ipod, which is the best way of connecting to a TVR
Discussion
Have you tried a transmitter yourself? I'd read lots of people on t'interweb saying the reception was poor, but then I heard one for myself. Pretty good to be honest, and a really easy, removable system.
Next simplest is Aux in, which some head units have. You can use a 3.5mm headphone jack to connect from iPod to car..
check out Everythingipod for more options
Next simplest is Aux in, which some head units have. You can use a 3.5mm headphone jack to connect from iPod to car..
check out Everythingipod for more options
I believe the ariel is in the drivers side front wing, so putting an iPod/iTrip combo in the drivers door pocket (idealy possitioned for the in-car charger to go into the lighter socket) will give the best reception.
Obviously this is all hypothetically, as radio transmitters like the iTrip are illegal to use in England...
Or get one of those Alpine or Pioneer stereos with the built in iPod connector.
Obviously this is all hypothetically, as radio transmitters like the iTrip are illegal to use in England...
Or get one of those Alpine or Pioneer stereos with the built in iPod connector.
I am an ipod nut, gotta have all the gadgets, but in my opinion the radio transmitters are pretty poor...and thats not just in the chim, the only car it seems to work ok in is the missuses pug 306.
I got so annoyed with the constant channel setting and judicious placement to get reception, that i gave up. There are two ways to do it if you want to spend a little extra cash, but both options will involve changing your current audio setup.
option 1, get a Car stereo with a minijack input
JVC are particularly good for this, but there arent many manufacturers that do it. the minijack port is an AUX input and you will get better sound quality than a tranny'Jut need to get a minijack-minijack lead and yer set.
option 2, Pioneer, Kenwood and Alpine all do a ipod adapter for their range of stereos that support CD changers, the unit plugs into the CD changer port and then you connect the ipod via its dock connector. the great thing about this is that you get full control of the ipod through the stereo, track selection, EQ track names etc. IMO the best value items are here:
www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/91395/art/pioneer/cd-deh-p5700mp-car-radio.html?rd=1
&
www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4174&cadid=1a4962e0af69aab4a60512b63121a083www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4174&cadid=1a4962e0af69aab4a60512b63121a083
These are good prices, a pukker ipod setup for 170 quid you can get many more pioneer head units that'll do it, the lowest spec one is the DEH 4700
Hope this helps.
I got so annoyed with the constant channel setting and judicious placement to get reception, that i gave up. There are two ways to do it if you want to spend a little extra cash, but both options will involve changing your current audio setup.
option 1, get a Car stereo with a minijack input
JVC are particularly good for this, but there arent many manufacturers that do it. the minijack port is an AUX input and you will get better sound quality than a tranny'Jut need to get a minijack-minijack lead and yer set.
option 2, Pioneer, Kenwood and Alpine all do a ipod adapter for their range of stereos that support CD changers, the unit plugs into the CD changer port and then you connect the ipod via its dock connector. the great thing about this is that you get full control of the ipod through the stereo, track selection, EQ track names etc. IMO the best value items are here:
www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/91395/art/pioneer/cd-deh-p5700mp-car-radio.html?rd=1
&
www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4174&cadid=1a4962e0af69aab4a60512b63121a083www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4174&cadid=1a4962e0af69aab4a60512b63121a083
These are good prices, a pukker ipod setup for 170 quid you can get many more pioneer head units that'll do it, the lowest spec one is the DEH 4700
Hope this helps.
I did a bit of research on this and have the following set up in my chim -
1)Sony CDX head unit with aux in sockets at the back.
2)Audio wire connecting head unit to ipod which sits in the gap under the dash in the centre console
3)wireless remote on the back of the steering wheel (so it cant be seen) to change songs without taking hands off wheel
To be honest, I just set the ipod to shuffle and use the ffwd button on the remote til I find something I like.
I will get the connector which allows me to change songs/see song names on the head unit when they come down in price.
1)Sony CDX head unit with aux in sockets at the back.
2)Audio wire connecting head unit to ipod which sits in the gap under the dash in the centre console
3)wireless remote on the back of the steering wheel (so it cant be seen) to change songs without taking hands off wheel
To be honest, I just set the ipod to shuffle and use the ffwd button on the remote til I find something I like.
I will get the connector which allows me to change songs/see song names on the head unit when they come down in price.
I use an iTrip FM transmitter on my Cerb and it works absolutely fine. My daily driver Passat uses an Alpine set-up and an IPod adapter (which allows you to control the iPod remotely) and gives slightly better sound. However, given how damn noisy Tivs are the iTrip works absolutely fine. One tip I have found is that iTrip works better if your car's aerial is rubbish - probably why it works well in the Cerb. So if you have a bee-sting aerial remove the shaft, and if you have a traditional metal one keep it retracted.
have used the iTrip in a cerbera and tuscan, reception as good as most commercial stations. This obviously overseas as they are still illegal in the UK. The only problem regarding reception is to make sure you find a blank freq, and preferably one with space around it to preclude interference.
OK. Here we go:
The iTrip from Griffin is pretty poor and damn fiddly to keep tuning in. Bin it.
