Stereo ipod controls to control a pc?

**madddoggj** · 09-27-2008, 09:21 AM

Has anyone looked into making a unit that would hook to the ipod input on a head unit that would be able to both send audio to the head unit and allow the head unit to control a pc. I am not sure if this would possible, but it seems like it would be a relatively universal way of connecting a pc to a head unit, since the majority of new cars these days have some form of ipod adapter eirher available or installed from the factory.

Edit: Search is my friend http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/inpu...puter-use.html

**qle1** · 09-28-2008, 12:01 AM

I have done it using the Ipod Adapter on my Infiniti G35.
There are two buttons on my steering wheel I can use to control volume, skipping track
and swiching between several running applications on my computer.

There are several other buttons on the stereo unit that could also be mapped.

It is complicated and you need several pieces of hardware and software to be able to
make it work. You also need to know Apple Accessory Protocol and some understanding
of Lua Programming Language.

Parts I am using:

Ipod Serial to USB 3.3v adapter - $ 30.00 dollars at www.sparkfun.com
Girder version 5 - $100.00 dollars at www.promixis.com
Ipod Dock Extender - $25.00 dollars at www.radtech.us

**madddoggj** · 09-29-2008, 02:30 PM

you don't have any more details do you.
And would you be willing to share the software you wrote to do this?

**qle1** · 09-29-2008, 04:48 PM

no problem, I help you out.
At the mininum you need to get the Ipod Serial to USB adapter.
Here is the link:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...oducts_id=8245

One end of this adapter plugs right into the Ipod adapter on your vehicle.
The other end of the adapter goes to your PC via usb cable.

You need to download the usb driver for the FTDI chipset.
I can get you the link for it later.

Download the 30 days eval version of girder and try it out.

You also need to get the Ipod Dock extension to make the RCA audio input.

**shawns** · 10-15-2008, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by qle1

I have done it using the Ipod Adapter on my Infiniti G35.
There are two buttons on my steering wheel I can use to control volume, skipping track
and swiching between several running applications on my computer.

There are several other buttons on the stereo unit that could also be mapped.

It is complicated and you need several pieces of hardware and software to be able to
make it work. You also need to know Apple Accessory Protocol and some understanding
of Lua Programming Language.

Parts I am using:

Ipod Serial to USB 3.3v adapter - $ 30.00 dollars at www.sparkfun.com
Girder version 5 - $100.00 dollars at www.promixis.com
Ipod Dock Extender - $25.00 dollars at www.radtech.us

How do you get the Apple Accessory Protocol? I am looking for it too, but as far as I know, apple does not give it to the public