IPOD Kits

[kryton01]

Hi,
Anyone here know of a decent Ipod Mini adaptor or kit that will fit the Vectra? I am after one which alows you to use the steering wheel controls.
Cheers

[Robward27]

I know of some one that has wireless in car kits and or wireless units that will work with ipods, cd walkmans, tape players etc

the in car version plugs into your cigar lighter socket then you tune in the radio to a preset signal. you then still be able to use the steering controls for the volume, the only thing you cant do is change tracks.

they are from about £20 for the kit that works on anything anywhere and go up to about £30 for the in car version.

have a look at his web site www.daycall.co.uk and goto the audio section on there. the sites not finished as yet but it will give you a better idea.

[edition100]

May be of some help in your quest, there again ..................

http://www.caraudioplus.co.uk/mcp/iPod.html

[Bainie]

I have been looking at this kit, I want to leave in the original stereo because ti looks a lot better than a single conversion in my opinion, the quality isn`t too bad but I would like to adapt the ipod in, don`t know if this kit works though ?? looks like it will

http://www.caraudioplus.co.uk/pp/iPod_-_Sony_MP3_Car_Kits/iPod_Adapters_for_Factory_Radios/Vauxhall_iPod_Ice_Link_Plus_Adapter.html

[Bainie]

Sent them an email & got this reply ... Not looking good then ...

cdr2005

Hi Tommy,

The only Ipod adapter that can be used with the CDR2005 is the New Ice Link FM

This is a high quality FM Modulator designed by Dension to suit vehicles where they do not offer a direct applictaion.

Take a look here:

http://www.caraudioplus.co.uk/pp/iPod_-_Sony_MP3_Car_Kits/iPod_Adapters_for_Factory_Radios/Universal_FM_Modulator_iPod_Ice_Link_Adapter.html

If you have any further questions, let me know.

Thanks

[kryton01]

Cheers for replies folks. I have seen a kit for VW's and was hoping that something similar was available for Vaux's. The FM kit seems the best option but hope that there isnt much interferance.

[peterm]

I've got a Dension ice link fm with the standard CD30 head unit. It fits quite easily behind the head unit and sounds great - nothing like an itrip or similar ****. I bought mine from www.cooltopia.com and fitted it myself in half an hour or so.

[SignumPhil]

I'm working on a home brewed kit, using an inline FM modulator that I've got kicking around. The CCR2005/2006 has no external line-level input, apart from a mono one for phone use.
I just need the time to wire it in!

Phil

[greeningr]

Hi Peterm,


I've got a Dension ice link fm with the standard CD30 head unit. It fits quite easily behind the head unit and sounds great - nothing like an itrip or similar ****. I bought mine from www.cooltopia.com and fitted it myself in half an hour or so.

Can you advise what channel the ice Link fm outputs on? and wether it is changeable.

Very interested in this as have the CDC40 with DAB.

Thanks

Richard

[peterm]

It is changeable with a switch on the side of the modulator box itself. I think the choices are 88.0, 88.4, 88.8. Obviously you pick a frequency and leave it otherwise you'd have to take the head unit out to get to it! You then tune one of your presets to that frequency. Not sure how it would work with a DAB head unit as mine is just a CD30.

[kryton01]

Cheers Peterm.
You say this unit fits behind standard stereo, does it allow you to control Ipod using steering controls?
Cheers

[greeningr]

It is changeable with a switch on the side of the modulator box itself. I think the choices are 88.0, 88.4, 88.8. Obviously you pick a frequency and leave it otherwise you'd have to take the head unit out to get to it! You then tune one of your presets to that frequency. Not sure how it would work with a DAB head unit as mine is just a CD30.

Should work fine as the CDC40 DAB also has Standard FM RDS radio.
Do you have any pictures of it?

Richard

[peterm]

Cheers Peterm.
You say this unit fits behind standard stereo, does it allow you to control Ipod using steering controls?
Cheers

No - it just allows you to play the ipod through the head unit as if it was connected through an AUX input (it connects to the aerial). It doesn't control the ipod.

