SnoWRL

iTrader: (1)

R u still happy with this product and where did you order from??

ReverendOlaf

I sure am. I really cannot imagine a better add on solution. I got it from Autotoys.com. It was my only order from them, but it was no nonsense and shipped asap.

SnoWRL

iTrader: (1)

I think i may have to order this next payday.

sahan23

I definitely want to get this unit. Will someone who is installing it please take the time to post some pics/vids. I'm sure I would not be the only one to benefit from some visual aids. Thanks in advance.

fatty

Yes, some one please show me some pics of how your took/ran the wires from trunk to? Thanks in advance.

SnoWRL

iTrader: (1)

+1

rmjse

I installed this back in Februray. I tried feeding the cable behind the Nav disc unit, but I was unable to. I had a really hard time with feeding it. I tried removing the back seat and was unable to. After a week of my friends and I trying, I gave up.

I found a local audio and electronics place that fed the line in less than 30 minutes right to my center console. They pulled my car into a garage, so I have no idea how they did it, but they did damn good job running it under my carpet. Charged me $60, but it was worth it.

armashi

I'm wondering if i should get this now or wait to see if it's compatible with the next gen iPhone due out in a month...

ReverendOlaf

I didn't have a camera handy, but I explained it earlier. Basically you reach through the pass through from the back seat. You probably don't want to run it through there (doubt it will close), but run it just outside. Then tuck it into the rear seat while heading to one of the doors (I chose drivers side, but I assume passenger side works too). Once there, run along the base of the seat down the door frame, tucking it in as you go. Remove the plastic (not the shiny metal one) sill, and tuck in there (the cable is thick, so it won't be perfect). Then run under the seat and into the console. You can hide the control unit in space up front (ahead of the shifter off near the footwell), and run the cable through the hole for the light into the armrest.

nismo240gt

Can you talk about the performance of this? For example searching artists/songs speed? Does it read the iPod information rather quickly or is it a little sluggish similar to the way mp3 CD's take a while to display the song/audio information?

ReverendOlaf

It's rather quick with a 5G iPod (circa 2006). Songs immediately follow one another, and the metadata shows up immediately. When you skip around, things a a itty bit slower, but the audio is no less responsive than with headphones (ie the delay is purely iPod related). The metadata show up with the first note here as well. Since the interface mimics XM, its the best comparison, and to be honest, the USA Spec iPod interface is usually better in terms of metadata than XM.

Now searching, well that is a bit rough via the interface. Its slower than the factory iPod interface (on newer Acuras) and quite a bit slower than via the iPod itself (which is an option). I say this as a user of a full 30GB iPod, so your mileage may very. Playlists help a lot, and if you have your genres sorted out well, that may help. Searching a see of artists or albums is the biggest issue. I just use playlists, so its never an issue for me.

nismo240gt

Thanks for the prompt response! My original thought was to install the USA Spec kit and just keep the iPod in the trunk if the navigation was easy enough to use. My library is really organized on the iPod so as long as navigating from one artist to another is a breeze, I see no need to run a cable and have the iPod in the center console.

Either way I think i'm gonna go ahead purchase the USA Spec and then figure out the best solution from there.

Thanks again!

SnoWRL

iTrader: (1)

Im ordering this weekend.... I think i will have the ipod in the center console or in the glove box. Are any of these options cause for a problem? Because I would like to be able to take my ipod into the gym without needing to get it from the trunk everytime

ReverendOlaf

Glove box is more work, but the console isn't that hard if you know how to take it apart. You can lift the cover (easy) between the armrest and the cupholders up, as well as the cupholder module itself (harder), and the cover around the shifter (somewhere in between). All lift straight up, and there is no need to disconnect the seat heater control or the cig lighter. You might not need to even lift the cover around the shifter at all. There is no need to remove the screws in the not an ashtray, and you don't need to remove the screws that hold the console down. Just be patient and creative. This guide will help for either location (just don't go crazy, as you won't need to do all of this):

http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/AI/BII31183.pdf

SnoWRL

iTrader: (1)

so it can be put inside the center armrest?

ReverendOlaf

The cable that leads to the iPod and the iPod ... yes. The control module combined with the rigid cables won't fit (I hid it in the foot well within the part of the console that extends there). FYI, I only put it in the bottom part of the armrest. I suppose it could be possible to put it in the top part (with the split door) with some work.

SnoWRL

iTrader: (1)

yea i dont want the module and all that visible i just want the ipod and cable in there. Can this play video through the nav screen or is it a much more expensive ordeal for video? and is autotoys.com the cheapest with its free shippin promotion?

ReverendOlaf

Not sure about the second question, but they were when I ordered. As for the first ... no, it's strictly audio and meta data (ie artist, album, song, genre, etc ...). There are solutions that do video, but I don't believe they work with the steering wheel controls.

dep378

Is there a way to scroll thru the songs/albums using the nav screen? All I can figure out to do is hit next until I find a song I want to hear. Will the nav screen list the songs & use the center knob to find a certain one? If not, is there an interface that does? I have a friend that just installed the Harmon Kardon Drive+Play & it has a small screen that displays the menu just like the ipod screen & a wheel the control it.

dyelton

I spoke with tech support regarding iPhone 4 support and unfortunately they have no idea if it will break the USA Spec unit or not. I'm pre-ordering my iPhone 4 on Tuesday so I'm crossing my fingers that it will continue to work without any issue. I'll try and remember to update once I receive my new iPhone and have tested it out in the car.

mlts0807

I am assuming this is the xm module... Do i need to take this off or are those the plugs i need?

Tried to post the picture but can't figure out how? Help please...

dyelton

FWIW, my iPhone 4 works perfectly with this unit in my '06 RL. In fact, I'd say it works even better than it did with 3.x on my 3GS. I only get one dismiss message saying that the device isn't designed to work with the iPhone instead of two messages.

mlts0807

Is this the XM unit? Are those the plugs right below it?

ReverendOlaf

sorry for the delay--I've been out on vacation ... that looks like the onstar unit, but if that's the back seat behind it, it's not the xm unit. It is on the driver's side of the trunk, near the fuel filler door (well if you imagine where it would be if it extended inside the trunk). If I recall correctly the plugs go directly into the unit and only one is compatible with the size of the plug provided by USA SPEC.

nismo240gt

Unfortunately you cannot preview a tracklist available by the artist (like you could on an mp3 cd) using the nav screen. You can scroll by album/artist/playlist. I don't think that there is currently an interface that allows for this on the Acura Nav. models.

For this type of functionality you would have to navigate using the direct mode and physically scrolling through stuff on your iPod.

I will post a video of the interface over the next couple of days for those considering this add on.

mlts0807

[QUOTE=ReverendOlaf;12147780]sorry for the delay--I've been out on vacation ... that looks like the onstar unit, but if that's the back seat behind it, it's not the xm unit. It is on the driver's side of the trunk, near the fuel filler door (well if you imagine where it would be if it extended inside the trunk). If I recall correctly the plugs go directly into the unit and only one is compatible with the size of the plug provided by USA SPEC.[/QUOTE

Thanks for the reply. I ended up finding it and it works as advertised. thanks!