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Budget Ipod automation

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by samdaman, Oct 1, 2007.

  1. samdaman

    samdaman Junior Member

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    After much searching, I found a sub $20 product that does exactly what I had been looking for.

    There doesn't appear to be much of a distribution network in the US, but it is available on Amazon as ASIN B000OIIGP4 -- item model number BI-CAR.

    What sets it above the average ipod car cable is that it turns the ipod on AND puts it in play mode [from where ever it stopped] when you turn on the ignition, and puts it into pause mode the instant you turn off the ignition [and from pause, of course, the ipod turns off on its own a short time later]. Of course, it requires an ignition controlled lighter outlet and an aux-in jack for the audio -- but this is a Prius group after all.

    I just can't believe this product isn't being hyped big time.

    [Actually, I can't believe Toyota isn't just including one with every Prius with aux jack...]

    ADDED 10/8/07: I should note that my ipod is a gen-5 ipod. The cable may or may not work with the new classic, nano or itouch. There are apparently issues with third-party video cables with those new ipods, and while I have not heard of any issues with third-party audio cables, I do not have one of the new ipods, so I can't say if it will work with any of them.
     
    #1 samdaman, Oct 1, 2007
  2. pparkinson

    pparkinson Junior Member

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    This sounds like just the ticket. One question: Do you get any background noise when using the lighter power? I have a "standard" setup with an after-market cig lighter adapter for power and a cable from the headphone out of the iPod to the Aux Input. When I use the power adapter I get lots of background noise (the Prius manual actually warns about this), so I just run the iPod off its battery, then charge the iPod while I'm listening to the radio.
     
    #2 pparkinson, Oct 4, 2007
  3. samdaman

    samdaman Junior Member

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    I can't detect any background noise even at high playback levels, and a lot of what I play is spoken word, so it's not just because I'm playing loud music... I have had dc adapters in the past that had introduced noise, so I do know what you mean. YMMV.

    One slight warning -- I should note that since I have been using this unit [about a week now], I have had one occasion where the ipod went into pause as though the ignition were turned off [it was not]. It only happenend once, and it won't bum me out unless it gets frequent. Again, YMMV, but for $20, I can hardly complain. I'm sure it wasn't designed for a car with quite the amount of stuff going on and off all the time as in a Prius.
     
    #3 samdaman, Oct 5, 2007
  4. mseebode

    mseebode New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(samdaman @ Oct 1 2007, 09:30 PM) [snapback]520093[/snapback]</div>
    Please excuse my ignorance, but I don't have my Prius yet (week of October 22nd is delivery window!). Is the lighter outlet in the center console/compartment ignition controlled?
     
    #4 mseebode, Oct 8, 2007
  5. samdaman

    samdaman Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MonicaMS @ Oct 8 2007, 11:49 AM) [snapback]522728[/snapback]</div>
    Yes -- at least in the '07 model. I can't speak for the '08 which is what I assume you are getting.
     
    #5 samdaman, Oct 8, 2007
  6. AndyMartin826

    AndyMartin826 New Member

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    I have an '06 Prius, Aux jack in the center console with a power jack. I had been using a Belkin charger that sounds a lot like what you're describing here, charger had a mini-plug on it that you plug into the AUX jack. Great audio, no interference, turned the iPod off when you turned off the car, it was great on my 30GB iPod video and 2GB nano. However, I just got the new iPod Touch as a birthday present last month, and it no longer works. New iPods aren't necessarily compatible with the older accessories. So, no I'm back to the old school way of headset out of the iPod into the AUX jack.
     
    #6 AndyMartin826, Oct 8, 2007
  7. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ParkPeterson @ Oct 4 2007, 07:55 PM) [snapback]521525[/snapback]</div>
    A Ground Loop Isolator should take care of it the background noise.
     
    #7 aaf709, Oct 8, 2007
  8. Spoid

    Spoid New Member

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    I just got the unit samdaman recommended and it is fantastic. No background noise and it stops the iPod so I don't lose my place in my audio books or podcasts. This does 90% of what I want and at that price, the other 10% seems insignificant.
     
    #8 Spoid, Oct 11, 2007
  9. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Just so we're all on the same page... here's your other option from Belkin.
    http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage...oduct_Id=149006

    The one in this thread is nice in that it has the audio cable included to plug right in - no extra cable needed. Nice!

    Now... who has the sub $20 solution that also lets you display and control the ipod info on the MFD? :D
     
    #9 darelldd, Nov 1, 2007
  10. sparkyAZ

    sparkyAZ übergeek

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Nov 1 2007, 05:42 PM) [snapback]533591[/snapback]</div>

    Check out my posting on the AXIPTA interface. It's not sub $20 but it does allow control of the Ipod from the MFD and stereo controls.

    http://priuschat.com/Scosche-AXIPTA-Ipod-i...ace-t40642.html
     
    #10 sparkyAZ, Nov 10, 2007
  11. chich2000

    chich2000 Junior Member

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    Has anyone found something like this that works with the ipod touch?? I just got the ipod touch not too long ago and I am looking for the cheapest way to pause my touch when I shutoff my car and get best sound quality possible, but I don't want to spend $150 or more for it.
    Thanks in advance.


    Update---Well it seems like nobody actually cares about this post. Anyways just incase someone is wondering, I ordered this product to test it out on my g5 ipod and come to find out it now works for the ipod touch!! Well it just pauses it when you shutdown the car, but it's better than doing it manually. I don't know if I'll keep it for the touch, but my wife could use it for her g5 ipod. Hope it helps.
     
    #11 chich2000, Jan 25, 2008
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