How to Incorporate a Cellphone Into Your Vehicle
I can attest to driving and having to use my cellphone at the same time. I feel embarrassed for my actions, even knowing that nothing tragic has come out of it. For the safety of other drivers and ourselves, it would be great if cellphone users could have a nearly hands-free phone experience while driving. With user safety in mind, this guide will show you how to strategically mount your phone, hook up the dock connector for constant charging, and how to connect the audio cable for both audio playback and phone conversations. Please note that laws regarding cell phone usage while operating a motor vehicle vary by state.
My personal phone is an Apple iPhone 3GS which I am using in this article. However, if you have a cellphone (smartphone or otherwise) that has an audio output jack and a power connector jack, you can use these same principles in this article for your vehicle and cellphone. If your cellphone has an audio output jack but does not have a separate jack for power; you should still be able to speak and listen to phone calls, but the battery power will be draining as long as your phone is not off or is in sleep mode.
Before grabbing the tools and items, you'll have to do a bit of planning. You can put in as little or as much thought into this, but when you set everything up, the extra planning will help you in the long run. Anybody can purchase and install the proper cables to their cellphone or iPhone. But from a driving perspective, would you prefer having your phone laying in or on your console and having to momentarily look away from the road when answering a call or changing iTunes tracks, or would you prefer to have the phone mounted in a place where you could stay focused on the road with your peripheral vision checking the cellphone? Do you have the budget that allows you to install a $60 part (and the extra cost of installation) to your existing car stereo which allows you to connect your iPhone, or are you the kind of person that tends to enjoy working with the physical limitations of hardware and budgeting around that? I'll cover more on this options throughout the guide.
When considering the various methods, you'll need to determine what's in your budget, the difficulty of the job, what is or isn't needed, long -term usage, and possible outcome if you sell your vehicle.
My personal phone is an Apple iPhone 3GS which I am using in this article. However, if you have a cellphone (smartphone or otherwise) that has an audio output jack and a power connector jack, you can use these same principles in this article for your vehicle and cellphone. If your cellphone has an audio output jack but does not have a separate jack for power; you should still be able to speak and listen to phone calls, but the battery power will be draining as long as your phone is not off or is in sleep mode.
Before grabbing the tools and items, you'll have to do a bit of planning. You can put in as little or as much thought into this, but when you set everything up, the extra planning will help you in the long run. Anybody can purchase and install the proper cables to their cellphone or iPhone. But from a driving perspective, would you prefer having your phone laying in or on your console and having to momentarily look away from the road when answering a call or changing iTunes tracks, or would you prefer to have the phone mounted in a place where you could stay focused on the road with your peripheral vision checking the cellphone? Do you have the budget that allows you to install a $60 part (and the extra cost of installation) to your existing car stereo which allows you to connect your iPhone, or are you the kind of person that tends to enjoy working with the physical limitations of hardware and budgeting around that? I'll cover more on this options throughout the guide.
When considering the various methods, you'll need to determine what's in your budget, the difficulty of the job, what is or isn't needed, long -term usage, and possible outcome if you sell your vehicle.
INEXPENSIVE
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MODERATELY-PRICED
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EXPENSIVE
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EASY
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Physically place cellphone in your vehicle. If aftermarket stereo is already installed, hook audio cable from stereo to cellphone.
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Purchase mount and cables and install in your vehicle (this article).
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Have iPod interface or aftermarket stereo (with 35mm jack) installed from the dealer.
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DIFFICULT
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Connect cables from rear of factory stereo to cellphone.
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Purchase cellphone interface, run from rear of factory stereo to front seat.
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Replace factory stereo with aftermarket unit that has a 35mm jack or cellphone jack.
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EASY & INEXPENSIVE = Simply place your cellphone anywhere in your car. This is not an ideal setup as you'll be distracted when answering or placing a call. If your vehicle already has an aftermarket or factory stereo with a 35mm jack, you can follow the rest of this article.
EASY & MODERATELY-PRICED = Pretty much what this article covers, which is purchasing audio and power cables from your car to your phone, and a cellphone mount, and hooking up the necessary connections yourself.
EASY & EXPENSIVE = The less work you do, the easier it is. You can go to the dealer and see if a cellphone interface is available for installation and have it installed. Since the iPhone is a standard, the dealer may only have that interface type available. So, if you've got a Blackberry smartphone, the dealer may not have an interface for it. The iPhone interface my wife has in her car runs from the armrest console. With this, she would have an iPod Nano attached to the connector, and then be able to switch artists or songs using the factory stereo's controls. This works well when you're simply listening to music, but the center armrest is impractical when using cellphones. Having the connector is placed near the dashboard allows for a practical and logical setup.
Alternatively, you can pick out an aftermarket stereo and have the dealer or audio store install it for you. Most aftermarket stereos nowadays will have a 35mm jack on it that allows you to connect a CD player, MP3 player or other device with a 35mm output jack. Other high-end stereos offer a lot more including an iPhone interface or USB port, so those models may allow you to control your iPod using the stereo's controls. The goal here is near-complete hands-free access though, so that you can focus on driving and safety and less on your cellphone's controls.
