I just installed my kit to the ipod nano tonight, and the only problem I have is the sound quality. I don't know if anyone else notice this, or is it just me. I have a after market stereo system in my car and from the sound i'm getting a bit distortion. I just read on this thread that I should not plug both ends into my ipod, is that what i'm doing wrong?

Yes - the ipod connector is the only thing that should be plugged into the ipod. The other connector is for auxillary devices (for instance, I will be plugging my portable DVD player into that for my son).

dag

Thanks dag, it worked perfect when I didn't plug in the jack. I wish the thing would come with some instructions, then again I don't know if I should feel stupid or upset. So now all I can say is, this really really is worth it :rock: as long as you don't plug in the other jack, it ruins the sound quality and gives a lot of distotion.

It is awesome - ain't it :)

After a couple hours of installation (everything is fucccking frozen here, so all cable and connector were hard to remove) I can now enjoy the pleasure of mp3 in my RX-8. First time I put it on, it did'nt work. CD player did'nt want to work and mp3 player either. I don't know if it is because I removed the radio fuse or if it's because I just played with the connector at the back of the radio but It started to work correctly after that... First I was scared not having the good head unit firmware.

I only have a bad comment... connector on the mp3 player... kind of realy cheap. I will probably soldering it with hot glue.

Ok, I guess I feel stupid now because I just read the first post on this thread. It says 1/8" stereo plug for other auxilliary input. :banghead: hahaha. Now my only question is, can I change play list with the HU, or do I have to change it on the ipod everytime?

looks like I just found my answer for the playlist thing. I guess it's better for me to get a mount then. Having it in center can be hard when driveing stick.

Just got in from installing my iPod kit! Thanks to all the input here, the dash removal was pretty straightforward. Knowing where all the clips were made everything very easy. The toughest part was disconnecting the wiring harness connectors, but I managed with only two of them disconnected.

Anyway, I put the AudioLink module in the glove compartment as others have done, so my iPod Nano is out of site. I would have preferred a little more cable so I could at least try an alternate place for the iPod that makes it easier to access, but it's no big deal. Everything works great and the sound is excellent!

I also have a Sirius Starmate Replay that I wanted to connect to the unit. Since the 1/8" stereo cable is also pretty short, I just ran an extension for that cable back behind the radio, and down through the ashtray, which is where the Starmate sits. I was using wireless FM modulation before, and now I can actually enjoy distortion-free Satellite radio. :-)

Thanks RPM!

All,

After reading everything here, I jumped on the bandwagon and bought the IPOD kit. Thanks to all for the tips, pictures and links to instructions!!

It took me a little longer than most, but I'm not the most inclined at this sort of thing but still pulled it off!! One note the clip on the cover over the gear box just behind the brake next the cup holder is fragile. It was the last section that popped out for me and I broke it...but testors glue quickly fixed it.

The sound is fantastic and I'm impressed thus far! Thanks RPM

Water

Yeah, I forgot about that. That same clip broke on my cover as well. It didn't completely break off -- it just snapped on one side so it's not a whole piece now. It seemed lock in just fine when I put the cover back on, but maybe I should try fixing it. I know I'll be taking that piece off again sometime soon...

Bonus for right-hand drive RX8s....

You can connect to the rear of the head unit without removing anything. Just dropped down the glove box & felt around behind the HU & found the connector (ok, I have skinny fingers). Anyway, all done & installed all in 5 minutes.

Wayne.

tiny tiny tiny
 

you must have the smallest fingers ever.. i felt back there until my wrist was shot and finally THINK i found the connector.. getting the connector back there is problem two, getting it AND my finger back there to push it in is completely impossible. Any tricks?

Not really any tricks. Just feel around the back so you can work out which way up the connector needs to be. I put the cable in first, then managed to squeeze 3 fingers in & manouver the connector into the socket. Kind of surprised me that I was able to do it actually. I have a new(ish) RX8 & wasn't too keen on pulling it to pieces.

