After-market Car Stereo and iPhone (Radio and iPhone via Bluetooth)

Question

Level 1

15 points

After-market Car Stereo and iPhone (Radio and iPhone via Bluetooth)

Greeting Seedlings,

I want a 3rd party car hardware (new receiver or accessory) that allows me to listen to the car radio, but connect my iPhone (I believe by AD2P Bluetooth) to hear my iPhone sat nav directions over the car radio as it would with a phone call hands free (thus not in BT mode all the time)

The protocol exists, all new cars since 2013 with Bluetooth do this natively, but I cannot find any aftermarket units that do the same.

Thanks in advance

Posted on Jan 28, 2016 4:52 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,627 points

Jan 28, 2016 5:11 PM in response to mr-internet

Many (most?) 3rd party car stereos with BT will work just fine.

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-bluetooth-car-stereo-receiver/

Make sure it has Hand Free Protocol (HFP)

See this --> Use Maps and Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

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Answer 2

KiltedTim

Level 10

229,308 points

Jan 28, 2016 5:43 PM in response to mr-internet

Does your current system support bluetooth? You don't need A2DP to hear the turn by turn directions from Maps, or from many other navigation apps. That can be accomplished with a standard bluetooth (calls only) system.

Use Maps and Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

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Answer 3

mr-internet Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 28, 2016 11:06 PM in response to KiltedTim

Remember this is a pre-sales question, so the BT in 3rd party receivers I have checked (all Alpine and all Pioneer and spoke to both companies) require the car to be in bluetooth mode for the media to work (but not hands free). Current 2013+ cars with BT do it natively not requiring the car to be BT mode. Of course for 300% more, you can but a sat nav unit instead. And as I need 2 for 2 cars, that is a waste of money. I also note that when using BT mode it works fine, but my music has to be 100% from the iPhone as well. This is such a drain on the battery on the iPhone (running music, bluetooth, and sat nav) that it discharges the same as it charges so will not charge whilst driving. So your battery has to be 100% even when charging, if you want it to be 100% a the other end of even a long drive.

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