DIFFICULT & INEXPENSIVE = Some factory and aftermarket stereos have extra jacks on the back which allow external incoming and outgoing connections. Some have simple RCA audio jacks while others have USB and proprietary jacks. Google your vehicle and see if you can find links for your stereo that shows you if your vehicle's stereo has any of these jacks. If you have an aftermarket stereo installed without a 35mm jack, check your owner's manual to see if external audio connections are present in the back of your unit. In either case, you may be able to connect cables from these jacks to your cellphone. If your stereo has a USB port on the rear, chances are that this USB port does not carry audio and may or may not be a full interface for your type of cellphone.
Running the cables from the rear of your stereo to the dashboard requires some logic. Not only do you need to pull the stereos out, you want to keep a clean area and have the cables hidden as best as you can. Depending on your vehicle, it may be best to drill a small hole to run the cable to your dashboard or area that you'll be placing the cellphone. But remember that any modifications you make to your vehicle may impact the resell value as well. Think ahead!
DIFFICULT & MODERATELY-PRICED = I've searched eBay and found various interfaces specifically for iPhones to work with factory stereos. Some of these aren't cheap though. If you go this route, you'll still need to pull out the stereo to connect it. If your car's steering wheels has controls for the radio, this should allow you to change tracks and volume on your iPhone. If you're using a simple candybar phone, chances are that there may not be any type of stereo-to-phone interface, but in hindsight this will save you some money.
DIFFICULT & EXPENSIVE = Instead of having the dealership or car audio business install a stereo, you can save some money by doing it yourself. However, you may need to purchase additional items such as a Haynes or Chilton manual for your car stereo removal instructions, possible additional tools, and more.
PART I - COMPONENTS
Here's a list of the items you will need, (but not the items in order for purchase):
Compatible cellphone - iPhone (except 1st Gen) users already have a 1/8" audio output jack, so if you fall into this category you're gold and can move to the section "Compatible Vehicle". Some cellphones have an odd USB or proprietary connector that handles both audio and charging. My recommendation is to Google the cellphone model you have, add "car audio" to the end of it, then do a search on that. You can perform a similar search on eBay to see if any hits come up on your search. If you get results that show a separate cable for charging and a separate cable for audio, then you're gold and can move to the section "Compatible Vehicle". If you get results that show a single cable that handles the functions of both audio and charging, I would check further on your results and see if any users have reported any success in using their cellphones with their vehicles before running out and getting any accessories.
Compatible Vehicle - The way to get audio from your cellphone to your car will make or break the process.
Option 1 - My vehicle is a 2007 Honda Civic EX. When I was car-shopping last year and looking for models, I specifically wanted a vehicle with an audio input jack so that I could then hook up my iPod Touch. The EX trim does have a 1/8" audio input jack, so not only will any of the Apple i-series devices work, but CD players, Sirius radios, and other MP3 players as well. So if your vehicle already has a 1/8" audio input jack, you're a step ahead and can move on to "Cellphone Mount".
Option 2 - A few years ago, I had written an article for Macinstruct titled "How to iPod your Ghetto Ride", and I had given examples of how to use a cassette adapter and Bluetooth device to get audio from the iPod to the vehicle's audio system. If you only want to use any model iPod or MP3 player and run the audio through your vehicle's audio system, the "How to IPod Your Ghetto Ride" article will still work, but the article doesn't hold much water if you want to utilize your iPhone or cellphone with the audio system.
Vehicles with a tape deck installed can still utilize a cassette adapter, but the cassette adapters only have a 1/8" (35mm) plug. Some cellphones use an odd or proprietary connector (i.e old LG Chocolate), and the audio adapters for some of these cellphones have the proprietary connector on one end of the cable and a 1/8" audio plug on the other end of the cable. Obviously, you can't connect two 1/8" plugs or males together, so you would either need to purchase a female-to-female 1/8" adapter (available at Radio Shack or Guitar Center), or go to a specialized store or eBay to purchase the correct cable for your cellphone that has the proprietary connector on one end and a 1/8" jack (female) on the other end. From there you connect the cable to your cellphone, push the cassette adapter in your vehicle's cassette player, then connect the 1/8" plug from the cassette adapter and insert it into the 1/8" jack of the cellphone cable.
Option 3 - A pricier but cleaner option is to install a small device into the back of your car stereo. Some car radios have a proprietary connector for an external device, while others already have RCA outputs on them. If you're not sure about your car stereo's outputs, go to Google and/or eBay, type in your car's year, make, model, and then add either "radio aux", "iPod", "iPhone", or your cellphone model, and then search and check the results: The results should describe your radio and the rear connectors:
If your car stereo has the RCA connectors, you've got a cheaper way of getting things to work. You can simply hook up RCA cables to a dual RCA-to-1/8" adapter. If the adapter has a 1/8" jack (female), you can purchase a standard 1/8" male-to-1/8" male cable, then connect it between your cellphone and the adapter. If the adapter has a 1/8" plug (male), then you'll need to purchase a 1/8" male to 1/8" female cable, then connect it between the adapter and the cellphone.
