[Yesfan70]

Originally Posted by dmstumpf

The Mopar kit has an iPod proprietary connector as well as a standard 1/8" aux input. The aux will work with any device but obviously you won't get the integrated functionality such as song selection and playlist navigation.

That's what I was wondering, but thought I would ask to be sure. I used to have a Zen like my wife's but sold it. Kinda regret it at times even though most of my "on the go" listening is still in the Jeep. I do like the iTouch and this might give me an excuse to buy one.


For anyone with a iTouch, can you play music while running an app at the same time? I remember a person here who had a cool looking altimeter on their iPhone, so I was wondering if something like that can be run at the same time that music is being streamed to the RB1.

[grogie]

^I keep an older iPod Nano in my TJ's glove box all the time, however I recall someone saying that the iPod Touch works fine and yes you can stream music while in an app. as that's a function of the iPod's software.

My 3G iPhone does all that too, meaning I can play and control music selection from the deck and still go into an app. on the iPhone, however for whatever reason the Mopar box won't charge/ power the iPhone. But like I said I don't think that is an issue with the Touch. Must be something related to the iPhone's 3G chip?

[Yesfan70]

Originally Posted by grogie

^I keep an older iPod Nano in my TJ's glove box all the time, however I recall someone saying that the iPod Touch works fine and yes you can stream music while in an app. as that's a function of the iPod's software.

My 3G iPhone does all that too, meaning I can play and control music selection from the deck and still go into an app. on the iPhone, however for whatever reason the Mopar box won't charge/ power the iPhone. But like I said I don't think that is an issue with the Touch. Must be something related to the iPhone's 3G chip?

Thanks for the fast reply. That really helps.


Didn't want to hijack this thread, so I started another one (same section) on whether I should keep what I have or go aftermarket.

[Sccafire]

**********************Update**********************

I was working with the OP and he wanted me to update you all on some information I have found.

If you have a newer ipod (bought after 2008) Apple changed the firmware in their ipods and phones to only charge by USB cable. I recently installed the Mopar kit in my 2005 TJ with the RBQ head unit. When I plugged in my 4th Gen Nano, on the screen of the Nano said charging was not supported.

I went to Apple Support and was informed that a passport was needed. I purchased a Scosche-passPORT-Charging-Adapter From amazon.com

Disclaimer: I have tested it and it works for my 4th Gen Nano. According to the manufacturer it also works with iPod touch 2G, 3G; iPhone 3G.

[ktreem16]

i was looking into doing this, just about had the mopar kit ordered then started looking at aftermarket stuff. and for the $200 i was going to spend on the mopar kit from the dealership, i was able to get a nice alpine headunit along with all the stuff needed to install it. i'm way happy with the route i went, and control the headunit just like an ipod and it looks good. i mean i liked the stock look but i do believe that this is a step up for the same price.

[grogie]

Originally Posted by Sccafire

**********************Update**********************

I was working with the OP and he wanted me to update you all on some information I have found.

If you have a newer ipod (bought after 2008) Apple changed the firmware in their ipods and phones to only charge by USB cable. I recently installed the Mopar kit in my 2005 TJ with the RBQ head unit. When I plugged in my 4th Gen Nano, on the screen of the Nano said charging was not supported.

I went to Apple Support and was informed that a passport was needed. I purchased a Scosche-passPORT-Charging-Adapter From amazon.com

Disclaimer: I have tested it and it works for my 4th Gen Nano. According to the manufacturer it also works with iPod touch 2G, 3G; iPhone 3G.

Sccafire... Thanks for the update!

Here is a current link to the Scosche-passPORT.
Amazon.com: Scosche passPORT Charging Adapter for iPod touch 2G, 3G; iPod nano 4G; iPhone 3G (Black): Electronics

Originally Posted by ktreem16

i was looking into doing this, just about had the mopar kit ordered then started looking at aftermarket stuff. and for the $200 i was going to spend on the mopar kit from the dealership, i was able to get a nice alpine headunit along with all the stuff needed to install it. i'm way happy with the route i went, and control the headunit just like an ipod and it looks good. i mean i liked the stock look but i do believe that this is a step up for the same price.

One possible advantage to the Mopar kit is that someone is less likely to steal a stock radio. Most people probably wouldn't guess that I have an iPod hooked up to my stock radio, which probably helps when I park with the top off.

[Yesfan70]

...If you have a newer ipod (bought after 2008) Apple changed the firmware in their ipods and phones to only charge by USB cable. I recently installed the Mopar kit in my 2005 TJ with the RBQ head unit. When I plugged in my 4th Gen Nano, on the screen of the Nano said charging was not supported.

I went to Apple Support and was informed that a passport was needed. I purchased a Scosche-passPORT-Charging-Adapter From amazon.com......

Pretty stupid on Apple's part to force people to go that route for their stock setups. I know we are only talking about $18 here, but it's still the principle of it.


I've decided on aftermarket for myself, but was planning on staying stock for the wife's Libby and getting the Mopar kit and a Nano to replace her Zen. I think I'll just buy two identical head units that have USB jacks and be done with it.

[grogie]

I do have it confirmed that the iPhone 3G, iPod Nano 4th and current 5th Generation, iPod Touch 2nd Generation and iPod Classic all require this adapter in order to charge.

Apple has changed it's charging circuit to just USB, whereas the older decks (include the Mopar iPod Kit) were setup to charge by FireWire. The older iPods use to support both FireWire and USB. I'm sure this was done for cost issues, as well that USB is the standard.