How is the engine noise suppression with this unit?

If you're using the iPod or USB port, there is no engine noise since the units are powered by the headunit and they are sharing the same ground. Ground loop noise problems typically occur due to audio systems being grounded at different points on the car.

Does anyone else have an issue with their iPod not automatically resuming when you start the car? It seems like my Nano will resume if the car's not off for too long, but usually I'll just see the battery charged icon and I have to manually resume it. It's not a big deal, but I thought it was supposed to resume every time the car was started, even if you leave it overnight.

Thanks for any suggestions. :)

i ordered mine yesterday and i want to say thank you to falcontx. He was very helpfull against a rookie :)

Resume
 

Mine automatically resumes where I left off. I have even left the car sit for a weekend and when I started it, the ipod resumed where I left off.

I wonder if it has anything to do with having my Satellite radio hooked up at the same time. Of course, it's not powered on when the iPod is playing, but maybe there's some correlation there?

I'll disconnect the radio and just keep the iPod plugged in to see if that makes any difference.

I also have a nano. It's like a 60/40 percent chance it will/will not resume at startup, regardless of how long the car has been off. Hitting the play button on the nano makes it resume. I wonder if it is a nano issue?

Harmon Kardon
 

Check out Harmon Kardon drive and play, just came out at Circuit City, has backlit lcd screen you can mount almost anywhere, a little ball type joystick and fm wireless for the ipod, it looks good, wireless integration and only $199, got me one of those! :rock:

No offense, but your post is a bit off topic. Aside from that, many people consider FM modulation to be inferior to wired solutions.

He is good at that...

So has anybody tried this with a 9.53 firmware? I see 9.55 required, and saw mention of problems with 9.50, but no mention of 9.53. I may be able to persuade myself to order one of these (FM transmitter was good enough for my Celica, but not for the rx8, oh no) but there's no way I can make myself ship my head unit somewhere or pay $50 to get it flashed.

I do not believe it will work with anything lower than 9.55.

falcontx...sent you a PM. Please reply

I just installed mine, but I screwed up somewhere because now my radio doesn't get reception. which plus is the antenna plug so I can tighten that up? Anyone know?

Mine doesn't resume playing after being stopped for more than a few minutes either. It appears that it will play when you select another source, ie radio etc. and then pause again when selecting EX1. (the opposite to what should happen), I have a 60gb ipod.

Wayne.

The antenna cant be tightened, it just plugs in and sits firm. if you are looking at the HU from the front, the antenna plug is at the top left. Its the only plug that isnt a connector so that should make it easy.

Add me to the list of those who just installed this and love it. I dropped the infamous hidden nut when taking it off so I just left it out. Also taking the wires off is a pain so I removed the glove box an easy removal(check your interior air cleaner too when you remove) and was easily able to connect the adaptor from the back of the glovebox area without having to unclip any wires. Also like that I can install my Sirius tuner with the 1/8 input cord(got an extention from Radio Shack for the 1/8) and keeping the IPOD in the glovebox.

Can someone who has it installed on a Bose system try this for me: Turn your volume to 15 BUT don't connect anything to it. Do you hear any noise or more specifically an intermittent beeping. I hear it, but its pretty faint, but I am getting some noise from mine when the ipod is plugged in through the dock connector...especially when there is a second or two of quiet space before a song starts...almost like the old school hiss you got with cassette tapes...except it doesnt happen on the 1/8 plug and sometimes you hear some random noise. I am waiting to hear back from Falcontx about it.

I can check for this in a few hours when I'm off work and post my findings. So far I haven't noticed any noise and I've had the volume turned up pretty high.

As for the music not resuming (in my other post), I guess it must be a Nano issue... maybe the flash drive acts differently than the iPods with hard drives when connected to the AudioLink module.