There is a new one out that has dialable frequency via two little buttons. The signal is much stronger and re-tuning is in seconds. It is superb. Even in London where Gansta Pirate Radio polutes every free frequency. If the iPOD is close enough to the stereo then it will even blank our strong stations.
Your main issue is how to keep the iPOD close to the stereo. Mine just sits by the handbrake fine. But when hooning some form of basic craddle is handy.
If you want to make life very simple and this is what I will be doing soon:
Remove stereo and connect a set of leads to the 'CD out'. At the other end of the lead fix a 1/8 jack and drill the right size hole in the front of the dash and fit.
The iPOD comes with the double ended jack plug lead that allows you to connect the iPOD physically tot he stereo.
All the leads can be bought pre made up off Amazon.
I'll see if I can dig out the links.
The iTrip from Griffin is pretty poor and damn fiddly to keep tuning in. Bin it.
There is a new one out that has dialable frequency via two little buttons. The signal is much stronger and re-tuning is in seconds. It is superb. Even in London where Gansta Pirate Radio polutes every free frequency. If the iPOD is close enough to the stereo then it will even blank our strong stations.
Your main issue is how to keep the iPOD close to the stereo. Mine just sits by the handbrake fine. But when hooning some form of basic craddle is handy.
If you want to make life very simple and this is what I will be doing soon:
Remove stereo and connect a set of leads to the 'CD out'. At the other end of the lead fix a 1/8 jack and drill the right size hole in the front of the dash and fit.
The iPOD comes with the double ended jack plug lead that allows you to connect the iPOD physically tot he stereo.
All the leads can be bought pre made up off Amazon.
I'll see if I can dig out the links.
www.allthingsipod.co.uk/product.php?ProductID=12394
This is the cable.
Can't find the iTrip link but still looking. There are some new transmitters out which are on flexible cords and so you can have the unit stuk on the dash right by the stereo and the ipod wherever you want.
This is the cable.
Can't find the iTrip link but still looking. There are some new transmitters out which are on flexible cords and so you can have the unit stuk on the dash right by the stereo and the ipod wherever you want.
http://shop.ipodworld.co.uk/iPodWorldSite/product/alliPods_FM%20Transmitters/XM09.htm
This is the best transmitter on the market at present. Blows away the old iTrip. No software, just plug it in and off you go.
This is the best transmitter on the market at present. Blows away the old iTrip. No software, just plug it in and off you go.
I found the radio transmitter I tried worse than useless.
I ran a 3.5mm jack flying lead from the Pioneer stereo, using the Pioneer CD-RB20 splitter box which I fitted behind the stereo.
More details on my page:
Zen & the art of TVR Maintenance
I ran a 3.5mm jack flying lead from the Pioneer stereo, using the Pioneer CD-RB20 splitter box which I fitted behind the stereo.
More details on my page:
Zen & the art of TVR Maintenance
Horse_Apple said:
http://shop.ipodworld.co.uk/iPodWorldSite/product/alliPods_FM%20Transmitters/XM09.htm
This is the best transmitter on the market at present. Blows away the old iTrip. No software, just plug it in and off you go.
I also have one of these. It works well and the fact that you can see the frequency it is tuned too much better than the itrip.
Paul
The radio transmitters are not licensed for use in this country. If caught, you risk a fine and confiscation of any offending equipment.
Ok, now thats the sensible stuff over (since its exceedingly unlikely you'll get caught), my recommendation is to purchase a stereo with an aux input, and run a cable down to somewhere it can be hidden away (I have mine ahead of the gearstick, under the lighting controls on my Chim).
The radio transmitters are a very poor substitute for a bit of proper cable. I'm sure it won't be long before somebody invents a portable wifi device that can do this though (google apple airport express).
Ok, now thats the sensible stuff over (since its exceedingly unlikely you'll get caught), my recommendation is to purchase a stereo with an aux input, and run a cable down to somewhere it can be hidden away (I have mine ahead of the gearstick, under the lighting controls on my Chim).
The radio transmitters are a very poor substitute for a bit of proper cable. I'm sure it won't be long before somebody invents a portable wifi device that can do this though (google apple airport express).
If you have a Pioneer head unit then you want one of these:
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3245.html
I bought mine from somewhere slightly cheaper, but can't remember where at the moment.
I've used FM transmitters before - found myself spending far too much time looking at the iPod display.
The Pioneer unit is a much better solution, and you can hide the iPod out of sight (footwell, glovebox, boot) and control is from your head unit.
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3245.html
I bought mine from somewhere slightly cheaper, but can't remember where at the moment.
I've used FM transmitters before - found myself spending far too much time looking at the iPod display.
The Pioneer unit is a much better solution, and you can hide the iPod out of sight (footwell, glovebox, boot) and control is from your head unit.
Bomber Denton said:
I have an Alpine set-up with the Ipod docking station and it is superb, the best way of doing it, access the whole lot via the head unit!!
Getting the following fitted in the Chimaera tomorrow
Head unit
www.alpine-europe.com/content/english/a580.det.CDA-9855R_CD---MP3---WMA-RECEIVER.htm
Ipod interface
www.alpine-europe.com/content/english/a595.det.KCA-420i_INTERFACE-ADAPTOR-FOR-iPod.htm
I'll post how I get on with it soon.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff