The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench IPOD/MP3 Player Connection to your Radio

I learned a lot about connecting an Ipod/MP3 player to a radio that does NOT have an aux input, and want to pass it on to those of you who may be wondering how to do it.

My son has a factory installed cassette/radio in his truck. The wireless FM transmitter option was a joke. Terrible reception. He's been using a cassette adapter to work as a soft/hard wire option. However, he's lost one of the channels and needs another adapter. Otherwise, he's been somewhat satsified with this approach, except the wires look terrible.

This weekend we're going to install an auxiliary input jack on his console. You can get one here for about $15. This will plug into an FM frequency modulator, somewhat similar to this one. (I got a Belkin unit at Best Buy for about $45.)

Unplug the antenna from the back of the stereo and plug in the FM modulator in its place. Then connect the antenna to the antenna input on the FM modulator. Now your radio still has reception.

Mount the auxiliary input jack at your preferred location. I chose the console. The auxiliary input leads plug into the FM modulator as well.

Connect power and ground on the FM modulator.

Now you just connect a 3.5mm lead out of the headphone jack on your favorite music player to the aux input jack. You are now "hard wired" to your stereo, and only have to tune the radio to the required frequency.

Bill

what if you have an AM radio? I have been trying to figure that one out for a while. Anyone with ideas?

Fireballv8,
Check out this website http://www.redirad.com/ it is suppose to do exactly what you want. Have been toying with the idea of getting one for my 69 442 convertible but haven't because I don't use the radio that much and can't hear it with the top down. I see that they have some new models including 6 volt.

Chris

What Belkin device did you get?
I can't find any Belkin FM modulators that are hard wired into the antenna connection.
I did see the Power Acoustik EFM-8 available from Best Buy online.

regards,
Leon

radio shack carries belkin
check their site
http://www.radioshack.com/search/in...20ipod&origkw=belkin%20ipod&sr=1

C&J,
I looked at the Best Buy site, Radio Shack site, even at the Belkin site.
No sign of a Belkin hard wired FM modulator like Bill mentioned.
That's why I'm looking for more info.

Bill, if you're happy with the Belkin hard-wired thingie, I'd really like to know more about it. The Pioneer one doesn't seem to be a universal fit. I'd rather buy one that has a good reputation that take a chance on the Power Acoustic that I don't know anything about. Although Best Buy is pretty liberal with their return policy.

regards,
Leon

I've been out of town, sorry for taking so long to reply-

It has been a couple of weeks, and I'm still EXTREMELY happy with the whole thing. Ordinarily I'd say it has good reception, but it isn't "reception" since it is hard wired. It sounds just as good as well-tuned radio stations or with the iPod with a new cassette adapter. It sounds like I hoped that it would.

I had some erroneous information in my first post that I'd like to correct:

I think it was a Dynex brand, not Belkin. I found a similar unit at Parts Express that is only $39. (This one has a video input. The Dynex from Best Buy only had audio inputs.) If you talk to the car audio installers at Best Buy, they should be able to hook you up to a unit offered off the shelf.

The one I bought at Best Buy has an auto-switch in it, turning on only when a signal from the iPod is detected. Here is a a similar unit but with an external on/off switch. However, unlike mine, this one has a pretty neat input level adjustment on it.

Here is the really cool adapter I used to make the connection, and turned an amateur job into a professional looking installation. I mounted this on an armrest so there are no wires to the dashboard. It also includes the male-to-male cable to go from your headphone jack. With these two components, you could be good-to-go.

However, depending on the head unit you are connecting to, it might be necessary to buy an antenna adapter . Also, I was able to find a hot switched 12v lead at the radio, so I didn't need to buy a harness adapter. Your experience may differ, depending on your application.

I bought my FM modulator at the Weatherford Best Buy. Since you're in FW, I bet you won't have too much trouble finding one. PM me if you need more help getting one here locally.


Bill

Hey Bill,

I went by the Best Buy on South Fwy and couldn't find the an FM modulator like you described. The closest thing they had was one for a Sirius radio. It was from a company called Directed Connections. But it required a signal from the Sirius radio to tune the FM modulator. The little sales guy was no help. He couldn't understand how I could have a car stereo that didn't have an auxiliary input on the front. I think I have tires older than him. Can you further identify the one you bought?

Thanks,
Leon

Here's Best Buy stock information:

Brand: Dynex
Model: DX-A1120
SKU: 6819213
Price: $44.99

(I've seen them on eBay for $10 or less.)

Bill

I finally got all the parts and got it installed this last weekend. It works great. The only issue is that both 88.3 and 89.7 have a station in the area. So when the modulator cuts off, I get different music instead of silence.
Thanks for your help.

regards,
Leon

Hi guys,

Thanks, kenneycj, for mentioning the RediRad...I just wanted to announce that we will soon be releasing an American-Made FM version (the ONLY USA-made version, I dare say) to the RediRad family that is direct-connected (like the RediRad for AM radios), meaning NO interference.

here is a link for more info: http://www.rediscoveradio.com/FM_RediRad.html

Many car radios are wired for an adapter.

I found a Soundgate unit to work in my Jeep Liberty.

My son wanted to connect his Zune. I know they have the same adapter for the iPod.

Best of luck