Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: chalcroft on 20 February 2010, 08:47:11

Title: i pod
Post by: chalcroft on 20 February 2010, 08:47:11
Would like to be able to listen to my ipod in the car. Only have single cd player fitted and getting fed up carrying so many cd's around. Any ideas on the best/cost effective option. Thanks guy's.
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: tunnie on 20 February 2010, 09:07:57
keeping standard headunit, get a decent wired FM modulator, tap into the ariel feed in the drivers kick pannel, modulator will give you a standard headphone jack socket to plug it in. Then tune the radio to the a set frequency to pick it up.

Don't go for cheapo ones or wireless ones  :y

DaveDND has a link for a good one  :)
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Dave DND on 20 February 2010, 09:35:32
I certainly do

http://www.dndservices.co.uk/am-88t.html

 :y
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Dave DND on 20 February 2010, 09:40:44
Actually Tunnie, if I may correct you slightly there, the signal from the FM screen aerial is so poor on the Omega, that use of a "Wired" modulator is not really advised, as the FM radio cannot cope with the resultant degraded signal to the radio as a result of an in line modulator, which is why on this car, a wireless one is ALWAYS advised.

That said, you are indeed correct in saying to go for a "decent" one, as many of the cheapie ones, or anything with a cigarette lighter attachment are to be strongly avoided due to poor performance.

Title: Re: i pod
Post by: tunnie on 20 February 2010, 09:47:05
I tried a wireless one, way too much static, ariel being the rear screen and the modulator up front, gave very poor sound  :-/
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Dave DND on 20 February 2010, 10:23:37
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I tried a wireless one, way too much static, ariel being the rear screen and the modulator up front, gave very poor sound  :-/

Ah! Thats the classic signs of a poor quality modulator, and 99% of those for sale sub £50  are within this category. It took us years to find the one we are currently using (mainly for AV use in the rear) and because we are buying such quantities of them, we are able to bring the price down now to £34.99 - No, they are not cheap, but they work brilliantly.

Another factor that probably added to your "static" problem is the poor earthing inside the cheap modulators, as the device itself is usually very badly shielded, often in a plastic casing and is open to interference from just about everything electrical on the car.
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: TheBoy on 20 February 2010, 10:27:59
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I tried a wireless one, way too much static, ariel being the rear screen and the modulator up front, gave very poor sound  :-/

Ah! Thats the classic signs of a poor quality modulator, and 99% of those for sale sub £50  are within this category. It took us years to find the one we are currently using (mainly for AV use in the rear) and because we are buying such quantities of them, we are able to bring the price down now to £34.99 - No, they are not cheap, but they work brilliantly.

Another factor that probably added to your "static" problem is the poor earthing inside the cheap modulators, as the device itself is usually very badly shielded, often in a plastic casing and is open to interference from just about everything electrical on the car.
In an Omega, where would you mount this device?  Obviously the aerial is in rear screen (saloon), so would hiding behind dash shield it too much?
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Dave DND on 20 February 2010, 13:13:53
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In an Omega, where would you mount this device?  Obviously the aerial is in rear screen (saloon), so would hiding behind dash shield it too much?

Most cars where we are working on rear AV, we tend to mount them in the rear 1/4 panel or shelf, but the power output is sufficient enough for them to be mounted just about anywhere in the vehicle.
Stuck to the back of the glovebox appears to be a favourite also - really depends on your application and what space you have, and what panels you are removing at the time. Radio will often pick this up without aerial present(!) so location not really that important.

But, as far as Omega goes, where have others put them? So many of you from the OOF forum have had these from me now, and all have remarked on how well they work. Some feedback from you guys about locations that you have found good, would be much appreciated

Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Weds on 20 February 2010, 21:37:54
Mines plugged into the rear 12v socket and lays on the floor in the back, works fine. I might sort out a proper place to put it one day. Haven't used my CD player for months.

Very pleased with mine (from DND Dave's)
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: tunnie on 20 February 2010, 21:43:01
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Mines plugged into the rear 12v socket and lays on the floor in the back, works fine. I might sort out a proper place to put it one day. Haven't used my CD player for months.

Very pleased with mine (from DND Dave's)

Works well with Bose then?
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: TheBoy on 20 February 2010, 21:52:00
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Mines plugged into the rear 12v socket and lays on the floor in the back, works fine. I might sort out a proper place to put it one day. Haven't used my CD player for months.

Very pleased with mine (from DND Dave's)

Works well with Bose then?
Why wouldn't it?
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: tunnie on 20 February 2010, 21:59:45
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Mines plugged into the rear 12v socket and lays on the floor in the back, works fine. I might sort out a proper place to put it one day. Haven't used my CD player for months.

Very pleased with mine (from DND Dave's)

Works well with Bose then?
Why wouldn't it?

I mean quality wise, as the Bose with a CD in sounds damn good. Wondering if it sounds as good
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Weds on 20 February 2010, 22:21:24
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Mines plugged into the rear 12v socket and lays on the floor in the back, works fine. I might sort out a proper place to put it one day. Haven't used my CD player for months.

Very pleased with mine (from DND Dave's)

Works well with Bose then?
Why wouldn't it?

I mean quality wise, as the Bose with a CD in sounds damn good. Wondering if it sounds as good

Ok, its not as good perhaps as the CD player, but with the CD players limited lifespan, having the access to thousands of track on one small device makes up for all that.
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Dave DND on 21 February 2010, 09:18:07
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Mines plugged into the rear 12v socket and lays on the floor in the back, works fine. I might sort out a proper place to put it one day. Haven't used my CD player for months.

Very pleased with mine (from DND Dave's)

Works well with Bose then?
Why wouldn't it?

I mean quality wise, as the Bose with a CD in sounds damn good. Wondering if it sounds as good

Ok, its not as good perhaps as the CD player, but with the CD players limited lifespan, having the access to thousands of track on one small device makes up for all that.

The quality can not be expected to be as good as the direct input of the CD, but will be as good as the best radio station that you can tune into, which is not that bad at all.

Bose makes no difference, as all you are doing is tuning your radio into a mini radio broadcasting station within the car, and nothing is physically connected to the existing stereo setup, so cannot affect or be affected by it in any way.

 :y
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: chalcroft on 21 February 2010, 10:07:36
Thanks for all the advice. Now i know what i need.
Dave i get down to your part of the world a few times a year as my sister swapped london life for paignton some years ago and my parents retired to stoke gabriel more recently.
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Dave DND on 21 February 2010, 10:41:35
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Thanks for all the advice. Now i know what i need.
Dave i get down to your part of the world a few times a year as my sister swapped london life for paignton some years ago and my parents retired to stoke gabriel more recently.

Can recommend it !!

I swapped life in Stevenage for Paignton in 2005   8-)
Title: Re: i pod
Post by: Martin_1962 on 21 February 2010, 20:18:23
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Thanks for all the advice. Now i know what i need.
Dave i get down to your part of the world a few times a year as my sister swapped london life for paignton some years ago and my parents retired to stoke gabriel more recently.

I have relatives there