If your stereo only has the only proprietary connector, check eBay with the same search criteria and see if a device is available for your vehicle. Usually the device will have cables or a connector that attaches to the rear of your vehicle's stereo, and the device will have a cable or connector with a cable with RCA plug or jack, or a 1/8" plug or jack. Some of these devices will not only allow audio from the iPhone to go to the audio system, but the music titles from your iTunes playlist on your device will appear on the stereo's display. Keep in mind that you'll have to either install the device yourself or pay a professional for the work, which will involve getting behind the dashboard. Sometimes this option is available directly from the dealer, but again, you pay a high installation fee.
Option 4 - If you've never been happy with your vehicle's stereo, the last options is to simply upgrade it to an aftermarket model. I believe all aftermarket models now have a 1/8" audio input jack to accommodated iPods and MP3 players. Again, Google your car's information to see if this is available. With some models, you'll have to replace an entire dashboard component, but with others only the radio portion is displaced while the other dash components are untouched.
Cellphone mount - Cellphone mounts vary in size and features. Some have a suction cup windshield mount, some use the same type of mount but grab on to your dashboard, while others mount to the vents using plastic hooks. I had used a windshield mount on my Honda Civic in the past, but extreme heat and cold changes caused the windshield to crack (along with a $250 insurance deductible out of my pocket). I personally like the vent mounts as some can be removed and repositioned, plus they don't create any visual obstructions through the windshield.
Does your cellphone have a case? I've seen some cheaper mounts on eBay where the part that holds the iPhone is molded to the back of the chassis for an exact fit. This doesn't bode well for users like me that have their iPhone in a protective case. Make sure that the model you like can accommodate a phone with a case, especially if you plan to purchase a case down the road. If you do a Google or eBay search for a vent mount for your specific model of cellphone, you may be limited in your results. If you search for a universal mount, you'll find a lot more results. Getting a universal mount is a better choice if you decide to upgrade your current cellphone in the future, so you won't have to switch out all your cellphone accessories later down the line.
I've used a handful of mounts for a few years. Some were chintzy and didn't hold well while others got the job done but were not structurally sound. So far the one I've fallen in love with is by Bracketron (product placement ahead):
EASY & MODERATELY-PRICED = Pretty much what this article covers, which is purchasing audio and power cables from your car to your phone, and a cellphone mount, and hooking up the necessary connections yourself.
EASY & EXPENSIVE = The less work you do, the easier it is. You can go to the dealer and see if a cellphone interface is available for installation and have it installed. Since the iPhone is a standard, the dealer may only have that interface type available. So, if you've got a Blackberry smartphone, the dealer may not have an interface for it. The iPhone interface my wife has in her car runs from the armrest console. With this, she would have an iPod Nano attached to the connector, and then be able to switch artists or songs using the factory stereo's controls. This works well when you're simply listening to music, but the center armrest is impractical when using cellphones. Having the connector is placed near the dashboard allows for a practical and logical setup.
Alternatively, you can pick out an aftermarket stereo and have the dealer or audio store install it for you. Most aftermarket stereos nowadays will have a 35mm jack on it that allows you to connect a CD player, MP3 player or other device with a 35mm output jack. Other high-end stereos offer a lot more including an iPhone interface or USB port, so those models may allow you to control your iPod using the stereo's controls. The goal here is near-complete hands-free access though, so that you can focus on driving and safety and less on your cellphone's controls.
DIFFICULT & INEXPENSIVE = Some factory and aftermarket stereos have extra jacks on the back which allow external incoming and outgoing connections. Some have simple RCA audio jacks while others have USB and proprietary jacks. Google your vehicle and see if you can find links for your stereo that shows you if your vehicle's stereo has any of these jacks. If you have an aftermarket stereo installed without a 35mm jack, check your owner's manual to see if external audio connections are present in the back of your unit. In either case, you may be able to connect cables from these jacks to your cellphone. If your stereo has a USB port on the rear, chances are that this USB port does not carry audio and may or may not be a full interface for your type of cellphone.
Running the cables from the rear of your stereo to the dashboard requires some logic. Not only do you need to pull the stereos out, you want to keep a clean area and have the cables hidden as best as you can. Depending on your vehicle, it may be best to drill a small hole to run the cable to your dashboard or area that you'll be placing the cellphone. But remember that any modifications you make to your vehicle may impact the resell value as well. Think ahead!
DIFFICULT & MODERATELY-PRICED = I've searched eBay and found various interfaces specifically for iPhones to work with factory stereos. Some of these aren't cheap though. If you go this route, you'll still need to pull out the stereo to connect it. If your car's steering wheels has controls for the radio, this should allow you to change tracks and volume on your iPhone. If you're using a simple candybar phone, chances are that there may not be any type of stereo-to-phone interface, but in hindsight this will save you some money.
DIFFICULT & EXPENSIVE = Instead of having the dealership or car audio business install a stereo, you can save some money by doing it yourself. However, you may need to purchase additional items such as a Haynes or Chilton manual for your car stereo removal instructions, possible additional tools, and more.
