away with the RCAs if you could find the ipod dock connection and use a generic firewire plug in thing and do it direct (if ya get what I mean).

For everything except making your cd stacker connector thingy into RCA you should be able to find in this section of the forum.

[Chris Rogers]

use the headphone out on the ipod run that to a 5 pin plug . there is a control lead that will have to go to +5v to make the main unit switch over . if you have a multimeter and a bit of time you cna sort it easily. only issue you will have is engine noise.

If I had one of the units I would pin it out for you.

[Chris Rogers]

power wise I would suggest a battery to avoid the engine noise issue.

yes it can be done as the cd unit puts out a .5 - 1 v signal to the main unit. the headphone jack will serve as a 'gain' control of sorts.

FM docking station to RCA. done it. works ok but is a pain in the ass to get right. best to make a cable.

show me a pic of the front of the radio and I'll see if I can find one up here.

[Scotty]

Chris, you're a legend,

I guess, if it would be easier, can I just ship the whole damn thing to you. I'll send you the HU, all cables and jacks that I already have, as well as enough money for you to send it back cable and all. What do you think?

Else, I'll take a photo of the front anyway........ but yeah, from the sound of things, i do not have the expertise to know what I'm doing. Multimetre, whats that??

Anyway, thoughts??

Thanks again for your assistance

[Chris Rogers]

pm me (or email ) and I'll send you my contact details.

need both units. as I need to poke and prod them

[EvilINGT]

Too bad your alpine is gone, as alpine now make a ainet connector/cable to hook ipods up to Alpine gear.

Evil

[Chris Rogers]

which is essentially what I'm doing with the OEM item. they want $60 + for their one.

[tang0]

best thing you can do for ipod connectivity is to buy a belkin f8v7058-apl

it plugs into the cig lighter, and has a socket in it to plug in for tape connectivity.

i then hacked the cig lighter thing apart, and pulled out the line level wires and hooked into the aux input on my pioneer. wire in to a +12 behind the dash, and just leave out the cord to plug into ipod. make for a very nice and neat install.

now your only issue will be the aux input on the std unit !

[Chris Rogers]

I have the std unit now so once I pin it out his one will work.