Thanks..please let me know what you find. I think it will be easier to hear if you don't turn the ignition..just the ACC

As you know i ordered my Audio Link and its shiped few days ago. But i don't have any ipod at the moment. What will be the best choice ?Are all of them working perfectly with AudioLink. I am planning to buy 60Gb ipod video black version is it ok or any suggestions

Mehmet

Well, I'm hearing the same faint beeping. Never noticed it before, but with the ignition off and the iPod unplugged, I hear it when the volume is above 10. As long as I can't hear it over the music, I guess I can live with it... but I'd still like to know what is causing it.

I have a 30GB ipod. The little quirks don't seem to bother me at all. It sounds great and I can control through my steering wheel. I usually have it set to shuffle songs.

dag

Yeh..the beeping doesnt bother me because its not audible when the car is turned on and music is going. I think it could be a timer/clock chip inside. I am more irritated with the fact that I can hear some noise during low passages in music. If I have nothing connected to the dock and I jiggle it, I hear popping through the speakers sometimes..I definitely have a grounding problem...on mine. If I ever hear back from FalconTX, Ill get a replacement..

I'll mention the faint beeping to the manufacturer to see what's causing it. Also, I'll be sending you a PM shortly djseto.

I just finished putting one in a clients car for his Sirius piece, I can't get it to switch over to it. Is there some trick for the deck to recognize it ? I have pressed the CD buttons a few times, tried the mode button on the steering wheel, tryed the Tape/MD button on the deck, nothing.

Help ? Anyone ?

If the unit is not immediately recognized, disconnect the battery or the main headunit harness. Sometimes it is required to completely remove power from the headunit in order to get it to recognize the AudioLink for the first time.

Make sure it has the right firmware. I don't remember how to check for that, but I'm sure it's somewhere in this thread

Hey quick question if i need to upgrade the firmware i just get that done at the dealership right? any idea how much that costs? Also, I have an xm2go and instead of using the fm transmitter i wanted to hook it up to my stereo via the audio input witha wire. Is is possible to sue the audio input on this device for my xm head unit?

You can try to get it done through the dealership, but I'm not sure it they will do it. I know that the guys at www.mazdaparts.com can do it for $50.00.

Yes, you could definitely use the AudioLink product as a line input for your XM unit.

thanks
 

hey thanks falcon I appreciate it. I'm definately interested in your product sounds like the best deal. another quick question. In order to get the firmware upgraded do i have to send them anything or well how do they exactly upgrade it or is it someting I have to do myself and they send me something.

Bear in mind that if you do send it to MazdaParts you are going to be left with very limited A/C or heating controls while the firmware is getting updated.

So, say you are going to do 2-day shipping to and from MazdaParts. That is going to be a total of $40 for the two-way shipping, $50 for the firmware and not having your climate controls for a week.

I don't have my IPOD unit installed yet but I had to go through the firmware mess I mentioned above.

-Mr. Wigggles

mazdaparts.com is charging $95 for the update now.

Ergh

I'm going to be stuck with cds forever :tear:

Well, I'm glad I got it when I did. It might be better just to get a new HU from Mazda alltogether.

-Mr. Wigggles

its well worth it. once you can put your ipod in and control it via your steering wheel, you'll never think CD again.

Confused...
 

Well, I have had the Audio Link IPOD Intergration kit for approx. 1 month. Been perfect since....that is until now. I was driving around and was listening to my IPod through the radio, and accidently hit the mode button on the steering wheel. This switched me to FM1. The problem I'm having now, is that I cannot switch back to EX1 or even CD. I thought we were able to switch throughout the different types of modes without any problems??? I tried turning the car off and disconnecting the Ipod and connecting it again and still no function of CD button. What do I have to do to fix this. Should I disconnect the Radio fuse and then connect the fuse and the plug the Ipod back in.??? I want to get this fixed asap, because I'm going out tonight and want to listen to my Ipod, not commercials... :Freak_ani Well if anyone can help, I will greatly appreciate it...

-Rich

Sorry for the long post