Using iPhone 3G in car.

Neil,

I would just like to piggy back on your request. I am new to the iWorld, and am trying to get my new 3G phone to work with everything my old Nokia 5300 did. I was trying to see if I could get my phone to play iTunes through my bluetooth car stereo system. Is this not a possibility? I am able to get calls and the such through the system now, but when music plays it comes from the phone's speaker, and not the stereo speakers. The stereo also has a USB port, and a AUX port. I have tried to plug my phone into the USB port, and still no music plays through the stereo, and the phone doesn't charge. I don't have the cable to plug into the AUX, but my stereo's mic is on the bluetooth attachment, so I have a feeling it will play back music through the stereo, but I'll have to be connected via bluetooth as well in order to receive calls?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks,
Chris

neilquinn wrote:
Hi,

I want to use my iPhone in my car but want without using a FM transmitter, i know the bluetooth is not an option but does anyone know if this is a future opetion.

Neil

No one knows what Apple has planned until Apple releases that information. This lack of Bluetooth functionality has been known since day one of the original iPhone release. Apparently Apple has no plans on incorporating this function or they likely would have done so.

If you really want true functionality for your iPhone to play music in your car there are aftermarket companies that make adapaters to play the iPod/iPhone in your car.

Check out www.soundgate.com or www.pac-audio.com

Not necessarily the answer you were looking for but it might work!

Neil and Chris,

That makes two of us...

I have exactly the same problem. I want to integrate my iPhone on my car but until now the only solution I have found is using bluetooth to answer phone calls, using a jack cable connected to the radio on the aux input to listen to music and finally a charger on the lighter through the dock connector... this horrible!!!

Isn't there anyway to make everything (phone calls, music, energy etc) go through the dock connector???

If I use the solution I found I'll kill all the beauty and simplicity of the iPhone...

regards,

rf

Message was edited by: Ricardo Figueira

I have actually use a bluetooth headphone (http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/products_spec.asp?cid=2&pid=02050) ... although I cannot have auto answer ... I just push the answer button.

I am certainly no expert on the subject, but after about 7 months of trying to answer this question, here is what I have discovered and what is working for me.

The iPhone does not have the necessary hardware to send a stereo bluetooth signal, thus you can not stream music wirelessly. Bummer... I know. This would solve a lot of issues with integrating the iphone into the car. There is a small adapter you can buy that will transmit the signal in stereo bluetooth, but who needs ANOTHER adapter for the iphone to fumble with and loose? This would also require a bluetooth enable stereo system or bluetooth FM transmitter.

Here is the set up I've been using. My main goal was to have hands free phone capability, listen to music through my car stereo, and have a place to hold and charge my phone that I could easily see and reach (while trying to minimize the BUZZING annoyance from the car speakers). I didn't want to have to professionally install anything or make holes in my dash unnecessarily.

This was not easy to do! I took me many different product attempts and research....

Here is what is working the best for me: Kensington: LiquidAUX Deluxe (99.99 from the apple store, but 74.99+shipping on Amazon) - which is a accessory outlet (cigarette lighter) charger and cradle combo. It also has a audio output cable if you have a aux input on your stereo (I don't, so I use a cassette adapter) built in. One of the coolest things is that it comes with a small simple wireless remote control to attach to the steering wheel.

I combined this with a bluetooth speaker phone (or a headset would work) and am very happy with the functionality I'm getting.

My iphone fits on the cradles and charges even with the case still on, and has re-sizeable arms to keep everything in place. The neck is strong enough to hold up the iphone without too much bouncing around and is fairly flexible. It rotates easily so the cover flow view is easy to switch to (which is very cool to use cover flow with the remote). The aux cord is pretty short, but there is an extension cord included. Also the distance the arm puts from the stereo is enough to almost eliminate the buzzing sounds (this will vary from car to car). Other cradles I tried couldn't do this because they attached to the windshield or dash and were too close to the stereo.

If a call comes in, the music fades out and I can activate my bluetooth speaker, take the call and when I hang up the music starts up again where I left off.

Simple, no installation necessary, and covers all the functions I was looking for. After trying 4-5 different cradles, FM transmitters, messing with lots of wires, suction cups, clips, and several near accidents, it is really nice to have a simple little system that covers all the bases without the hassle and constant fumbling.

The only issue I really had was that my cigarette lighter is horizontal as opposed to vertical which the design is aimed at), so finding a good position was a little tricky, but I managed find a very comfortable and viewable location after a little twisting and bending...

(If you don't have a aux input or a cassette player in your car this won't be as effective, but it is still a good charger/cradle).

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR951LL/A?fnode=home/shopipod/ipod_accessories/caraudio&mco=NzY3NjYw

It appears there are 3 functions that are needed:
1) Charge the iPhone in the car
2) Play iPhone music through car stereo
3) Take iPhone calls hands-free (e.g. Bluetooth headset)

Correspondingly, there are 3 connection modes used on the iPhone:
1) Charge using iPhone dock connector, cabled to the car lighter outlet
2) Play music using iPhone headset jack outlet or dock connector, either cabled to a tape adapter or an FM transmitter
3) Take calls using a Bluetooth headset, paired to the iPhone
Note: You could use iPhone's built-in mic and speakersphone for #2 and #3, but that would not be convenient nor have good audio quality. In fact, you prefer NOT to have the iPhone speakerphone activated for either function in the car.

Quick question:

If iPhone is currently playing music (say, using headset jack cabled to tape adapter), and a call comes, then does iPhone automatically switch the call to the paired Bluetooth headset? Or does it continue to play the call audio on the car speakers (and use iPhone's built-in mic for audio input?

I love it, when a call comes in, the music fades out and the bluetooth is activate. When the call is over, the music comes back on. It is really cool...

I have several problems using the iPhone with the factory-installed bluetooth car kit that came with my '08 Audi A4.

(1) I can not download my contacts from the iPhone to the car's built-in phone book. Thus, I can't see the names of incoming callers, as there is no way to enter text into the car's phone book.
(2) I can not answer calls, or end calls, by pushing the correct button the on the steering wheel. So, after I initiate a call and finish the conversation, pushing the disconnect button has no effect. I have to push "end call" directly on the iPhone. When a call comes in, I can't answer by pushing the correct button on the wheel. I must answer call directly on the iPhone.

Anyone else having these problems? Any suggestions for fixing this?

I have a 2008 Ford Focus with the Microsoft Sync system. My iPhone 3G integrates very well into the system. The car has a USB port which I use to connect the iPhone. That allows me to access all my music. The car's integrated bluetooth system allows me to download my phone book and communicate handsfree. Works Great

Hello ProfinOH,
I have an '07 Audi A4 and it my iphone 3G integrates perfectly with the bluetooth kit. I can view all the phone book entries through the dash and answer / disconnect a call using the buttons on the wheel. I suggest you try to disconnect and reconnect the iphone again.

Well... I've solved my problem on how to integrate iphone on my vw golf.

All you need is:
- 1 x Apple Stereo Headset (1st link on the bottom)

- 1 x 2 meters of a 3 ways cable (2nd link on the bottom)

- 1 x 3 ways jack connector (3rd link on the bottom)

- 1 x 2 ways jack connector (4th link on the bottom)

- 1 x 2 meters of electrical cable

- 1 x lighter charger for usb peripherals (5th link on the bottom)

- car stereo with a audio auxiliar in connection

1. This is the first and most painfull step. Take your Apple Stereo Headset and cut the microphone off leaving some extra cable on both ends. I've tried with different microphones and the outcome wasn't as good as with the original microphone.

2. Weld the microphone cable to one of the cables on the 3 ways cable (2nd link on the bottom).

3. Attach the 2 ways jack connector to the other 2 cables on the 3 ways cable on the same end where you connected the microphone.

4. On the other end of the 3 ways cable attach the 3 ways jack connector.

And that's it! Plug the 3 ways jack connector to the iphone, the 2 ways jack connector to the auxiliar in of your car stereo and place the microphone somewhere on your car's dashboard.

The sound quality is perfect for music, during calls there isn't almost any echo and you can answer and decline phone calls by pressing the microphone just like if you're using the Apple Stereo Headset on your ears :P

About charging I ran some electrical cables from the ligther connection to the armrest where the 3 ways jack connector is and where the iphone rests. I connected the lighter charger to those cables, and ran a normal usb dock connector cable to the lighter charger.

Besides working pretty well, i've only spent around 15 euros + the earphones!

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MA814LL/A?fnode=home/shopiphone/iphoneaccessories/headsets&mco=MTI5Nzk3MQ)

http://www.catalogo.dimofel.pt/catalogue/index.php?action=detailFo&id=61217&back Link=%2Fcatalogue%2Findex.php%3Faction%3DlistFo%26catId%3D175)

http://www.catalogo.dimofel.pt/catalogue/index.php?action=detailFo&id=59022&back Link=%2Fcatalogue%2Findex.php%3FsearchCatalogueValue%3D%26searchField%3D%26searc hValue%3D%26action%3DlistFo%26catId%3D150%26start%3D50

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Klinkensteckerstereo_3.5mm.jpg/784px-Klinkenstecker_stereo3.5mm.jpg

http://www.fnac.pt/pt/Catalog/Detail.aspx?cIndex=7&catalog=hardware&categoryN=Ha rdware&category=computadoresPortateisCarregadoresTransformadores&product=3303170 029060

Hi
To date there are not one size fit all adapter
If you have a USB port in your car you can combine charger and player in one port and you will need bluetooth as headhphone. The music will fade when you get a call.
If you don't have a USB port in your car you will need to connect the headphone to your AUX 3.5mm to play music, cigarette lighter to USB power cable to charge and bluetooth to answer calls.
It is not so back if your car has a compartment where you can hide away all this cabling. I have a BMW320 and you can put everything in. Only issue with the AUX plug you can't control playlist but is good enough to shuffle

Hi
To date there are not one size fit all adapter
If you have a USB port in your car you can combine charger and player in one port and you will need bluetooth as headhphone. The music will fade when you get a call.
If you don't have a USB port in your car you will need to connect the headphone to your AUX 3.5mm to play music, cigarette lighter to USB power cable to charge and bluetooth to answer calls.
It is not so back if your car has a compartment where you can hide away all this cabling. I have a BMW320 and you can put everything in. Only issue with the AUX plug you can't control playlist but is good enough to shuffle