Custom auxiliary audio input?

**xjeff** · 05-13-2006, 01:53 AM

Hey,

I was wondering if any of you could answer my question. My friend asked me to setup her iPod to play ih her 1999 Mercury Cougar...as inexpensively as possible. Obviously she wants the best sound quality for the lowest price, so I started doing some research. I didn't want to go with a wireless FM modulator/transmitter because I've seen how bad the sound quality can be; however, premanufactured auxiliary input converters (like this one for a 1999 cougar) are really expensive.

So I thought to myself, "hey, I'm pretty geeky, if I had some sort of wiring diagram/schematic for the 12-pin auxiliary input connector on the back of the stereo, maybe I could make a custom wire that went from 1/8" / RCA to this 12-pin connector." Has anybody ever tried this (or even know where I can find such a schematic), or should I just go for something like a hard-wired FM modulator? My friend and I are college students, so I'm trying to do this as inexpensively as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Jeff

**SnyperBob** · 05-13-2006, 01:57 AM

What about a wireless FM transmitter? Belkin makes a really nice one - sounds great.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=140984

I have a Belkin that's a little different that the one in the link above. It has an LCD screen on it, and you can manually tune it to whatever station you want. The one I have is black.

This would be the easiest method for a woman driver on the go. And she could use it in any vehicle.

**SnyperBob** · 05-13-2006, 01:58 AM

iPod specific one..
http://shop.npr.org/webapp/wcs/store...sourceCode=gaw

**psyrex** · 05-13-2006, 02:18 AM

If you friend has a tape deck in her car, try this: smartdeck. I hear it sounds pretty good, plus it allows you to use the fast forward and rewind buttons to control the iPod. I read that it's slightly cheaper at Target for $25.

-psyrex

**xjeff** · 05-13-2006, 10:09 AM

Thanks for the replies!

SnyperBob: My sister also has a wireless transmitter for her car. It works fairly well; however, many times the reception isn't that great. I was hoping to use this method as a last resort...I was just looking for a hard-wired method that would avoid these reception issues.

psyrex: Wow, I might try out the SmartDeck for my car! Unfortunately, she doesn't have a tape deck, so that's not an option. That does look pretty neat, though.

-Jeff

**SnyperBob** · 05-13-2006, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by xjeff

Thanks for the replies!

SnyperBob: My sister also has a wireless transmitter for her car. It works fairly well; however, many times the reception isn't that great. I was hoping to use this method as a last resort...I was just looking for a hard-wired method that would avoid these reception issues.

-Jeff

What kind of transmitter does your sister have? As far as I know - the Belkins are about the best. They're so good, everyone within about 20 feet can pick up your audio. I like setting mine to a popular radio station, and watch the look on people's faces when I drive next to them

**Un_discovered** · 05-16-2006, 10:01 AM

Bahaha.
I would love to do that.
I got a cheapo transmitter & player in one.
It's got a USB port and a 3.5mm input.
You can plug just a standard thumb drive in with music files on it (mp3 only though), and it will play them on it's own internal player.
Then transmit through FM.
I've got a flash based MP3, a creative Muvo to be exact. Through a bit of a hack, I've got it plugged into the USB port for power (so I don't have to use my batteries) and a cable running from the player's headphone socket to the input. That way I have more control over the player, and it's easier to navigate through the 120-something songs. Basic, but works.
Though the transmitter is crap.
Terrible quality.
Anyway, I think I've spent enough time raving and ranting about an el cheapo AU$50 device.

**xjeff** · 05-16-2006, 10:36 AM

Thanks again for the replies. SnyperBob: Actually, I'm not quite sure what kind of transmitter she has. It might actually be a Belkin, but I could be wrong.

After doing some research in the library, I've decided that I'll probably just recommend a FM transmitter. Even if I could bust out a multimeter and decide which pin on the cd changer input did what, it would take far more time than it's worth. Oh well, thanks for the help!

-Jeff

**WarDriver** · 05-16-2006, 11:19 AM

This one is ceaper.

**Grimoire** · 05-20-2006, 03:17 AM

IRiver Is the way to go. I have one and I love it. Actually, this is what inspired me to look deeper into Carputer's, if you can believe that. But anyway, great sound and very good modulation. Hardly HARDLY any distortion and only when you loose the signal totally do you hear static.