So this just plugs into our stock unit?

 

It depends. If you have a non-Navigation stock unit, No.

If you go back, the original poster said he got a Nav unit (which supports a CD-changer). He's waiting for it to come along with a CD changer, and the picture shows an RCA plug on the CD-Changer.... So MAYBE he can plug the RCA-to-iPod cable into the plug meant for the CD-changer...

It's such a holy grail concept that I bet if someone came up with the service, they could charge $300 a pop to put an AUX capability in these non-nav head units!

 

I have the NAV unit and I asked a supposed Audio expert and he said this isn't possible,,,, That's why I was asking. It's in my SIG.

Thanks-

 

It will be interesting to see what the original poster learns when the gear comes. Do you have the CD changer?

 

No I didn't get that option. The first week of August I'm having my center console painted, I'm going to check it out than. Hopefully it works.

 

Actually, I think you misunderstood me. First of all, I already have an iPod to RCA adapter. Thanks for the detailed eplanation anyway. Although it would've been a long shot, I thought you were talking about the other cord that Best Buy had for sale. Second of all, The CD Changer isn't coming with the unit I have on order, nor do I plan to purchase one. Wonder where these cords may be available for purchase. I tried Becker's site, but there doesn't appear to be a section for our radios, much less accessories for it...

 

OK I did misunderstand. It sounded like you have an OEM nav unit on order and when you said you "found" the CD-Changer, I mistook it that you bought it too.

Now don't let me confuse you here. I took out my factory non-nav unit. It does not support an AUX input, except a phone. But with another stereo that DOES support an AUX input I have used the cable you have. It works fine. It plugs into the back of the head unit (not the crossfire...) and plays through the AUX channel of the head unit (not the radio).



I found lots of things for the factory non-Nav radio on the Becker site. I bought the phone cable, downloaded a manual, and spoke with a technician on the phone about the AUX issue. The radio is known as the 6806 on the Becker site. It's listed under the Porsche.Mercedes section.


To be honest, I don't have anything to add to this. You seem to be doing a lot of what-if thinking but not a lot of actual investigation of your own. Your questions are somewhat circular and you aren't providing much input of your own. I wish you luck learning and understanding what to do with your stereo. I tossed the head unit and the problem was solved. Good luck finding your solution.

 

No confusion here. The only cord that I am actually interested in retrieveing further insight on is the one one included with the CD Changer listed on eBay. (back of nav unit - RCA)

I deliberately post "circular" questions to obtain answers, not experiment with the unit i've yet to receive. That's what the forum is for, right? To exchange ideas and answer questions. No one much seems to reply, nor do others (except for you) seem enthusiastic about the possibility; nevertheless, thank you for your replies.

Also, I can't seem to find Becker's official website. What is the URL?

 

http://www.harmanbecker.com/harmanBe...sp?language=US

Warning though; their service is terrible and most of them know nothing about the Crossfire radio.

 

Wow . . . . lots of good information here. I'm eventually going to change out my head unit so I can get into 2008, or perhaps 2009. In the meantime I just downloaded the playlist from my IPOD to 3 CD's. It took less than 30 minutes and now I have all my music on CD's. Yea I have to change CD's every 40 minutes or so but thats OK. Its a compromise until I get that new head unit.

 

Ok guys here is what you need to know....

The nav radio is different that the one in Porsche and the Becker units sold outside the US and older units.

In the past companies were able to flash the removable rom chip to allow the cd changer port to stay alive (meaining it did not require a data stream to open the input). The crossfire radio and ones developed around the same time nolonger use that design.

the aftermarket and Porsche radios were designed not to need the data stream as the inputs would function as either an aux input or for the cd changer based on the radio menu setting.

The Crossfire radio requires a data stream to keep the input port open. In other words it needs to think there is a cd changer connected to it and a cd is playing. The only company I have seen so far that has developed a product designed to fool the radio is http://www.solisto.de

The reason FM transmitters are hit and miss are the fact that many companies at the launch of the ipod craze and XM/Sirius developed products with output transmitter power in excess of what the FTC has deemed legal. Over time and with some compaines getting caught, products came into spec failed to deliver a strong signal. OEM systems with twin tuners (ours) and diversity systems (nissan and some german cars) typically have a difficult time with FM since their systems look at two different signals and hand off based on which one is stronger. If your ipod signal is weaker, it is overcome by the other signal and you begin to hear noise.