PART I - COMPONENTS
Here's a list of the items you will need, (but not the items in order for purchase):
Compatible cellphone - iPhone (except 1st Gen) users already have a 1/8" audio output jack, so if you fall into this category you're gold and can move to the section "Compatible Vehicle". Some cellphones have an odd USB or proprietary connector that handles both audio and charging. My recommendation is to Google the cellphone model you have, add "car audio" to the end of it, then do a search on that. You can perform a similar search on eBay to see if any hits come up on your search. If you get results that show a separate cable for charging and a separate cable for audio, then you're gold and can move to the section "Compatible Vehicle". If you get results that show a single cable that handles the functions of both audio and charging, I would check further on your results and see if any users have reported any success in using their cellphones with their vehicles before running out and getting any accessories.
Compatible Vehicle - The way to get audio from your cellphone to your car will make or break the process.
Option 1 - My vehicle is a 2007 Honda Civic EX. When I was car-shopping last year and looking for models, I specifically wanted a vehicle with an audio input jack so that I could then hook up my iPod Touch. The EX trim does have a 1/8" audio input jack, so not only will any of the Apple i-series devices work, but CD players, Sirius radios, and other MP3 players as well. So if your vehicle already has a 1/8" audio input jack, you're a step ahead and can move on to "Cellphone Mount".
Option 2 - A few years ago, I had written an article for Macinstruct titled "How to iPod your Ghetto Ride", and I had given examples of how to use a cassette adapter and Bluetooth device to get audio from the iPod to the vehicle's audio system. If you only want to use any model iPod or MP3 player and run the audio through your vehicle's audio system, the "How to IPod Your Ghetto Ride" article will still work, but the article doesn't hold much water if you want to utilize your iPhone or cellphone with the audio system.
Vehicles with a tape deck installed can still utilize a cassette adapter, but the cassette adapters only have a 1/8" (35mm) plug. Some cellphones use an odd or proprietary connector (i.e old LG Chocolate), and the audio adapters for some of these cellphones have the proprietary connector on one end of the cable and a 1/8" audio plug on the other end of the cable. Obviously, you can't connect two 1/8" plugs or males together, so you would either need to purchase a female-to-female 1/8" adapter (available at Radio Shack or Guitar Center), or go to a specialized store or eBay to purchase the correct cable for your cellphone that has the proprietary connector on one end and a 1/8" jack (female) on the other end. From there you connect the cable to your cellphone, push the cassette adapter in your vehicle's cassette player, then connect the 1/8" plug from the cassette adapter and insert it into the 1/8" jack of the cellphone cable.
Option 3 - A pricier but cleaner option is to install a small device into the back of your car stereo. Some car radios have a proprietary connector for an external device, while others already have RCA outputs on them. If you're not sure about your car stereo's outputs, go to Google and/or eBay, type in your car's year, make, model, and then add either "radio aux", "iPod", "iPhone", or your cellphone model, and then search and check the results: The results should describe your radio and the rear connectors:
If your car stereo has the RCA connectors, you've got a cheaper way of getting things to work. You can simply hook up RCA cables to a dual RCA-to-1/8" adapter. If the adapter has a 1/8" jack (female), you can purchase a standard 1/8" male-to-1/8" male cable, then connect it between your cellphone and the adapter. If the adapter has a 1/8" plug (male), then you'll need to purchase a 1/8" male to 1/8" female cable, then connect it between the adapter and the cellphone.
If your stereo only has the only proprietary connector, check eBay with the same search criteria and see if a device is available for your vehicle. Usually the device will have cables or a connector that attaches to the rear of your vehicle's stereo, and the device will have a cable or connector with a cable with RCA plug or jack, or a 1/8" plug or jack. Some of these devices will not only allow audio from the iPhone to go to the audio system, but the music titles from your iTunes playlist on your device will appear on the stereo's display. Keep in mind that you'll have to either install the device yourself or pay a professional for the work, which will involve getting behind the dashboard. Sometimes this option is available directly from the dealer, but again, you pay a high installation fee.
Option 4 - If you've never been happy with your vehicle's stereo, the last options is to simply upgrade it to an aftermarket model. I believe all aftermarket models now have a 1/8" audio input jack to accommodated iPods and MP3 players. Again, Google your car's information to see if this is available. With some models, you'll have to replace an entire dashboard component, but with others only the radio portion is displaced while the other dash components are untouched.
Cellphone mount - Cellphone mounts vary in size and features. Some have a suction cup windshield mount, some use the same type of mount but grab on to your dashboard, while others mount to the vents using plastic hooks. I had used a windshield mount on my Honda Civic in the past, but extreme heat and cold changes caused the windshield to crack (along with a $250 insurance deductible out of my pocket). I personally like the vent mounts as some can be removed and repositioned, plus they don't create any visual obstructions through the windshield.
Does your cellphone have a case? I've seen some cheaper mounts on eBay where the part that holds the iPhone is molded to the back of the chassis for an exact fit. This doesn't bode well for users like me that have their iPhone in a protective case. Make sure that the model you like can accommodate a phone with a case, especially if you plan to purchase a case down the road. If you do a Google or eBay search for a vent mount for your specific model of cellphone, you may be limited in your results. If you search for a universal mount, you'll find a lot more results. Getting a universal mount is a better choice if you decide to upgrade your current cellphone in the future, so you won't have to switch out all your cellphone accessories later down the line.
