IPOD to Factory radio adaptor
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: USA
Originally Posted by Colin,Sep 15 2005, 12:36 AM
I'm glad your's is woking great. Where did you mount the control unit? I was trying to put my cradle in the glovebox so my control unit was next to the gearshift. IMO it was too hot for it there. My first one lasted two months and the second two weeks. They both failed when we were stuck in traffic. I notice this is when the gearshift knob gets the hottest and suspect this is due to the lack of cooling airflow over the tranny that a moving car would normally have.
The area around the shifter/e-brake does get hot, in fact I assume that's exhaust heat we feel. I noticed a nice warm current of hot air rising out around the e-brake handle.
Craig
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From: USA
Originally Posted by F1-Fanatic,Sep 15 2005, 06:50 AM
Anyway I was told not to mount the unit on top of the stereo because the unit itself generates heat.. When I get it tonight I will most likely insulate it with neoprene rubber and hang it within the compartment. Will let you know how it works.
Craig
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From: Branford, CT
Originally Posted by skier219,Sep 15 2005, 06:04 PM
Probably don't want to wrap it in neoprene. The iceLink generates heat itself, and sounds like we want to let it breath easily. It's already wrapped in heat-shrink as is. Neoprene would really trap the heat.
Craig
Craig
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From: USA
Originally Posted by Colin,Sep 15 2005, 02:10 PM
Just for the record, my experiences were with the new version of the Icelink. The menus are a little slow, and the interface does not fill the whole screen on the iPod. BUT, when it works, it work great!
Here's the mounting problem if you want to put the iPod in the center glovebox: The supplied cables are not long enough. You get 18" between the head unit and the CPU, then 36" of mini-DIN to cradle. This is just long enough to reach the glovebox door, but not long enough to place the CPU anywhere but over the transmission tunnel. It will end up next to the cupholders, or next to the gearshift.
Assuming you're working opposite the hand brake, there will be a small "bulkhead" opening right where the the CPU ends up. You need to pad this opening with foam, wire loom or something soft to keep the edges from rubbing the CPU (it will fit in here) or place the whole CPU on the gearshift side of this bulkhead. Now heat is an issue.
Maybe foil backed bubble wrap would work? Maybe a R/C car speed control heat sink? Maybe some kind of cooling fan? Maybe they could offer longer wires? Maybe they could design something that would run cooler? Maybe I shouldn't have to do all this for a product that costs $30 to make and is sold for $240???
Here's the mounting problem if you want to put the iPod in the center glovebox: The supplied cables are not long enough. You get 18" between the head unit and the CPU, then 36" of mini-DIN to cradle. This is just long enough to reach the glovebox door, but not long enough to place the CPU anywhere but over the transmission tunnel. It will end up next to the cupholders, or next to the gearshift.
Assuming you're working opposite the hand brake, there will be a small "bulkhead" opening right where the the CPU ends up. You need to pad this opening with foam, wire loom or something soft to keep the edges from rubbing the CPU (it will fit in here) or place the whole CPU on the gearshift side of this bulkhead. Now heat is an issue.
Maybe foil backed bubble wrap would work? Maybe a R/C car speed control heat sink? Maybe some kind of cooling fan? Maybe they could offer longer wires? Maybe they could design something that would run cooler? Maybe I shouldn't have to do all this for a product that costs $30 to make and is sold for $240???
Or, you can get/make an extension cable for the cradle. I think it's a standard round DIN type connector, may even be compatible with s-video or a computer connector. I don't know for sure what it is, but it looked familiar.
Craig
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From: Honolulu
Originally Posted by F1-Fanatic,Sep 15 2005, 04:13 PM
Thanks for the heads up with regards to the heat.. I received the unit today.. (I also owe collin a beer) as it is the IceLink unit. Or shoud we rename it the "Needs Ice" Link??? Anyway, the unit looks exactally like a SIMM Module as described. As for the cables and such.. they are definitely very short. Will have to look into my install again to see what might be the best place to locate it.
The saga continues
The saga continues
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From: Honolulu
Originally Posted by skier219,Sep 15 2005, 03:58 PM
My control unit is hidden behind the dash/console panel in the passenger footwell (where the passenger's right knee would hit).
The area around the shifter/e-brake does get hot, in fact I assume that's exhaust heat we feel. I noticed a nice warm current of hot air rising out around the e-brake handle.
Craig
The area around the shifter/e-brake does get hot, in fact I assume that's exhaust heat we feel. I noticed a nice warm current of hot air rising out around the e-brake handle.
Craig
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Newton, MA
I've been using the Ice Link since back in the late spring and the only complaint I have is that there is a bit of a lag when using the radio controls to change the song. However, my understanding is that all the interfaces including the ones for aftermarket radios have this lag issue.
I got the ice link with the docking cable instead of the docking cradle. So, I was able to stuff the control unit way back behind the radio. Also being aware of the heating issues in the center tunnel I decided against running the cable into the center console cubby. When I intially test drove the car I had my cell phone in my right pocket and when I got out the heat had caused it to go crazy. So, I certainly wasn't putting my ipod in the center console. Instead, I ran the cable along the side of the center tunnel and rest my ipod on top of the center console. If I leave my car somewhere for a while and it's kind of a shady area, I just unhook the ipod and stash it in the glove box.
I got the ice link with the docking cable instead of the docking cradle. So, I was able to stuff the control unit way back behind the radio. Also being aware of the heating issues in the center tunnel I decided against running the cable into the center console cubby. When I intially test drove the car I had my cell phone in my right pocket and when I got out the heat had caused it to go crazy. So, I certainly wasn't putting my ipod in the center console. Instead, I ran the cable along the side of the center tunnel and rest my ipod on top of the center console. If I leave my car somewhere for a while and it's kind of a shady area, I just unhook the ipod and stash it in the glove box.
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From: USA
Originally Posted by Colin,Sep 15 2005, 10:25 PM
If this is the case, where do you have your iPod mounted?
Craig
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From: Honolulu
Originally Posted by F1-Fanatic,Sep 15 2005, 04:13 PM
Will have to look into my install again to see what might be the best place to locate it.
The saga continues
The saga continues