An FM relay pack inline with the ant, is one way of getting a better signal into the radio and they typically are designed for the product they are sold with or work with. Harman Kardon Drive+Play and Drive+Play II are good examples. You can used an FM modulator in line, these are typically how rear seat aftermarket entertainment systems are done, not perfect but better than the smaller broadcast types.

 

Here's the thing. In order to learn - you're going to have to read. This site is here to exchange ideas and so on, but it involves a responsibility to do the work too. For example, your last question (what is the URL for the Becker site) tells me that you are not reading. If you did, you would already have the URL. Somebody was nice enough to post it for you, but if you had actually used the info I provided, you would already have the site URL. This site is not meant to be an "on demand" resource for getting every last question answered. It's not meant to replace doing searches on the internet. It's not meant to replace reading the manufacturer's instruction manual. But far be it for be it for me to define what this forum is about.

My point is, the reason you're sensing "No one much seems to reply, nor do others (except for you) seem enthusiastic about the possibility" is because you're asking others to do what little bit of work you need to do for you.

I offered some help because I too didn't find a lot of info on the subject and had managed to get the answers (which are documented in great detail on the link I provided to you at the very beginning). So read it and stop going around in circles!

 

Thanks for the informed response. Your points validate what I have observed in actual practice. An interesting side note is the behavior of my stereo in my Jeep Commander Overland which has the factory entertainment system with DVD player. When using the RCA inputs, it takes a few seconds for the head unit to "see" program material coming in. It won't allow selection of the AUX channel until it gets signal on those inputs. What's even more interesting is that in between songs, it often "goes away" because no signal is detected. Once the song starts, it takes a second or more to come back in. It's a "better than nothing" solution.

I found the harmann/kardonn Drive+Play inline antenna-connected FM approach was barely better than nothing. The radio still detected outside broadcast sources and was a very noisy solution. The broadcast FM modulation was hopeless - going to your point about the strength of the signal it puts out - probably compliant with FCC regs and weak. My Roady XT XM radio seemed to have a lot better performance rebroadcasting the signal - never had the problems maybe because it was over the power limit specified by the FCC....

So I wonder if plugging into the RCA lines of the CD-changer on the NAV unit would give the same results as my Commander - an input stream that the head unit "sees" as long as it detects a signal? From what you're saying, that would require the additional unit (which was my conclusion). Given that, the cost involved really does suggest a better value proposition is to go with a new head unit (higher end sound, more flexibility, XM, iPod, MP3/AAC etc compatibility)... I rest my case...

 

DISCLAIMER: I do not plan to "experiment" on my car without further information on the topic.

Now looking back at this post, I am interested in the wired FM modulator. With one of these installed, does it allow you to still listen to other radio stations since you now would have this modulator in place of the antenna? Are they much trouble to install? Also, some have reported that the sound is identical to a wireless FM transmitter; some say it's "good" quality. What's the general consensus?

 

The truth is that wired fm transmitters are better then non-wired FM transmitters, but still FM transmitters.

Better quality, but still not that good.

Also, you can use all of your other FM stations, etc, just like you normally would.

 

Analysis Paralysis

 

No the data stream is on a din cable the audio out of the cd change is rca.

 

I am now looking at Crutchfield's FM Modulator:

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...tab=review#tab

If someone wouldn't mind filling me, how does one go about getting power to the unit?

 

Okay. Just spoke with a Crutchfield rep. about purchasing a wired FM Modulator for my car. He informed me that this:would be the best box.

Ok. That's fine. But I would also need 2 adaptors. Long story short, this was all that I needed:


[CENTER]
It appears to me that the adapters convert M to F and then F back to M. What's up with that? Any help would be extremely appreciated!

P.S. These don't look like the regular removal tools. Will they work?

 

Yes, those will work. They have 3 sides and are a multi-tool.

On my wired FM transmitter.. I had one wire from the harness to the fm modular, then the wire from the FM modular to the headunit needed another adapter.. hence why you need both of them.


TBH, if you go this route, I do not think you will still be happy with the sound quality. It's just a tad better.