I've used a handful of mounts for a few years. Some were chintzy and didn't hold well while others got the job done but were not structurally sound. So far the one I've fallen in love with is by Bracketron (product placement ahead):
This beast only cost me $15 locally (K-Mart) or you can get it directly from Bracketron. It's got so many features and installing it was easier than any other mount I've used. On my previous mount, the teeth on the clips to attach itself to the dashboard came loose and caused the mount to wobble. On this model, there are spring-loaded clips to the rear of the clip teeth, so once it's attached it stays attached. When I place my iPhone in the holder, the swing-out arms with rubber tops hold the phone vertically and prevent it from sliding out. This also means that the iPhone dock isn't obstructed and I can connect the cable from the cigarette outlet to the dock. The big arms that secure it horizontally can be widened horizontally for larger items and can even be placed higher or lower as a whole. This means that other cellphones with side-ports shouldn't be obstructed when a cable is connected. Of course, you'd want to get a good look at whatever mount you choose beforehand, match it up with your cellphone, and see if any cables coming out of the cellphone will be obstructed by the mount. Are there free spaces above? Below? On the sides? If you can connect a cable to your cellphone and run it behind the mount, the mount may be worth picking up after all.
Because of scenarios like this, it may be better to purchase from a brick-and-mortar store instead of purchasing online. In any case, check with the seller about their return policy in case the mount doesn't work or fit. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. If you're looking for high-quality mounts, another brand to look up is Scosche Industries (www.scosche.com).
Audio cable and adapters - Simple 35mm audio cables are easy to come by, but the more expensive ones don't always equate to the best option. I had purchased a retractable cable from Five Below, but the audio seemed to cut out intermittently between bits of static. After that I had purchased a 35mm audio cable from Dollar General for $4 which resulted in no noise nor cutouts at all. Again, check with a store's return policy if buying from a brick-and-mortar store. You won't need an excessive length of cable, as any excess can be bundled with a Velcro strap or tie, but the thicker the cable equates to possibly less noise and interference, as well as more durability.
If you fell into one of the earlier categories above which required an adapter, you still want to check for quality. Dual RCA-to-35mm adapters are pretty solid, so there's no concern there. However, I would avoid purchasing the cables that are dual RCA and merge to a 35mm plug. Most of them are too short to reach from the back of a car stereo to the front of the dashboard anyway. Making it into two pieces (RCA cables to RCA adapter) or three pieces (RCA cables to adapter, adapter to separate 35mm cable) makes things cheaper and easier if one component fails and only a single component needs replaced.
Because of scenarios like this, it may be better to purchase from a brick-and-mortar store instead of purchasing online. In any case, check with the seller about their return policy in case the mount doesn't work or fit. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. If you're looking for high-quality mounts, another brand to look up is Scosche Industries (www.scosche.com).
Audio cable and adapters - Simple 35mm audio cables are easy to come by, but the more expensive ones don't always equate to the best option. I had purchased a retractable cable from Five Below, but the audio seemed to cut out intermittently between bits of static. After that I had purchased a 35mm audio cable from Dollar General for $4 which resulted in no noise nor cutouts at all. Again, check with a store's return policy if buying from a brick-and-mortar store. You won't need an excessive length of cable, as any excess can be bundled with a Velcro strap or tie, but the thicker the cable equates to possibly less noise and interference, as well as more durability.
If you fell into one of the earlier categories above which required an adapter, you still want to check for quality. Dual RCA-to-35mm adapters are pretty solid, so there's no concern there. However, I would avoid purchasing the cables that are dual RCA and merge to a 35mm plug. Most of them are too short to reach from the back of a car stereo to the front of the dashboard anyway. Making it into two pieces (RCA cables to RCA adapter) or three pieces (RCA cables to adapter, adapter to separate 35mm cable) makes things cheaper and easier if one component fails and only a single component needs replaced.
This is a dual-RCA to 35mm adapter. For vehicles with RCA jacks; you would connect 2 RCA cables from the car stereo to this adapter. You could simply connect the 35mm plug at the end to your cellphone or iPhone, but with this plug sticking out it might be a better idea to get a 35mm to 35mm extension cable, put the jack from one end of the cable to this adapter plug, and the other end of the extension cable to your iPhone.
When shopping for any types of audio adapters, there's a physical difference between mono and stereo, as seen in the diagram below:
When shopping for any types of audio adapters, there's a physical difference between mono and stereo, as seen in the diagram below:
The mono end has a single black band, but the stereo end has two black bands. This same difference is also used for 1/4" guitar cables and patch cords.
iPod/iPhone USB cable - This device comes standard with your iPhone, but you can buy extras from almost any store for a few bucks. Does your iPhone cable have an elongated, older style connector or a shorter, newer style connector? Purchasing the same type of cable that came with your iPhone will ensure a better chance of compatibility. If your car came from the factory or dealer with the iPod option, you can simply connect your iPhone or iPod to the built-in connector and the audio from the device should play through that connector. My wife has an '09 Subaru Impreza with this option, and she can change songs and playlists with the buttons on the car's stereo rather than fidgeting with the iPod itself.
