2005 Odyssey iPod Connection

I want to connect an iPod to my new 2005 Honda Odyssey EX. The van has
the factory radio, the factory 6-disc CD changer, plus we added the
factory XM radio option.

I saw the AuxPod on logjamelectronics.com but it doesn't mention
compatibility with the '05 Odyssey.

Can you recommend a product or a strategy that will let me connect the
iPod? My requirements are:
* I don't want to disconnect or remove any existing component.
* I don't need specific support for iPod features. It will be enough
to hear the sound, okay to not see the menu/playlist info.
* I could live with a manual switch if necessary
* The solution does not have to power the ipod, I have car plugs for
that.

The only other alternative is to have the factory tape deck installed
and use a cassette adapter, but from what I've read, they sound
terrible.

I have tried two FM transmitters, a $39 generic one from Sam Goody
which is total crap (static, distortion, poor sound quality), and a $79
one from Monster which has decent sound quality but I get
hiss/interference on all stations that I try. This might be because
the integrated antenna on the '05 Odyssey is located in the back of the
van, away from the transmitter.

I'd like to go direct-connect. Any ideas? Thanks in advance - Russ

Discussion about tape adapters and iPod -
http://www.ipodlounge.com/reviews_more.php?id=987_0_6_0_M

LogJam product, but not listed for the 2005 Odyssey -
http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piehon98aux.html

 

One of the logjam products uses the same port as the XM radio and does
intelligent switching. There's some oddity about needing to have a CD
inserted and playing, but you don't hear it. I forget which application
that is.

logjam likes the ipod-control, so if you talk to them or email, I would
just say "mp3 player". When I said "Sony NetMD", they referred to a
product that controls an in-dash Sony MiniDisc.

I find that the cassette inserts some high pitched noise. I can also hear
something rattling around in the cassette that fools the deck into thinking
that it hasn't mechanically reached the end of the tape. This doesn't seem
to work with optical sensors, like in the VW Monsoon, which just won't work
with the cassette adapter, but has the high pitched squeal for the few
seconds that it does work.

Yep. A Belkin FM is barely usable in my Honda, unusable in my Dodge.
The iPod-specific thing barely works in a Chevy Metro.

I am very happy with the that one in my 2003 Civic.
I would call them and ask if it will work. They reply to email, but the
answers don't always match my question. It's as if they are in a hurry.
They seem very nice on the phone.

I have purchased two PIE adapters now, one for an iPod to an Alpine head
unit, and one for the NetMD to a Honda stock single-CD.

 

Not at all. I use XM through the cassette player of my 94 Lexus, and it
sounds utterly superb.

That being said, if you can add a CD changer to your factory stereo, you
can add a third-party piece that plugs into the CD changer port and
brings out standard RCA jacks for your iPod. Your radio thinks it has a
CD changer attached, and happily switches to that input.

Any decent auto electronics place can help you with that.

My concern is that maybe the factory XM radio system uses that same
port, and that you're out of ports on the back of your head unit.

You didn't buy one with the factory DVD system by any chance, did you?
That comes standard with RCA jacks in the back.

 

Personally, I have had great experiences with cassette adapters on Corolla
and Civic. No high pitch noises or hissing. I would tell you to buy a
cassette adapter and try it out, and if it sounds bad return it. But it
seems that you don't have a cassette player, so it wouldn't be worth
installing one to try it.

Ideally, car stereos will have an audio input (and output!) jack so you can
plug in the latest technology since manufacturers can't keep up.

 

id see if the stereo is compatible with any other honda stereos on the
market, or if it uses a different wiring harness. the dealer service
dept should know.

if it uses the same harness, then the same PIE things should work. if
not, you might have to wait a few months for PIE to engineer something.

 

A while ago there was a similar thread here.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C3B91212A
2005 Honda Odyssey

Someone pointed out a link to
<http://www.myradiostore.us/auxadapters/pie/factory/no-external-changer/hon03-pc-son.html>
but I couldn't tell if it was a suggestion, or actually in use.

 

It's 2005. Every radio should have auxiliary inputs.

 

I went through this with my last vehicle, a saturn. there was no good
way to hook up my mp3 player to the factory radio. i'm now looking at
a 2005 odyssey EX and it appears like i'll be in the same boat with no
easy way to hook up an external mp3 player. With the saturn, I went
out and bought a whole replacement unit for it for about $150 that
played mp3 cds and had 2 auxiliary inputs. So, why can't they put this
basic functionality into 2005 vehicles?

 

Check out the forums at http://www.odyclub.com. I'd bet someone there has
solved this already and has posted how to do it.

 

Can't you use one of those fm transmitters?

 

In some cars, like my Dodge, the Belkin FM Transmitter doesn't work at all.
In my Honda, it works, but gets swamped by KQED as soon as I get anywhere
in the Bay Area. Overhead powerlines interfere, adjacent stations seem to
interfere more than a station on the frequency that it is using, and the
quality is never great.

<http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=140984>

 

My experience with the Belkin (adjustable frequency) is that it worked
very well in the house with a portable radio but was virtually
unusable in the car. Far from the ideal solution of a simple input
jack.