iPhone 5 connector for a car. It's complicated!
Discussion
Sure there used to be an audio sub section but couldn't see it. Have an idea floating around in my head for a little project but I'm struggling so need some PH help I think.
I'd like to fit an iPhone 5 dock to the upper face of a dashboard, ideally flush fitting or a dock that can be butchered or sunk to become flush fitting.
I'd then like to wire the audio output from the phone directly (or via a equaliser if need be) to an amp. I'd like to connect the dock to a 12v supply so the phone will charge when in its dock. I'd also like to hook a mic up so that it could be used for hands free calling in unison with the audio. In a perfect world I'd also like to wire up a home button for accessing siri and song shuffling without touching the phone.
The idea is mainly so that the car in question can have a totally uncluttered dash, with no head unit or wires trailing around but with a phone dropped into the dock, I could have i-tunes through the car speakers, internet radio, sat nav, charging etc. You get the idea.
2 problems then. Firstly finding a suitable dock. I found this one, which is nice but serious money and I'm not sure what the wiring output is. Something similar knocked up in Chinese sweat shop for £0.28 would be nice.
Right, secondly, I don't understand the lightning connector. I'd sort of hoped that a couple of pins would be for audio out, a couple for charging supply, another couple for the mic etc, but it seems I'm very wrong. So anybody able to unravel the mystery for me?
I'd like to fit an iPhone 5 dock to the upper face of a dashboard, ideally flush fitting or a dock that can be butchered or sunk to become flush fitting.
I'd then like to wire the audio output from the phone directly (or via a equaliser if need be) to an amp. I'd like to connect the dock to a 12v supply so the phone will charge when in its dock. I'd also like to hook a mic up so that it could be used for hands free calling in unison with the audio. In a perfect world I'd also like to wire up a home button for accessing siri and song shuffling without touching the phone.
The idea is mainly so that the car in question can have a totally uncluttered dash, with no head unit or wires trailing around but with a phone dropped into the dock, I could have i-tunes through the car speakers, internet radio, sat nav, charging etc. You get the idea.
2 problems then. Firstly finding a suitable dock. I found this one, which is nice but serious money and I'm not sure what the wiring output is. Something similar knocked up in Chinese sweat shop for £0.28 would be nice.
Right, secondly, I don't understand the lightning connector. I'd sort of hoped that a couple of pins would be for audio out, a couple for charging supply, another couple for the mic etc, but it seems I'm very wrong. So anybody able to unravel the mystery for me?
Not sure if this helps or not? But have you considered a parrot mki9000 kit?
You will need to butcher the dashboard yourself?
It is really simple to fit yourself and will not have wires everywhere if you are careful. I reckon taking the feeds off separately for power/ audio/ home keys etc. will be a recipe for unreliability...
Mike
Edit : Oops, missed the bit about lightning connector but pretty sure Parrot would have that sorted by now...
You will need to butcher the dashboard yourself?
It is really simple to fit yourself and will not have wires everywhere if you are careful. I reckon taking the feeds off separately for power/ audio/ home keys etc. will be a recipe for unreliability...
Mike
Edit : Oops, missed the bit about lightning connector but pretty sure Parrot would have that sorted by now...
Edited by mike9009 on Sunday 2nd February 22:10
Start with a Brodit phone holder and go from there. Two parts required, one for the phone, then one for the car. I don't understand the specifics about the lightening connector so won't dwell on that but you do need a lightening connector for the Brodit.
With this I get a holder that I just drop the phone into, it charges the phone, Bluetooth in the car sorts out the hands free and the audio play back.
Expensive, yes but for the simplicity and quality of the construction I think it's worth it.
With this I get a holder that I just drop the phone into, it charges the phone, Bluetooth in the car sorts out the hands free and the audio play back.
Expensive, yes but for the simplicity and quality of the construction I think it's worth it.
I don't know about charging. I'm pretty sure there's no analogue audio in the lightning connector though. The genuine Apple lightning to 30 pin has a digital to analogue converter in it, which is why cheap eBay converters might charge or connect to a PC, but often won't pass audio (as they don't have the D to A).
Lot of help there for you I'd say. Thanks all for the responses. Some useful info here though some of the replies suggest I wasn't all that clear in what I'm after, so I apologise. Bluetooth would be a nice option if it's entirely hidden and can hook straight up to a mic and the amp for speakers. I'd be 90% happy with that although it would mean I'd need a bracket or something for the phone when using sat nav and a separate charger as the battery would be crucified on longer journeys. Not a show stopper but not perfect. A permanent bracket that protrudes from the dash isn't something I fancy. Too modern looking and unsubtle though appreciate the suggestion.
If you imagine a classic car that has no place for a radio and a very simple, classic, uncluttered dash. What I'd like to do is add a near hidden interface for the phone (an amp and maybe an equaliser hidden away somewhere else). It would be in the form of something almost flush fit on the top surface of the dash so that the only way you'd really notice it is if you looked down through the windscreen. I meant to add a link on my OP of one item I've found. It's here:
http://specdock.com/car/make/universal-iphone-ipod...