USB cigarette lighter connector - This is the piece you'll need to keep the phone charging/charged the entire time you're driving. You don't want to be on a long car trip, waiting for a phone call while your device isn't charging; only to get the phone call you've been expecting and have the phone die on you because it wasn't charging. If you mistakenly leave your lights on when you exit your vehicle, then come back later to find a dead battery and your dead cellphone, you're really up the creek!
You can purchase a car charger for your cellphone from your carrier's retail store (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc), but you usually pay a higher price for it than if you were to purchase the same car charger from eBay, Big Lots, or a discount store. Some chargers work better than others depending on the vehicle. Last year I had purchased a car charger for my iPod Touch charger from Five Below. It worked well in my Toyota Corolla, but when using it my in Honda Civic with my iPhone, it only charged it to 25%-50% and then stopped. Recently I purchased a universal USB car charger from Five Below for $4, and it fully charges my iPhone in my Honda Civic.
Some cellphones have a specific cable that goes from their phone to a USB plug. This allows the phone to be connected to a computer via USB. With this, you may be able to use a standard USB car charger. Other cellphones have a specific type of port, but there are chargers available that have the car cigarette lighter plug on one end and the phone's specific port type on the other end. As stated before, I recommend checking a store's return policy before purchasing a car charger in the event that the charger does not work.
You don't need a mount for this to work, but it keeps the driver safer with his or her eyes more on the road than looking down at their cellphone. You may not need a charger either, but if you aren't using the cigarette lighter socket for something else and you have a few bucks, it's worth purchasing. If you are in fact using the socket, you can purchase an adapter which can give you two or more sockets instead.
PART II - INSTALLATION
The fashion in which my iPhone is incorporated is such: I have the mount on my left vent. The audio cable comes out of the 1/8" jack from the dashboard, is wrapped by a tie due to excessive length, goes to the mount, then is tied to the mount on the right side, and dangles in the back left side. The reason for this is so the cord doesn't fall elsewhere and simply stays in the same place. When I want to connect the audio cable, I know where it is. The power connector comes out of the cigarette socket, tilts at a 45° angle, goes over and behind the steering column, then gets draped behind and to the left of the mount. It's not tied down because getting the connector to the dock involves tilting the iPhone on it's back, and with the power connector not tied down I have an easier time connecting it when I get in my car. Previously I had the car sitting on top of the center console when the roll-up lid was covering the cup holders and the power connector was connected to the center console. Still, this meant that I had to look down and to the right whenever I was checking my location on the GPS, seeing who was calling me, or looking down the list for the directions I had given myself in Notes. Not safe at all...
Before clamping or screwing anything down, I looked at ergonomics. If I put the iPhone in the left center vent, it would be closer to the rest of the controls, but it would block other controls of the stereo system. If I put my iPhone on the left vent, it would be less distracting in my line-of-sight, but would the cables reach? These are some things you'll need to put into perspective before securing anything. It's nice to have things clean and out of the way, but the priority is safety and accessibility. Just as the iPhone is designed for simplicity, you want your iPhone or cellphone within easy reach of it's controls without blocking or obstructing access to those of your car's dashboard. Here's a shot of my dashboard during installation and before cleanup:
iPod/iPhone USB cable - This device comes standard with your iPhone, but you can buy extras from almost any store for a few bucks. Does your iPhone cable have an elongated, older style connector or a shorter, newer style connector? Purchasing the same type of cable that came with your iPhone will ensure a better chance of compatibility. If your car came from the factory or dealer with the iPod option, you can simply connect your iPhone or iPod to the built-in connector and the audio from the device should play through that connector. My wife has an '09 Subaru Impreza with this option, and she can change songs and playlists with the buttons on the car's stereo rather than fidgeting with the iPod itself.
USB cigarette lighter connector - This is the piece you'll need to keep the phone charging/charged the entire time you're driving. You don't want to be on a long car trip, waiting for a phone call while your device isn't charging; only to get the phone call you've been expecting and have the phone die on you because it wasn't charging. If you mistakenly leave your lights on when you exit your vehicle, then come back later to find a dead battery and your dead cellphone, you're really up the creek!
You can purchase a car charger for your cellphone from your carrier's retail store (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc), but you usually pay a higher price for it than if you were to purchase the same car charger from eBay, Big Lots, or a discount store. Some chargers work better than others depending on the vehicle. Last year I had purchased a car charger for my iPod Touch charger from Five Below. It worked well in my Toyota Corolla, but when using it my in Honda Civic with my iPhone, it only charged it to 25%-50% and then stopped. Recently I purchased a universal USB car charger from Five Below for $4, and it fully charges my iPhone in my Honda Civic.
Some cellphones have a specific cable that goes from their phone to a USB plug. This allows the phone to be connected to a computer via USB. With this, you may be able to use a standard USB car charger. Other cellphones have a specific type of port, but there are chargers available that have the car cigarette lighter plug on one end and the phone's specific port type on the other end. As stated before, I recommend checking a store's return policy before purchasing a car charger in the event that the charger does not work.
