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Q: How come my iPod Shuffle does not connect to my radio?

How come my iPod Shuffle does not connect to my radio?

Posted on Aug 30, 2016 10:19 AM

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Q: How come my iPod Shuffle does not connect to my radio?

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Aug 30, 2016 10:21 AM in response to Internationalus
    Level 8 (38,066 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 10:21 AM in response to Internationalus

    Don't understand the question...  In what way are you expecting an iPod shuffle to connect to a radio?

  • by Internationalus,

    Internationalus Internationalus Aug 30, 2016 10:46 AM in response to Internationalus
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPod
    Aug 30, 2016 10:46 AM in response to Internationalus

    What I mean is that I would like to listen to my songs that are on my iPod Shuffle on my car radio or home stereo. But when I connect it, the stereo or car radio fails to recognise the iPod.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Aug 30, 2016 10:58 AM in response to Internationalus
    Level 8 (38,066 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 10:58 AM in response to Internationalus

    You should refer to the user docs for your car radio or home stereo, to see a list of supported devices.  iPod shuffle may not be supported for this purpose, since it connects to USB through the headphones jack (not a dedicated docking connector like other Apple devices).

     

    If the radio has a auxiliary audio input (usually looks like a headphones jack or maybe "RCA" connectors), you can play the shuffle through the radio's speakers using the appropriate audio cable.

     

    Alternately, buy a cheap USB flash drive for this purpose.  Here's one that barely sticks out of the radio's USB port for less than $10, with 16x the storage capacity of an iPod shuffle

     

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00812F7O8

  • by Internationalus,

    Internationalus Internationalus Aug 30, 2016 11:04 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPod
    Aug 30, 2016 11:04 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Thanks very much for your reply. The odd thing is that both my home and car radio have a USB port just for this. And when I use another iPod (larger version) it works with no problems. It seems that it is the iPod Shuffle that somehow does not connect. Got any clue why?

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Apple recommended

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Aug 30, 2016 11:17 AM in response to Internationalus
    Level 8 (38,066 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 11:17 AM in response to Internationalus

    As I mentioned, the iPod shuffle uses its headphones jack for the dual purpose of audio output and data connection (to a computer).  All other Apple devices have a dedicated multi-purpose docking connector for data connections.  This may be the design limitation that makes it not work with your radio's USB port.

     

    I recall that my old 1st gen (white plastic) shuffle worked with a car radio's USB port.  But the 1st gen shuffle is the only shuffle model that has a built-in USB plug (for docking) and a separate headphones jack.  All later shuffles use the headphones jack for docking.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Aug 30, 2016 11:15 AM in response to Internationalus
    Level 8 (38,066 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 11:15 AM in response to Internationalus

    (duplicate post)

  • by Internationalus,

    Internationalus Internationalus Aug 30, 2016 11:18 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPod
    Aug 30, 2016 11:18 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    OK many thanks. I guess that is the answer. Much appreciated.