iPhone car audio question

[Munson]

My car has a USB ipod interface. The USB controls the iPhone and charges it, but there is a 3.5mm jack for the audio input. I can't be arsed buying the proper cable if I don't need to, so I have a question;

If I use a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack cable, plug that into the car, and use the standard iPhone USB cable to plug into the dock port, would this work? In other words, does audio come out of the headphone socket when docked/plugged in?

Danke.

 

[Griff]

Use the USB port. The 3.5mm jack/port will be a generic auxiliary input for other MP3 players.

 

[Tom]

Just plug the white cable in the usb port.

 

[Munson]

Use the USB port. The 3.5mm jack/port will be a generic auxiliary input for other MP3 players.

Nope. The USB controls the iPhone, but you need to use a jack cable to actually hear the audio. There is a cable available that does both. It splits off between USB and jack.

What I'm asking is, does the headphone socket output audio when the USB control is plugged into the dock?

 

[Munson]

Just plug the white cable in the usb port.

As above.

 

[Tom]

No. Whatever you are doing you arent doing it right.

UNLESS you are using "purchased" music in AAC format which your Head Unit may not support.

 

[Griff]

Nope. The USB controls the iPhone, but you need to use a jack cable to actually hear the audio.

What kind of s**t setup is that?!?

Like Tom's confirmed above in any normal car the USB controls the iPhone/iPhone AND carrys the audio. Not sure why yours is abnormal?!?

Edit - http://www.teamtorquesteer.co.uk/ca...-cable-btvc-phone-interface-usb-connect-.html

PMSL at that cable.. For such a good/expensive car that's one s**t MP3/Audio solution.

 

[Munson]

I have no idea. Ask Ford. That's the way it works.

 

[Munson]

No. Whatever you are doing you arent doing it right.

UNLESS you are using "purchased" music in AAC format which your Head Unit may not support.

Yes?

 

[Munson]

EDIT fails. I'm not sure.

The guys on the FRS owners club have told me this is the way it works.

EDIT: I shall try it with tracks that I know are mp3.

 

[Tom]

Then you need to convert your entire music collection to MP3 or use the 3.5 mm jack and the standard ipod
interface.

Good luck, thicko.

 

[Griff]

He's right Tom.

For some reason Ford decided that you need to use both connections. They use the USB input for data (Song names, track control) and the 3.5mm for audio.

s**t setup I know but Munson is actually correct. Just look at all the confused people on the Focus RS forums lol

 

[Munson]

Then you need to convert your entire music collection to MP3 or use the 3.5 mm jack and the standard ipod
interface.

Good luck, thicko.

Roffle. Ok genius. I asked about this on a Ford FRS owners club and was told I need to also connect the jack to get audio. Forgive me for believing them. I'll give the mp3 tracks a shot.

 

[Tom]

PMSL, thats rubbish.

I know why. I guess it saves them paying fees for licensing/codecs or whatever

 

[Griff]

I asked about this on a Ford FRS owners club and was told I need to also connect the jack to get audio.

You do need both connected according to Ford. It's in your manual apparently. I'll give you the page number when my mate gets home.

 

[Munson]

He's right Tom.

For some reason Ford decided that you need to use both connections. They use the USB input for data (Song names, track control) and the 3.5mm for audio.

s**t setup I know but Munson is actually correct. Just look at all the confused people on the Focus RS forums lol

Basically I was trying to avoid buying this.

 

[Tom]

Thats stupidly gay. Sorry.

Oh and how bad is the stereo! i couldn't believe my ears!

 

[Munson]

You do need both connected according to Ford. It's in your manual apparently. I'll give you the page number when my mate gets home.

Cheers Griff. I already knew I need both connected, hence the thread FFS. TBH I presumed the manual would just show the cable I linked to. My original question was does audio come out of the headphone socket when plugged in via USB. I guess I'll see what the manual says

 

[Munson]

Yes Tom, it's rubbish. Like the car.

 

[Tom]

When an acc is connected it wont play through the 3.5 mm jack.

 

[Tom]

£6 on ebay for the same cable as the ford one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/iPhone-3G-iPo...yerCarKits?hash=item439c96bde0#ht_1152wt_1165

This listing is obviously useless, but the exist.

 

[Munson]

PMSL at that cable.. For such a good/expensive car that's one s**t MP3/Audio solution.

What difference does it make? It's all hidden away inside the centre glove box. You would normally still only have to plug the iPhone in with one plug?

Anyway thanks for all the help telling me what I already knew

 

[Munson]

£6 on ebay for the same cable as the ford one

Cheers Tom. I'll have a look.

 

[Griff]

What difference does it make? You would normally still only have to plug the iPhone in with one plug?

Exactly.. A single cable that comes supplied with the iPhone/iPod and doesn't mean spending extra cash on some weird cable Ford dreamt up.

All I said was it's a weird solution which looking at all the comments on various Focus forums, and all the confused owners, it blatantly is.

 

[Munson]

I agree it's a pain, but hardly the end of the word once setup. You still only plug the phone in like any other system.

That wasn't my question.

 

[MattW]

I bought the cable that Tom links to for my Leon - works fine, very good in fact.

They will accept lower than the £5.99 as well! Best offer FTW!

 

[ForceIndia]

This is why I love the alpine setup. Bluetooth, full control from the headunit, and I can have the satnav running while playing music.

Ford aren't alone in a s**t interface though, the e90 BMW is even worse. Best I've seen is the Ferrari 16m setup.

 

[ForceIndia]

Awesome. Just need a spare few hundred k.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3341383288_f856fe7c74.jpg