[HankFXST]

Wow! that looks great. I went a much simpler route. I stuck a square of velcro on that blank space at the bottom of the console, fuzzy side. and put the rough side of the velcro on the back of the iPod. I use a FM transmitter that I got from Radio Shack and plug in the power cord if I need to for charging. Then I just tune to the right station and I listen to my iPod.

[grogie]

^The advantage to the Mopar Kit is that you can control the iPod from the stock deck. I haven't experienced the FM transmitters in sometime, but originally there were some complaints about static and whatnot.

[dmstumpf]

A couple things to add to the knowledge base here.

1) iPod Nano 3G will charge via the Mopar kit without the Scosche adapter.

2) I have been working on a mod to allow me to have an iPod connected in the glovebox at all times, while being able to switch between the iPod input and the AUX-IN cable also provided by the Mopar kit.

When the Mopar kit detects an iPod connected to the dock port, it disables the AUX-IN jack. I want to use the AUX-IN jack to listen to my CB as well as my mobile phone (for internet radio). My mod involves splicing a switch in the iPod connector wiring to electrically disconnect the iPod without having to physically unlock/open the glove box and then unplug the iPod. I will have a 1/8" headphone jack extended onto the console so I can connect anything I want there.

Below is a pinout of the Mopar 13-pin DIN connector that runs into the glove box. I have cross referenced it with a generally accepted pinout chart for modern iPods. It appears to be accurate.

Pin     iPod Equivalent     iPod Wire Color          Functional Description

1       N/A                 N/A                      AUX-IN Ground    
2       N/A                 N/A                      AUX-IN Right channel    
3       N/A                 N/A                      AUX-IN Left channel
4       pin 19              white                    12 VDC+
5       ground              silver                   Ground
6       pin 4               red                      Line out L+
7       pin 3               purple                   Line out R+
8       pin 13              brown striped            Serial RxD
9       pin 12              brown                    Serial TxD
10      pin 15              blue                     Ground
11      pin 18              blue striped             3.3 VDC+
12      pin 2               red striped              AV ground
13      pin 21              green striped            Serial enable

The wire colors are based off an iPod dock extension cable I ordered online and may not be consistent across vendors.

Observations:

Interrupting pin 13 does not seem to have any effect with my iPod Nano 3G.

When interrupting pins 8 or 9 (serial data Tx and Rx), the stereo will say "upgrade iPod firmware", but still play audio through the iPod port (not AUX-IN). You will have to control the iPod through the click wheel (stereo controls will not work).

After a lot of cutting and splicing, it seems the Mopar kit uses the 3.3V line (pin 11) to detect the presence of the iPod. If that is interrupted, it reverts to AUX-IN.

I should note that I severely damaged my iPod Nano 3G in the process of testing this setup (battery no longer charges). I am thinking it was due to my sloppy wire cutting and soldering, but it could be due to something else beyond my understanding. All of the information above should be used with extreme caution!

[bigwindy]

A lot of good info in this thread...I'm hoping for some help.

I installed 82209616C (Mopar iPod kit) tonight with my RB1, and found that my RB1 is not behaving correctly. Instead of showing me a screen that shows "SAT" and "playing iPod," my radio shows "SIRIUS" in the upper left hand corner when I press the AUX button. The interesting part is that I DON'T HAVE SIRIUS! The RB1 displays the song name and artist name, but I don't have any ability to browse songs on my ipod.

I have a 10 disc CD changer, but I ended up disconnecting it because the cable wouldn't reach. So I'm basically just running the iPod adapter straight into the back of the RB1. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[dmstumpf]

My radio also switches to satellite mode when the iPod is active. I think this is how it functions (the iPod adapter fools the radio into thinking it is getting a Sirius satellite link). So that part sounds normal.

I don't have an RB1 so I don't know how it is supposed to work when browsing songs. I know that mine takes awhile (30-45 seconds) to load the playlist information. Maybe you just need to wait longer?

[commodore_dude]

Yes, it definitely emulates the satellite tuner... kind of a hack, but what do you expect from a first gen iPod controlling head unit basically . I've been pondering getting the iPod adapter and an iPod just to have some means to play my own music while using the GPS on my RB1, but I haven't heard anyone come up with a definitive way to get it to behave right with both the iPod adapter and the Sirius tuner...

[Sarge_]

I have the RB1 with the MOPAR ipod connector and an older 60GB ipod (the generation before they started calling it "classic"). It's horrible. It freezes frequently. Sometimes the volume will turn 'down' but not 'up' on the RB1, sometimes it won't access playlists, sometimes it will only see a few playlists, and sometimes it won't access anything at all. Every so often, it works as advertised, but 90% of the time it doesn't.

Sometimes I can get it working by switching from ipod to FM back to ipod and it will work, sometimes that gets it playing all songs, but not showing playlists. Sometimes I have to turn the car off/on to get it to work. These days, it's not seeing playlists at all any more.

I can disconnect the ipod and connect it via the auxiliary jack and the ipod plays 'as normal', so its not the ipod. The ipod is running the latest software apple has for it (the ipod's several years old, so I'm not sure if they're still making updates anymore, but it works fine otherwise). It does charge when connected to the base adapter, but the RB1/MOPAR interface is just garbage.

In short, I wouldn't recommend this POS setup to anyone.