ApeWare

I posted this in another thread, seemed like it may deserve its own.

I am using the following set-up:
Kuda Mount - $50 on Ebay
PAC SNI-1/3.5 Ground Loop Isolator - $12 on Ebay
AuxMod - $60 from Sylfex
Dice video Cradle - $40 on Ebay
PocketDock - $28 on Amazon (I bought this before the above set-up, but I used the iPod cable to mini-DIN from the PocketDock to connect the DICE cradle to the AuxMod)

I also have a vControl bluetooth speakerphone I purchased a couple years ago - apparently the company has gone out of business - shame :-/. I suppose you can find another bluetooth speakerphone system out there somewhere on that interweb. ;-)
Parrot looks promising, but I have no experience with it. YMMV

Anyway, it took me about 2 hours to install (mainly because I had trouble removing the radio to install the AuxMod). The system works flawless with the iPhone. I don't care about making playlists, or integrating with the radio display or steering wheel controls; it is easily accessible - can reach it with my hand on the shift ****. When the phone rings, the music fades and the vControl rings through a speaker under the dash. I hit a button on the center console to pick up the call (or I can touch "Answer" on the iPhone). When I hang up the music fades in.

Another benefit of this setup is when I turn off the car or remove the iPhone from the cradle it automatically pauses.

I did a LOT of research on the iPhone options out there and this was the best solution. Clean install, no audio/cell interference, no BS playlist set-ups, SUPER clean sound and reasonably affordable (hell, you bought an iPhone so you should be able to afford this). All of the above mentioned components are very high quality and work beautifully.

This solution would work very well with the iPod Touch, but I am not sure if it would be the best solution for a normal iPod. Cosmetically, yes. Driver safety, probably not.

I hope this post is helpful for those of you looking for an iPhone solution. After weighing the pros and cons of every solution I could find, this - IMHO - is the best [iPhone] solution currently available.

If you have a working iPhone install or you can suggest an improvement, please share

ghanaboy

Very nice! Looks very OEM. I hooked up my iphone audio and video to my factory NAV system with the AudioLink and the AVElectronics Lite Video Switcher to be able to play songs and videos in my car. I did have to get a separate authentic apple cable for the video part because apparently the iphone detects if the video cable is not genuine apple.

ApeWare

Thanks. I really wish I had the nav screen (so I could repurpose it), but I have the Shinka model and they did not offer it with the nav.
I bought a vCommand nav unit (before they went out of business). The nav is great, but obviously becoming outdated. I prefer it over the screen navigation, but I guess I am going to have no choice but to upgrade navigation someday.

Just wish it would not cost an arm and a leg to replace the dash with one that has the nav pocket. Oh well.

hemanrulez

ghanaboy : are you able to display album art on the NAV screen with or does the iphone just pump out video? I bought the iphone video out cable a while back, but havent uest it yet. This sounds very interesting. Can you post a DIY if you set this up yourself

ghanaboy

I have 2 cables.. one is for the iphone videos and the other is for the iphone music. I can control the music volume and skip songs, etc with the steering wheel controls. In this case the album art is displayed on the iphone itself.

When I want to display video on the NAV screen, then I have to switch to the authentic Apple video cable (it doesn't allow me to use a generic video cable to play videos).

I didn't do it myself but for the audio I got the AudioLink and for the video I got the AVElectronics video switcher (Lite) and the apple video cable. I also got the backup camera since the video-switcher has 2 video inputs so whenever I'm in reverse it automatically displays what's behind me on the backup camera.

Everything was bought from www.therpmstore.com (reseller for AVElectronic) but you can look at the video switcher and backup camera options at www.avelectronic.com

hemanrulez

well yeah I read up on the video/tv out feature of the iPhone and it does not display album art which is kinda lame. Only video's which I'm not too crazy about.

If the next version of the iphone supports album art via TV out then I'd definitely consider getting the AVE box. If its just audio I wanted I'd probably just install the standard OEM 30 pin ipod connector.

Here's hoping either a software update or the next version of the iphone supports album art, can you imagine how awesome it'd be having albums displayed on the Nav while listening to the song.

tournapart

iTrader: (1)

I am curious about the controller on the center console. Is that part of the Bluetooth setup or something else? That thing is sick. I want one for my car

ApeWare

Yes, that was part of the bluetooth component. Unfortunately, they do not seem to make it anymore. I really liked the size of the controller, and it integrated very well with the interior. It looks stock and works well. Would be worth scouring the Internet and seeing if you can find one (new or used). It is an excellent solution - not sure why company disappeared.

AntonToo

NIICE - so clean - I want!

Will this setup work with stock Sirius module or do they plug into the same place?

ApeWare

iPhone line out hooks into Tape/MD connection, so you don't loose satellite. Sound is great. I actually rarely listen to satellite anymore, but I can if I want.

ApeWare

Also, I thought I would mention that Dice has not made a 3g adapter for the holder I am using. They expect to have one by Jan 09. The cradle comes with several adapter and I am fairly certain that one of the other adapter that it comes with *will* likely work fine with the 3G.

AntonToo

I think 3g uses the same 30 pin interface - the only difference is the phone itself is a bit wider