You don't need a mount for this to work, but it keeps the driver safer with his or her eyes more on the road than looking down at their cellphone. You may not need a charger either, but if you aren't using the cigarette lighter socket for something else and you have a few bucks, it's worth purchasing. If you are in fact using the socket, you can purchase an adapter which can give you two or more sockets instead.
PART II - INSTALLATION
The fashion in which my iPhone is incorporated is such: I have the mount on my left vent. The audio cable comes out of the 1/8" jack from the dashboard, is wrapped by a tie due to excessive length, goes to the mount, then is tied to the mount on the right side, and dangles in the back left side. The reason for this is so the cord doesn't fall elsewhere and simply stays in the same place. When I want to connect the audio cable, I know where it is. The power connector comes out of the cigarette socket, tilts at a 45° angle, goes over and behind the steering column, then gets draped behind and to the left of the mount. It's not tied down because getting the connector to the dock involves tilting the iPhone on it's back, and with the power connector not tied down I have an easier time connecting it when I get in my car. Previously I had the car sitting on top of the center console when the roll-up lid was covering the cup holders and the power connector was connected to the center console. Still, this meant that I had to look down and to the right whenever I was checking my location on the GPS, seeing who was calling me, or looking down the list for the directions I had given myself in Notes. Not safe at all...
Before clamping or screwing anything down, I looked at ergonomics. If I put the iPhone in the left center vent, it would be closer to the rest of the controls, but it would block other controls of the stereo system. If I put my iPhone on the left vent, it would be less distracting in my line-of-sight, but would the cables reach? These are some things you'll need to put into perspective before securing anything. It's nice to have things clean and out of the way, but the priority is safety and accessibility. Just as the iPhone is designed for simplicity, you want your iPhone or cellphone within easy reach of it's controls without blocking or obstructing access to those of your car's dashboard. Here's a shot of my dashboard during installation and before cleanup:
If I place it in the middle left vent, the iPhone would be partially obstructed by the steering wheel, and placing it in the right vent is simply too far away to be convenient. In the photo below, the cigarette outlet and the audio output are next to each other:
Next, I have both of the wires sitting on and behind the steering column:
I have the bracket placed on the left vent facing me. With this Bracketron model, there's a tightening screw behind the removable plate, so I was able to adjust it in position first, tighten it, then slide the plate on:
Here I've also applied a transparent cable tie down to the dashboard. Instead of using the sticky surface, I used Velcro fasteners to the dashboard and the fastener, for a less messy removal if needed. Once it's connected, I can turn on the power and see the home screen, then hit the phone app and change the screen to the keypad:
In normal usage, here's how the view looks when I'm looking straight ahead from the driver's seat:
There are no visual obstructions from the upper left hand side where it was previously mounted before the windshield cracked, no visual obstructions in the center where I occasionally see some GPS devices mounted, and I can still make and receive calls without the aid of a Bluetooth earpiece. Now all that's left is to clean it up with a bit of wire wrapping.
PART III - USAGE
When I start my car, I can slide the button on the iPhone screen to awake it from sleep. From here I can start Line2 or the iPhone's own Phone app. From the steering wheel using the MODE button, I can choose the input for my audio. This cycles from FM1 (six preset stations), FM2 (six more preset stations), AM, CD, and AUX. Most of the time I'll have an MP3 CD playing in the car's CD player, but if I wanted to I could switch it to AUX, then launch the music app on the iPhone to play any of the song files from my iPhone into the car's stereo system.
Here's where the fun begins: With the input set to AUX, I could make a phone call and speak out loud and hear the person clearly on the other end. If I couldn't hear them loud enough I would turn up the volume dial on my Civic's car stereo. When making the call, I didn't have to press anything on my iPhone to activate the speakerphone function! In addition, there was never and feedback or howling on the caller's end or my end during a phone call. (Howling is the audio effect you get when you're recording something an place the microphone closer to the speaker that creates a feedback loop). If I ever had to take a phone call on the road, speaking was only a few button presses away; maybe one button press on the iPhone to accept the call, and a couple button presses on the input selector on the steering wheel to switch from whatever input I was using to AUX. When I was listening to MP3s currently playing on my iPhone and a call would come in, the music would fade out, and the Phone app would appear requesting me to press a button to answer or ignore the incoming call. I could still concentrate on the road while speaking on the phone, but the best way, hands down, is to simply pull over to a safe spot and them resume the conversation.
Note: If you prefer listening to a CD rather than having any music or MP3s on your cellphone, you can simply omit any audio cable between your phone and your vehicle. However, this equates to needing to have a free hand in order to press the "answer" button, but also means a second or two in having to press the "speakerphone" button on your cellphone, assuming you're not using a Bluetooth headset. Additionally, if you enjoy blasting your music volume from your vehicle, you may not be able to hear your ringing cellphone when a call comes in.
While going to an interview, I now had the ability to use the GPS functions from the Maps app or similar apps to show where I was an where I was going. With Maps, if you plot a course you have to press the upper right arrow button whenever you move from one minor direction to the next, so there are still some limitations. I would overcome this by either memorizing my route ahead of time, or simply pulling over to a parking lot or waiting until I got to a stoplight before hitting that button. However, you can also type in your destination and hit "Route" without hitting "Start", and the overall route will appear on the map.