They do an iphone 5 version and if I'm reading the site correctly it has an integrated digital to analogue converter. Perfect I think, except it would need to be the same colour as the dash to blend in and it's pricey for what it is. Anybody know of something similar for less money? It also occurred to me that the headphone socket on iphone 5 must offer most of the functionality that I'm after as it also operates the mic for hands free as well as home button control. I could look at designing my own dock using that and a lightning plug for the charging. Maybe....
If you imagine a classic car that has no place for a radio and a very simple, classic, uncluttered dash. What I'd like to do is add a near hidden interface for the phone (an amp and maybe an equaliser hidden away somewhere else). It would be in the form of something almost flush fit on the top surface of the dash so that the only way you'd really notice it is if you looked down through the windscreen. I meant to add a link on my OP of one item I've found. It's here:
http://specdock.com/car/make/universal-iphone-ipod...
They do an iphone 5 version and if I'm reading the site correctly it has an integrated digital to analogue converter. Perfect I think, except it would need to be the same colour as the dash to blend in and it's pricey for what it is. Anybody know of something similar for less money? It also occurred to me that the headphone socket on iphone 5 must offer most of the functionality that I'm after as it also operates the mic for hands free as well as home button control. I could look at designing my own dock using that and a lightning plug for the charging. Maybe....
I'd see what you can get from the Apple Developer Portal, especially the MFi programme, as that will be where you can find out how to interact through the Lightening connector.
How do the Parrot units link to normal head units? Could you set up some sort of direct connection to the amplifier?
How do the Parrot units link to normal head units? Could you set up some sort of direct connection to the amplifier?
I've put a parrot MKI 9200 in my car and it works a treat. If you but the muting cable it will do everything you want it to as you have an ipod connection, aux cable, bluetooth streaming. I bought it to upgrade stereo system and i can't fault it one bit.
http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-k...
http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-k...
Craikeybaby said:
I'd see what you can get from the Apple Developer Portal, especially the MFi programme, as that will be where you can find out how to interact through the Lightening connector.
How do the Parrot units link to normal head units? Could you set up some sort of direct connection to the amplifier?
The parrot kits do not use the existing headunit. They plug in between the headunit and the speakers. When you receive a call, the parrot unit cuts the headunit output and produces its own output through its own amplifier. Also you can Bluetooth music, text messages, sat nav commands all though the parrot kit. How do the Parrot units link to normal head units? Could you set up some sort of direct connection to the amplifier?
The mki9000 kit does not have an additional screen like the mki9200, so I think it looks a bit neater as an install. They are dead easy to fit. The control is wireless so can be put anywhere. Most difficult was routing the microphone and disassembling a Mini R56 dashboard to get to the OEM headunit.
Got one of these, fitted myself in an hour or so, it's great.
http://www.my-io.com/products/io-play2-overview/
http://www.my-io.com/products/io-play2-overview/
Resurrection time. Missed the last couple of posts on here. Just to reiterate the objective here is to not have anything on show on the front face of the dash. I fear that any typical bluetooth installation is going to need a visible screen (have had parrot kits before). So although they offer nearly all the functionality I need (though I'd need separate charging) I don't think it's quite what I'm looking for. The CK3000 type would be okay as I could hide the controls but do the best of my knowledge they don't handle music streaming, just calls. Anything else seems to use a screen.
Unfortunatley the dock I linked to earlier, is not only expensive but has no provision for a microphone input. I think I need to start thinking about compromise options!
Unfortunatley the dock I linked to earlier, is not only expensive but has no provision for a microphone input. I think I need to start thinking about compromise options!
The mki9000 is invisible, theres no screen. Theres a wee wireless remote but you don't really need it, you can just say "answer" when a call comes in. No head unit or external amp required, just speakers. Save for the mic and optionally the tiny remote, it's invisible.
DIYing it is just about plug and play these days:
DIYing it is just about plug and play these days:
- 1x lightning to old-style 30 pin adapter £25
- 1x chinese 50w 2ch ebay amps with 5v take-off (usb connector) for charging the phone £35
- 1x 30pin iphone to RCA with USB for power plug £10
ShaunTheSheep said:
The mki9000 is invisible, theres no screen. Theres a wee wireless remote but you don't really need it, you can just say "answer" when a call comes in. No head unit or external amp required, just speakers. Save for the mic and optionally the tiny remote, it's invisible.
DIYing it is just about plug and play these days:
Brilliant, this sounds right up my street!DIYing it is just about plug and play these days:
- 1x lightning to old-style 30 pin adapter £25
- 1x chinese 50w 2ch ebay amps with 5v take-off (usb connector) for charging the phone £35
- 1x 30pin iphone to RCA with USB for power plug £10
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