[svpworld]

I tried all the FM solutions, none of them are perfect but of course they allow you to retain your existing head unit. Main problem for me was the lack of deep bass and splashiness in the treble / lack of stereo separation. In the end I ordered a single DIN Alpine cde9850ri for £149 which not only sounds fab but has a dedicated ipod dock line connection AND full control over searching the ipod on the head unit. Easy enough to fit, sounds awesome! It would have almost cost the same for a 3rd party add on with FM modulator....

Simon

[peterm]

Any chance of a picture, plus details of what other bits you need to fit one? Does it work with the display screen and steering wheel controls?

[svpworld]

Here are a few pics of what you get in the box (http://www.svpworld.com/alpine_cde9850ri.htm) with the Alpine unit.

The only other bit you need is a vauxhall facia adaptor kit to match your car, from the dealer at around £20. Comes complete with a harness to adapt the existing wiring.
You will lose your display of radio station/cd track and steering wheel controls, but you can still see the date/time and trip computer on the vectra's display (at least for the 53 plate vectra c - not sure what happens with the newer facelift models). I believe there is a kit to use the steering wheel controls, but its expensive and so I havent bothered with it (about £70+). There is though an option of an IR remote control from alpine for about £20 which mimicks some of the main operations, handy.
You can read my thread on fitting it here (http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5874), I'll be posting some photos of it in the car shortly....

Simon

[svpworld]

Ok here are some daylight photos of my new Alpine CDE-9850Ri install in the Vectra SRi.. For your info, other gadgets on the dash include sony p900 handsfree and dell pda mount for tomtom navigation.

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/fromback1.jpg

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/closeupblue1.jpg

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/closeupred1.jpg

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/ipodconnection.jpg

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/fromdriversside1.jpg

Will attempt some night shots to show you how it looks if anyone is interested....

Simon

[peterm]

Does it charge the ipod too?

[svpworld]

Yes it charges the ipod whilst connected.

Simon

[svpworld]

Here's what it looks like at night, well the photos dont do it justice but you get the idea....

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/night-blue.jpg

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/night-red.jpg

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/night-red2.jpg

http://www.svpworld.com/images/CDE-9850Ri/closeupred-night.jpg

Cheers
Simon

[Pingu71]

Hi

I want to fit a Denison Ice Link this evening. Having taken the radio out do I need to take the cage out too to get to the ariel to plug it in? If so is there an easy way to remove the cage? (CDR2005 btw) Or is it better to take some of the dash panels off for access?

Thanks in advance

Lee

[scott_150cdtisri]

no you dont need to take the cage out i didnt, just the glove box too. personally i didnt find the dension to be that good, i now have one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kensington-Digital-Transmitter-iPod-White/dp/B0007XXHNW/ref=pd_ka_1/202-2928086-6503801?ie=UTF8&s=electronicsand the quality is really good but each to there own.

[Pingu71]

Thanks Scott, I'll try limiting it to the glove box. I have an iTrip FM transmitter and am generally pleased with it except for when I travel in or around London where it seems to need constant retuning to avoid the pirate radio stations and such. Am hoping the Denison is a little less sensitive to that until such time as I can splash out on a new head unit.

[SignumPhil]

If you've got small hands, you can pull out the glove box and reach around the back of the cage to get to the antenna connector. If you've got big hands, like me, you can do the same thing, but with more blood!
I find the ICE-Link FM acceptable, though obviously not as good as a line in connection. Because you're connecting in-line with the FM connection, it doesn't have any issues with needing to retune.

Phil

[scott_150cdtisri]

ok chap i first started with the dension, then moved to the alpine 9850ri and now im back with the cd30 and the kensington one. i sold the alpine because although it did sound better i prefered the look of the factory head unit and i can still use the steering controls. i think what fm modulator you have they are all pretty much the same but im happy and never had to retune and hope you will be with yours too

[astrocat]

I'm playing my mp3's through the FM transmitter built into my Garmin Nuvi 760 on a 4 gig SD card, mate, the quality is brilliant.Can't pick the difference between CD and the Garmin FM transmitter. My old ($50Aus) Ipod transmitter is staticyyyy and cracklyyyy..Yuck. I'm going to run over it with the Veccy (I'll youtube it ;)).