iPAQ audio through car stereo

[A1Dox]

Hi all,

I'm trying to decide between an iPOD connected using aux-inputs to the car stereo or the iPAQ (with jacket and PCCard HD) connected the same way, to fill with tunes.

As a test, I've run TTN and WMP together, and the navigation instructions are just about the right level over the music (albeit a bit tinny through the iPAQ's speaker.

Does anybody know if I can simply use an appropriate adapter lead between the headphone socket on the iPAQ and the RCA line inputs on the car stereo or would I need something active to convert between the headphone level and the required aux input level?

The iPOD is much bigger storage-wise, but obviously needs another cradle/charger/mount, whereas the iPAQ exists, already has a mount and power, but currently maxes out at one or two 5GB HD's or a PCCard IDE adapter and an external HD (which is as awkward as the external iPOD solution). Using the iPAQ seems neat, but as a colleague pointed out, feeding it through the car stereo may cause the navigation instructions to be muted if the phone rings in the car-kit... 8O

What does the panel think?

Regards
Dox

[lbendlin]

Uhhhh, you seem to have a whole media center setup in your car....

I would guess the iPAQ headset output might be a wee bit too strong for your RCA line inputs. Maybe you can at least include an optical decoupler or an attenuator of sorts to make sure the input doesn't blow away.. (you never know what volume level you have the headset output set at...)

Other than that the iPAQ setup should work, and you can buy lots of Micro-Drive hard disks (instead of the PC-Card IDE) to make sure you have enough storage ;-)
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Lutz

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[Nick412]

you can get a simple cassette that is wired with a headphone socket for £10 from maplin.

just insert the tape into your radio (if you have tape etc)

and plug the jack into the headphone socket on your pda.

now all instructions get played through your stereo speakers.

the only downside is, depending on what your stereo is, you will have to have the tape playing to be able to hear navigation through your radio etc, this means you wont be able to play music and hear instructions at the same time.

Its ok for short journeys, but im sure i would need some music on for longer trips

or you could simply buy a powered integrated speaker mount.

Cheers
Nick
_________________
Dell Axim X5 400MHZ - 128 CF Card - 256 SD Card - Rikaline 6010 TTNV2 (UK+Europe) - Checkpoint 2.02 - PPC 2002
www.mobilephonegames.ws

[Nick412]

unless you added mp3`s to your pda storage, and played whilst driving.?

i tend to do this, as i can play all my favs using my pda, and also hear navigation when required, as its all going through the same system etc.

Cheers & hope you come to a solution.

Nick
_________________
Dell Axim X5 400MHZ - 128 CF Card - 256 SD Card - Rikaline 6010 TTNV2 (UK+Europe) - Checkpoint 2.02 - PPC 2002
www.mobilephonegames.ws

[A1Dox]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the reply... I've seen the cassette adapters and the (illegal to operate in the UK) FM modulators but wanted to try and use the line-in on the head unit to make the solution more 'fitted' and of reasonable audio quality.

I haven't heard particularly positive feedback about the cassette or FM routes, but for a tenner might give the cassette route a go. I pass Maplins off Regent St on my way into work, so might pop in 8) My HD jukebox choice was settling towards the iRiver iHP series as they have line-out, a remote that means I could hide the unit from sight, but possibly not as neat as just adding a CF/SD/PCCard (with Jacket) to my iPAQ.

I'll have a ponder and post the result of my shopping ;)

Regards
Dox

[Dave]

Dox, I used to use FM Modulators and have about half a dozen here of various sorts, since moving house and finding my old cassette adaptor, I've started using this and I must say the quality is better. The FM Modulator although I used to like you had to keep tweaking it a little to retune it all the time and you would get bleedover from other stations depending on time of day and atmospheric conditions, so I can say that a DECENT cassette adaptor (mine's Goodmans) works better, just make sure you don't have a cheap and cheefull one.

[Nick412]

I can not fault mine, superb sound quality, and a cheap solution at only £9.99

I asked at maplin for the FM Modulators, and they advised they are now illegal to use in the uk, as people were using them as pirate radio stations (or so they told me).

I think if tomtom ever produce a mount that has ps2 awell as RJ-11 connection hole etc with integrated speaker, these would sell like hot cakes.

Cheers
Nick
_________________
Dell Axim X5 400MHZ - 128 CF Card - 256 SD Card - Rikaline 6010 TTNV2 (UK+Europe) - Checkpoint 2.02 - PPC 2002
www.mobilephonegames.ws

[Nick412]

maplin also create custom cables/leads, so you could also ask about the possibility of them making a headphone jack to audio line in cable ?

Not sure if its possible, but worth asking the question

Cheers
Nick
_________________
Dell Axim X5 400MHZ - 128 CF Card - 256 SD Card - Rikaline 6010 TTNV2 (UK+Europe) - Checkpoint 2.02 - PPC 2002
www.mobilephonegames.ws

[A1Dox]

Dave, Nick,

Thanks for the replies... I'll track down a cassette adapter to try. I've got an album in .WMA format on my Map SD card which means I can play for the cost of an adapter, which, I guess I could still use if I switched to the iRiver for music.

If it works ( I was listening to the Darkness through the iPAQ speaker on my way home last night ;) ) and the nav level is okay over the music, I'll look at a jacket to add some decent storage to the iPAQ.

Regards
Dox

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