Ipod integration with navigation
 

My coworker just got an rx8 and would like to put an iPod in it. The only problem I see with him using a direct connect adapter is I am not sure if it will work with navigation. Does anyone know?

Umm that didn’t really help very much - I have seen people mention it in other threads but I can’t find a yes or no answer. :confused:

They're links to the two things you need to hook up an Ipod. I thought that is what you wanted, as an aux AUDIO-IN has nothing to do with navigation.

Simple answer - yes.

Also, they have different holders for different Ipods. Here's a link with more stuff - http://densionusa.com/merchant/merch..._Code=IA_Mazda

Thanks for the info - so I can get this to work even though he has Nav. correct?

YES

ADVERB:
It is so; as you say or ask. Used to express affirmation, agreement, positive confirmation, or consent.

NOUN:
Inflected forms: pl. yes·es
1. An affirmative or consenting reply. 2. An affirmative vote or voter.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
Inflected forms: yessed, yes·sing, yes·es
To give an affirmative reply to.

INTERJECTION:
Used to express great satisfaction, approval, or happiness.

I have the Nav unit and installed the Dension hookup for my IPOD. To be honest it is not worth the extra cash. There are a few to many quarks to deal with. Like occasionally you will have to shut the entire car off to resink the ipod. If I had to do it over again I would just get the pie adapter or wait for a better unit to come around.

You don't have to restart the car to relink with the iPod. Just press the FM button on your stereo and then press the CD button again - this will relink.

How often does it loose the link?

F

Rarely.

When my ipod loses the link, I have found that I hace to turn of the head unit, unhook the icelink cord from the ipod, hook it back up and then turn on the head unit. If you want it to shuffle through all songs, be sure to scroll to shuffle on your ipod before hooking up to icelink cable. Otherwise I have found the icelink will only play the songs in your playlists in the order that you have placeed them. It will not shuffle.

If you get the icelink v1.1 then you do not have to unhook and re-hookup the ipod. This is because it dosnt install dension firmware onto the ipod which disables its controls when you drive (you have to use their menu). I believe this will only happen when you, for example, are playing a playlist then want to switch to play one artist song then you would have to do the on-off re-hookup trick.

Its a liability thing, ipod gave dension the ok then said that the ipod has to be disabled while driving for saftey reasons(similar to ourt nav not playing dvd's). of course people do what they want and found out yoyu can unhook it and crap.

The only difference in the 1.1 and plus besides whats mentioned above is that the 1.1 does not have id3 tags which if you are using the factory HU will not get anyway. Also it dosnt have "playlist contol" which is by pressing 1, 2, 3, ,4 or 5 on the HU will give you the the first 5 playlists; but of course you can play a regular playlist as normal.

oh its also cheaper.....

I have the ICElink plus and it looses connection 1 in 3 times I start my car. Once the entire until looses connection with the headunit the entire car must be shut off and turned back on to reset the icelink. I have tried every combination of turning my head unit off, ipod disconnection and even switching to fm and back to ex. Nothing works exept a total system shut off. If you ask me the icelink plus has too many problems for the money.

BTW To randomize the playlist you just hit the random button on your head unit.

icelink plus
 

Try downloadiung firmware 1.6 (or 2.6, whatever it is, x.6). Still not without quirks, but no longer necessary to turn off ignition.

Does anyone have a copy of the Dension firmare upgrade for icelink plus? They took it off of their web site.

Never mind. I found a link http://install.dension.com/updateil2.html Looks like Dension is having major trouble with BMW's so they removed the link on their web page.

Alpine has a piece that integrates with the factory nav that will allow you to hook up to their AI net iPod interface and allows you to control it via remote control through the nav display. The piece is not released by Alpine as yet, but should be available towards the end of april. As soon as its available i will be getting it and doing a mini write up on is with pics of the istallation.

Lurch, do you have any links to Alpine's web site about this product? I would love to know more about it. Thanks!

The address for alpine's website is www.alpine1.com , and they do have information on the iPod piece there, but the VPA-B211A is not available yet, but there is some limited info available if you click here .

The retail price is somewhere around 100 bucks for the iPod piece, and the retail on the VPA is going to be around 350. I will be getting it through my old job (worked 6 years for a car stereo shop) and if you want one i should be able to get you a better price on the piece.

I understand that the piece should be available end of this month.

I have alpines current spring catalog and if you want i can scan the page with the VPA on it and send it to you.

Let me know.

chuck

edit:

heres a link directly to the catalog

click here

I'm definatly interested in information for the VPA-B211A. If you do scan it I've love to see it.

^What he said. Good find.

heres a link directly to the catalog. Once its available i'll post pics and my feelings on the piece as well as what price i can get. I will be getting it so i can use my sirius satellite radio I have the Alpine siruis tuner.

Alpine Catalog

Thanks Pgershon, the upgrade made the reliability a lot better. I owe you one.