Cars + Rockboxed iPods, the definitive post

[kovan]

Hi.

Searching the forums I've learned that, due to the fact that Rockboxed iPods are not remotely controllable and only line-out signal is available through the dock cable, you never know if an accessory will work the way it is supposed until you actually plug it in and try it.

And I was wondering, how do you guys use your Rockboxed iPods in your car? Assuming you have all your music in directories, from what I have read, these are the options:

• If your car or aftermarket radio supports audio playing from USB drives, you can plug your Rockboxed iPod as if it was just a hard disk, and let the car do all the work. Of course you lose all Rockbox functionalities, but in compensation you can control the player using the controls of the car/radio.
• If your car or aftermarket radio has iPod support, you might be lucky and be able to hear the music, but you'll never be able to control the iPod with car's controls. At least you only need one cable for both audio and power, and of course you are actually using Rockbox to play the music.
• If your car or radio has aux-in plug, you can buy one of those car lighter iPod chargers with aux-out, then plug to the radio and use Rockbox to play the music.
• If your car has neither aux input, nor iPod input, nor USB input (my case), AFAIK you are pretty much screwed up  .

So, how do you guys listen your Rockboxed iPods in your car?

[MarcGuay]

Other options include casette deck adaptors and FM transmitters.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodAccessories

[kovan]

That's right. Too bad the sound quality of those is not as good.

[ryran]

Yes. My next car will definitely have aux input.

PS: definitive

[soap]

• If your car or aftermarket radio has iPod support, you might be lucky and be able to hear the music, but you'll never be able to control the iPod with car's controls. At least you only need one cable for both audio and power, and of course you are actually using Rockbox to play the music.

This one is pushing being out of date.  Here is a working work-in-progress patch to add iPod serial support for many accessories.

[GodEater]

That's right. Too bad the sound quality of those is not as good.

Personally I find the sound quality on my cassette adaptor just fine.

[ryran]

Indeed. For driving around anyway.
Personally, I would be unable to appreciate the subtleties of every song when I'm driving around trying not to die or kill people. With the windows open.

Yup.

[Elias_Maluco]

I got the speakers plugged directlly into a sound amplifier with RCA input, with a RCA/p2 cable on it. So I just have to plug the iPod (or any other audio device with a P2 output) on it, and I have sound, no radio required.

Crime rates are outrageous around here, all car radios I ever had got stolen sooner or later. The sound amplifier is hidden bellow the car console, and when I leave the car, I always take the iPod with me. So this has the great advantage of being pretty much impossible to rob.

For me, is the perfect setup.

[binba]

Since this is "the definite post" for this topic: 

I was thrilled to discover RockBox, and will be happy to dump my OEM iPod FW. However, the sole reason I bought an iPod (4th gen) was to integrate it into the full OEM controls of my 2006 Honda Accord. With Rockbox's limited Apple Accessory Protocol support, it seems to be out of the question.

Two questions I haven't seen answers to:

1. Has anyone tried using their RockBoxed iPod with the USA-Spec, Peripheral PXAMG, iSimple Gateway, or PAC adapters? These are the most popular ones, yet I haven't seen them mentioned at all. I was hoping to buy the most RockBox-compatible one...

2. I assume the RockBox won't work at all with the above. Before I ponder diving into development and sniffing, what IS the status on advanced Apple Accessory Protocol support? What hurdles have prevented its complete implementation to date?

[GodEater]

What hurdles have prevented its complete implementation to date?

Zero documentation from Apple.

[Multiplex]

Zero documentation from Apple.

I suspect that there is documentation, but it will only be available under NDA - not exacty compatible with an open source project ;-)

1. Has anyone tried using their RockBoxed iPod with the USA-Spec, Peripheral PXAMG, iSimple Gateway, or PAC adapters? These are the most popular ones, yet I haven't seen them mentioned at all. I was hoping to buy the most RockBox-compatible one...

There is a Wiki page where folk have been posting details of iPod & Rockbox compatibility with a variety of accesories (including cars) - I don't have an iPod but looked when I was considering getting one because my car (VW Golf) has an iPod dock (and no line in) - but the UI was not very good (in the OF - I didn't have access to a rockboxed iPod to test) so I just play MP3 coded CD-Rs

[torne]

The accessory protocol docs are not only under NDA but also cost money, so yeah, no help there

[Walrus]

On my old car I used to use a Kensington FM transmitter...I just got a Honda Fit, which has USB ipod support, but luckily also has a regular aux-in as well. 

I think your best bet is just to get an after-market stereo with an aux input and control your ipod/rockbox manually.

[dibby]

Mixed results and makes me doubt you can generalise what happens with stereos and Rockbox, especially the 1st 2 generalisations.

VW Bora with £3 aux adapter to the CD port - worked fine, no controls as it's only an aux in adapter

Alfa Romeo 147 with Dension Ice>Link adapter - Rockbox worked fine, FFW & RW buttons worked through the stereo and steering wheel controls, shuffle wouldn't work.

BMW 320d with DICE ipod adapter - Can't figure out how to get Rockbox working at all. No sound, no controls no matter what combination of car adapter and accessory power so I've had to switch back to the standard ipod (Fisher Price) interface which is driving me crazy because I now can't delete or move tracks on the move, no flac support, crappy basic Apple interface is back again. On the bright side, FFW, RW & shuffle buttons work through the stereo

[tomers]

BMW 320d with DICE ipod adapter - Can't figure out how to get Rockbox working at all. No sound, no controls no matter what combination of car adapter and accessory power so I've had to switch back to the standard ipod (Fisher Price) interface which is driving me crazy because I now can't delete or move tracks on the move, no flac support, crappy basic Apple interface is back again. On the bright side, FFW, RW & shuffle buttons work through the stereo

Send me the car and I'll debug it.