The primary phone app I use is Line2 (formerly toktumi -- www.line2.com). This app allows iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android users to make phone calls from a WiFi point for $10 a month, and they give you a phone number so that others can call you. When I'm in the house it just latches on to my wireless router and I can make and receive phone calls. When I'm driving, any incoming phone calls go through Line2's gateway and I can receive them with the app. If I get a call from the line that AT&T gave me, It comes up as an alert and I simply click "Answer" to get that call through the iPhones normal phone app.
In addition to the map and phone apps, I have an entire page on my iPhone dedicated to road applications:
Here's a website list of the vendors mentioned:
Bracketron - www.bracketron.com
Monoprice - www.monoprice.com
Scosche Industries - www.scosche.com
Line2 - www.line2.com
NOTE TO READERS: If there are things you would like to see regarding information in this article or have suggestions, please email me at [email protected]. Thank you!
PART III - USAGE
When I start my car, I can slide the button on the iPhone screen to awake it from sleep. From here I can start Line2 or the iPhone's own Phone app. From the steering wheel using the MODE button, I can choose the input for my audio. This cycles from FM1 (six preset stations), FM2 (six more preset stations), AM, CD, and AUX. Most of the time I'll have an MP3 CD playing in the car's CD player, but if I wanted to I could switch it to AUX, then launch the music app on the iPhone to play any of the song files from my iPhone into the car's stereo system.
Here's where the fun begins: With the input set to AUX, I could make a phone call and speak out loud and hear the person clearly on the other end. If I couldn't hear them loud enough I would turn up the volume dial on my Civic's car stereo. When making the call, I didn't have to press anything on my iPhone to activate the speakerphone function! In addition, there was never and feedback or howling on the caller's end or my end during a phone call. (Howling is the audio effect you get when you're recording something an place the microphone closer to the speaker that creates a feedback loop). If I ever had to take a phone call on the road, speaking was only a few button presses away; maybe one button press on the iPhone to accept the call, and a couple button presses on the input selector on the steering wheel to switch from whatever input I was using to AUX. When I was listening to MP3s currently playing on my iPhone and a call would come in, the music would fade out, and the Phone app would appear requesting me to press a button to answer or ignore the incoming call. I could still concentrate on the road while speaking on the phone, but the best way, hands down, is to simply pull over to a safe spot and them resume the conversation.
Note: If you prefer listening to a CD rather than having any music or MP3s on your cellphone, you can simply omit any audio cable between your phone and your vehicle. However, this equates to needing to have a free hand in order to press the "answer" button, but also means a second or two in having to press the "speakerphone" button on your cellphone, assuming you're not using a Bluetooth headset. Additionally, if you enjoy blasting your music volume from your vehicle, you may not be able to hear your ringing cellphone when a call comes in.
While going to an interview, I now had the ability to use the GPS functions from the Maps app or similar apps to show where I was an where I was going. With Maps, if you plot a course you have to press the upper right arrow button whenever you move from one minor direction to the next, so there are still some limitations. I would overcome this by either memorizing my route ahead of time, or simply pulling over to a parking lot or waiting until I got to a stoplight before hitting that button. However, you can also type in your destination and hit "Route" without hitting "Start", and the overall route will appear on the map.
The primary phone app I use is Line2 (formerly toktumi -- www.line2.com). This app allows iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android users to make phone calls from a WiFi point for $10 a month, and they give you a phone number so that others can call you. When I'm in the house it just latches on to my wireless router and I can make and receive phone calls. When I'm driving, any incoming phone calls go through Line2's gateway and I can receive them with the app. If I get a call from the line that AT&T gave me, It comes up as an alert and I simply click "Answer" to get that call through the iPhones normal phone app.
In addition to the map and phone apps, I have an entire page on my iPhone dedicated to road applications:
- AAA Discounts - Shows discounts given by retail establishments for products with an AAA Membership
- Beat The Traffic - Gives alerts and updates showing current weather congestion close to your location
- GasBuddy - Provides a list of the cheapest gas prices around your location by distance and price
- MultiCam Pittsburgh - Shows you PennDOT cams around the Pittsburgh area so you can see traffic jams ahead of time
- GPS Drive - More than a GPS, this shows you restaurants, hospitals, airports and other things around the area
- Park PGH - Currently shows the current vacancies of selective downtown parking lots which garages are full
- RepairPal - Gives you common estimates on your car's part cost and installtion cost
- Trapster - Points out current places in your area where you're likely to encounter a speed trap
- UrbanSpoon - Ratings and reviews for restaurants
- 5-0 Radio - Turns your iPhonie into a scanner that allows you to listen in on police-band radio, locally and internationally
- Theater - Gives lists of what movies are playing in your area and at which theaters
Here's a website list of the vendors mentioned:
Bracketron - www.bracketron.com
Monoprice - www.monoprice.com
Scosche Industries - www.scosche.com
Line2 - www.line2.com
NOTE TO READERS: If there are things you would like to see regarding information in this article or have suggestions, please email me at [email protected]. Thank you!