iPod connection to car stereo

[Alexis]

Hello there,
I have a car cd/radio unit onboard, that has a USB connector on the front panel. When I plug my iPod in, using the dedicated USB cable, my iPod gets charged and I have a great sound. What is not so good is that the cd/radio unit takes control, meaning I have to use it to choose the music I want to listen. Doesn't sound that bad, but problem is then that the tunes are not grouped by artist or album, but appear with what seems to be a randomly attributed index number, meaning I cannot listen to a chosen artist or album.
I would like to know whether I can alter the connecting USB/iPod cable, so that the iPod is charged, the line out signal gets to the cd/radio unit, put that I can controll the iPod using its own click wheel.

Does anyone know?
Cheers,
Alexis

 

[kingfisher]

It can't be done.

When you connect an Ipod to a PC and read it in explorer as a portable hard disk, (make sure you show hidden files) you will see that Apple stores your mp3's in hundreds of little maps, named F01, F02 etc. The playlists themselves are created in a seperate file.
That is also why you cannot just copy music to your Ipod, and need to use a conduit, such as iTunes.

Several solutions:
1) connect the ipod to the USB for the powe, and the headphone jack to the AUX IN of the radio. That way you can use the playlists
2) use the Ipod as a mobile harddisk: create folders (jazz, 80's, heavy metal,) and put the relevant MP3s in there. The problem with that is that each mp3 can only appear in one single playlist.

I have bought a portable harddisk from Lacie of 80Gb, for 80€, (http://www.lacie.com/uk/products/product.htm?pid=10831) and just dumped all mp3s on that. CHeck if your car radio can read playlist files, so you can create playlists.

But using the ipod playlists? nope.

Or you can get yourself an ICE controller (http://www.dension.com/main.htm)

 

[gjgm]

another idea.. you can get an FM transmitter that the Ipod sits into, slot it into the 12v socket, and tune the CD/radio to a free channel.
Griffin is a popular make, but try ebay for others.. from about £15 upwards. Size wise, depends which Ipod you have, though...

 

[pvb]

iTrip...

I use an iTrip FM transmitter with my Nano - works fine, and also means I can have the Nano in the cockpit and choose music and volume from there.

 

[wotayottie]

kingfisher

SWMBO has an IPOD whilst I have a cheapo clone mp3 player. the latter can be seen on the PC as a hard disk and files dragged and dropped etc. would this work with a car radio?

Mind you, I have problems with this unit when copying ripped files from linux. whilst all the artist / album info is clear in linux, it doesnt seem to get transferred over so that media monkey (which I use to organise music in XP) doesnt recognise the file even though the mp3 player will play it.