jwbond

I just bought an ipod photo which I would love to wire to my bose system. i have heard of some people having problems with icelink...are there any other good options and what do these options cost?

lurch519

If you have the factory nav, reference these posts that I made

post 1

post 2

Nice piece, i plan on getting one as soon as its available. All told, retail price will be about 450, plus install, and you will also be able to incorporate video into your factory nav.

I will be getting one as soon as its available for my Alpine sirius tuner, and ill let everyone know how it works out.

kachud

I have the Ipod Photo as well. The icelink does have its issues but with the firmware 2.06 it fixes most of its issues. (NEO comes with 2.05 and you have to upgrade it). BTW I though about connecting the ipod photo to the navigation screen via the Mazda video switch. Unfortunately the ipod only displayes photos and not the music screens.

RX8Josh

I also have an Ipod and just got and RX8 but i do not have the Nav. System is there any other way to connect my Ipod to my factory head unit.

kachud

You don't need the Nav. I have the icelink plus and it connects to the factory head unit. I just wanted to see if I could get song titles on the nav screen. I think the best setup for the price is just use the PIE adapter from Thew for an aux input. If you want to be able to advance or rewind from the steering wheel, you will have to shell out an extra 120 bucks and get the NEO system. (which is the icelink plus repackaged) There is a big question mark weither Dension the manufacurer of icelink will continue to make adapters for the RX8. Order soon or it might not be available. There are a number of threads that go into more detail just search.

x-cimo

Hello!

I have read near all what is available on the internet to get my ipod to work with my mazda3 (not everyone can afford a RX8 :D ).

There is a lot of ppl in this forum who have installed a icelink or other device to get their ipod to work in their car.

Unfortuatly it appear that dension & neo ion (dension), have discountinued their kit for mazda vehicule.

I wanna know if someone know any other device that would let me control my ipod with my wheel button (next , mute etc..).

So far the only solution that still available is to get the PIE adaptor & a RCA to 1/8'' but this methode dosn't give you control over the ipod..

My next step is to buy a aftermarket HU (such as alpine) but that would destroy a bit the look the the car.. (and i guess my wheel button won't work either..).

Hope you can help me to find an alternative to Dension...

jwbond

lurch, that nav control unit by alpine is VERY interesting. however, i am assuming it will be controlled by the same joystick control that is used to control the nav? i find the nav controls a horrible pain. however, that doesnt mean this would stop me from having this done to my 8. when do you plan on getting it done?

lurch519

From what i understand, the alpine piece will be controlled via an included infrared remote control.

I will be purchasing the Nav interface as soon as it is available from my dealer, which I am told should be around the end of april. As soon as i have it i will do a write up on it and post pictures/impressions.

I will be using it to interface with my Sirius satellite radio, but it will work with any Alpine Ai Net devices such as the iPod interface, cd or dvd changer, etc.

I will also post what I will be able to get and sell these for, as I am sure I can get em and sell em cheaper than what retail is.

If I can get a good price, and there is interest in these, I will be able to set them up for sale on ebay.

chuck

jwbond

provided it can all be wired to the stock head unit i'll be buying one...so it is controlled via remote control huh? that makes it better than the nav controls, but i think ill have to super glue mine on the dash somewhere as I am prone to losing things.

lurch519

i was thinking of getting a lanyard or something and wearing it around my neck. i am the same way with losing remotes/or not using them. i worked in a car stereo shop for 6 years, always had the top of the line radios in my car, always had the remote, but would usually lose it in like 2 weeks.

hey, maybe ill get it chrome plated and get a platinum chain.

it'll be BLING BLING.

hahahaha

said7

what is you dont have navigation can you still use the AV input?

lurch519

I am not sure if the unit will be able to interface with the factory radio as you do not have the nav. It is being marketed as a hub for integrating with factory nav or video systems.

As I havent even seen one or the instructions manual or played with one, I am not sure if there will be any way to interface with the factory h/u.

If you don't have the nav, I may suggest waiting til Metra has an install kit that will allow you to put an aftermarket h/u in, as you won't need to worry about the integration with the Nav.

I had a $600 Alpine radio in my civic that I had to sell because I have the Nav in my 8, and it would be way too cost prohibitive to try and interface with the factory Nav and an aftermarket radio.

jwbond

from reading the alpine catalog further it looks as though you can add an ipod and satelite radio....is there anyway to add dvd functionality to the nav screen? or is the resolution too low?

lurch519

From what i understand, you will be able to add up to 2 video sources, as well as a backup camera, and use them through the factory nav screen.

I am assuming (unfortunately we all know what happens when we assume) that the nav display is 640x480 resolution, which beats whats on regular television by at lease 2 times.

I had read in one of the other threads on here that some people were experimenting with hooking up their computers to the nav display, and that some people had moderate success with that, and if you can put a computers output up on the nav, and have it usable, then it should be fine for video.

I do not know what the color resolution of the display is though, and if it is only 256 color, that would suck.

The primary reason I am getting the piece is so that I can put my Sirius back in, cause I just hate listening to the local stations, and when i travel I hate having to keep changing channels.

I am considering putting a sony ps2 in once i get the piece so i can do a little movie watching, esp when i am at shows. You can only walk around a show so many times b4 it gets old.