In-Car Media
- Thread starter R60BBA
- Start date
I installed a Grom unit, BT3 I think it was called. It gives Bluetooth connectivity for music and calls ( comes with a microphone). But also has a lead for charging and wired playback that can be controlled from the stereo or mfsw.
It's a bit hit and miss to get working, and the interface is awful....but it does the job...just.
It's a bit hit and miss to get working, and the interface is awful....but it does the job...just.
The cables for these units are pretty pricey. Best off getting a 12v fag lighter to usb.
Other than that you have 3 choices for BT and calls.
Grom
Dension
Intravee
Cables are £30 for a plug in interface
Other than that you have 3 choices for BT and calls.
Grom
Dension
Intravee
Cables are £30 for a plug in interface
R60BBA said:
Bluetooth still broadcasts. I have mine plugged in to the cpu at home and stream music through a BT wireless speaker. This won't be any different.
It'll cost a fortune. Car audio security are in Hayes.
Question is do you have a CD changer installed?
If not you could mask it to the rear of the glove box after pulling the head unit.
If so you'll need to pull the rear console out. Takes about 2hrs. Well it took me that, to remove the CD changer. It CANNOT come out otherwise. It's twice the size of what you can see through the doorway and requires the nav bracket or nav unit to come out as it requires to be moved up off it's support to come out. Needs to be raised about 4 inches in total.
It's not that hard though.
Getting the rear door off is the hardest part.
Question is do you have a CD changer installed?
If not you could mask it to the rear of the glove box after pulling the head unit.
If so you'll need to pull the rear console out. Takes about 2hrs. Well it took me that, to remove the CD changer. It CANNOT come out otherwise. It's twice the size of what you can see through the doorway and requires the nav bracket or nav unit to come out as it requires to be moved up off it's support to come out. Needs to be raised about 4 inches in total.
It's not that hard though.
Getting the rear door off is the hardest part.
R60BBA said:
Its all hidden, so nothing to photograph to be honest, just a charging lead fed into the box where the Nav DVD player is. Simple to fit, but takes a bit longer to set up.
Bluetooth streaming.
What I did, was get a spare panel from eBay, drilled a hole to feed a usb charger cable through it. It is connected to a usb hub behind the panel. When I need to charge the phone, I pull the cable through, and connect to phone to it...when not used, it threads back through and keeps everything tidy.
What I did, was get a spare panel from eBay, drilled a hole to feed a usb charger cable through it. It is connected to a usb hub behind the panel. When I need to charge the phone, I pull the cable through, and connect to phone to it...when not used, it threads back through and keeps everything tidy.
Have you thought of getting a portable battery as the fag lighter is usually crap charging anything.
https://www.anker.com/products/107/201/High-Capacity-Portable-Chargers
Can usually charge a phone about 5 times before you need to recharge it. You can also charge two devices at the same time.
https://www.anker.com/products/107/201/High-Capacity-Portable-Chargers
Can usually charge a phone about 5 times before you need to recharge it. You can also charge two devices at the same time.
Good idea. I've used them on holiday to keep the smart phones running map and translation apps, but never thought of using it in the car.I bought a medium sized one, fits in the palm of our hand, and it kept 2 large screen phones running all day and night when we were getting lost and confused in Japan.skelters said:
ph001 said:
On the previous phone I had (Samsung Galaxy S6) the car was giving it 333ma of charge, the portable battery would provide 1200ma of the charge and Mains power provided 1800ma.
Using the fag lighter to charge a phone or ipod etc. might not provide enough charge into the device than the device is actually using if you're using Google Maps or something intensive on the device.
There's also the quality of the cables to think about. Usually cables that come with the phones are pretty poor quality and don't provide the same amount of power as a better quality cable. The Anker cables that come with the Anker portable power things provide better power to a device than the Samsung supplied cables. You can also buy spares relativity cheaply. I've seen the Galaxy S6 get around 999ma from one cable and 1800ma from another when Mains power is supplied to it.
There's also the quality of the Mains socket adapters and these suffer from the same issues with varying power output to the devices depending on the cables being used and the quality of the adapter. Likewise the quality of the fag lighter USB adapter can vary the amount of power that actually goes to the device and is depends on the quality of the cables used too.
I know this as I've been there, seen it and done it.
https://www.howtogeek.com/309766/want-fast-charging-dont-use-your-cars-usb-ports/
Sorted out any phone charging issues in the car or anywhere else by buying a OnePlue 5T phone. 1 hour to full charge from 10%.