I know there have been many posts about this, but I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned these modules. I have found the following 2 modules that are supposed to give a direct connection to the H3 stereo and charge the iPod at the same time. Unfortunately, you still have to control the iPod manually, but it looks like a pretty clean install.

Soundgate AUXGMV3 - http://store.yahoo.com/logjam/soundauxgm.html

BlitzSafe UII - http://store.yahoo.com/logjam/blitzuii.html

I'm trying to decide whether to go this route or replace the stereo, so if anyone has tried these modules please let me know how they worked. Thanks.

Interesting. That might actually work! Pretty inexpensive too.

Just ordered them both. They will be here on the 13th, and I will get them in by the end of the weekend. Thanks for the link, and i will let you know how they work. By the way, this set-up will charge the i-pod, unlike the PAC Audio one, which cost $100.00 more.

The blitz safe is the way to go for now, but you will not get any text or control from the oem head unit. On the plus, you can use any aux source you want, not just limited to ipod.

Froggy69er, PLEASE post your end results when you get it installed. If it works well for you I am ready to order them as well. At this poit, I am ok with selecting the music right from the iPod as long as I can get CD quality through the stock radio. I'm soooooo tired of the FM tuner. I drive over an hour each way to work and really miss good quality music.

Mike,

I actually prefer using the I-pod controls. I bought the monster fm modulater, and it blows, as do they all. I will let you know how it works out.

I hear ya, I have the Monster FM modulator as well. I agree 100% with you!

I have been reading a little about the direct iPod controllers for aftermarket stereos and while most of the people loved them, the common theme was that they are a little slow and very difficult to search for a particular song. Several people said that they would disconnect the iPod, find the song they wanted (using the iPod controls) then reconnect to listen to it. So I agree with Froggy69er that I would prefer to use the iPod controls anyway.
If anyone has one of the aftermarket iPod controllers, I'm curious about their opinion on it.

Mike,

Just got everything delivered, excellent shipping, just two days. Anyway, I am spending too much time with my truck, so I am having them installed Sat. for $75.00, which is well worth it. I will let you know what I think when I get it back.

Cool! Can't wait to hear about what you think. If you give it the "thumbs up" then I'll order next week.

I just ordered the AUXGMV3 adapter and a Harman Kardon Drive + Play. I hope to have it all in by mid next week. I just have to find a really good place to mount the display.
I was able to find the HK unit on ebay for $169.90.

I have the ipod module for a Kenwood headunit, for me it made life a little easier as far as controlling your Ipod....the main thing I like about it is that it charges it while you're using it...got it cheap too $80

Mike,

Just got her back, and the setup is awsome. The FM modulator went in the trash. Sound quality is what it should be, and no seaching for stations. I am glad I had it installed. They ran into some small issues, which would have been big issues for me, but they quickly resolved them. Can't say enough good things about it!!

Any idea what the issues were, and how they solved it? I ordered the parts yesterday and am going to attempt the install myself. Thanks.

Great! I'll order this week. Thank you for keeping us posted!

Not sure what it was, but if I have some time next week i will stop in and ask!!

thanks

Froggy69er, where did they run the wire that attaches to your iPod? I would assume it's in the center console or the glove box? I'm hoping they can run mine in the center console, then I can open that and grab the iPod to select my songs while I'm sitting in my daily traffic jam..

Mike,

Funny you should ask, I was just about to drop you a note about this. I had them run the cable out the bottom of the dash near my right foot. I have one of those jelly mats that sits on my dash, and the Ipod fits it perfectly, but I don't like the way it looks when the Ipod is not in there. They can definately run it into your glove box, but I think I have one better. Check out the Ipod post in the general section, and look for the pic of the guy that has the connection right into his aux. light port. I am going to try and do that, but I will need a male to female 13 pin DIN adapter. I am in the process of trying to find that or have someone make it. I will keep you posted.

I like this idea... Please let me know what you guys find. I wouls also like to know what issue the shop had.

Thanks

Thanks, Froggy. Your info is extremely helpful!

No problem!! I drove all over today looking for the right connectors, but came up empty. I searched around on the internet, and found exactely what I needed, 8 pin mini-din connectors. I just ordered it and will have it in 2 days. I also ordered a mountind pad for the I-pod. I will have everything in by thursday, and will post some pics. I think it is going to have a nice factory look, clean. Stay tuned!!!

Just got it all hooked up. Looks nice and clean. Let me know what you think!!

Unhooked!

The whole package!

Looks great. Sure beats the FM modulator.
Thanks for being the guinnea pig, and sharing all of the info.

Nice, clean look. That's EXACTLY what I want to do! Can you send me alist of what to buy after you had the two kits installed?

x2

I put this around July of last year - from Alpine.

I love it - it works great, charges the iPod and the iPod stays in the glove box.

I can control everything via the head unit - it is fast but not as convenient as the iPod for searching. If you use playlist on your iPod it is a snap. The remote control will move your songs up and down also or fast forward.

Alpine Radio Link

It is expensive, (I paid around $280.00 + $100.00 more for the integrated iPod controller) but this is just not an iPod controller its a great head unit with multiple connections for amps etc. I wouldn't buy just for iPod connection but for if you are interested in replacing or upgrading your head unit this would be a great investment.

Here is the list of parts, and the websites where I found them. I bought everything from L-Com. You will need a male to male 8 pin MINI DIN extension, I do not have the part number because I ordered the wrong one, I got male to female. 1 adapter, MINI DIN Female to Female, part number MD88FF. The hook-up is self explanatory. If you like the IPOD holder, it is from KUDA.

http://www.kudausa.com/imprint.php

https://www.l-com.com/home.aspx

I Installed the two units today, took about 45 minutes and a trip to Radio Shack. I am betting that the obstacle originally mentioed is the fact that the RCA plugs on both units are female. Therefore you need to buy two RCA Unions to connect the two together.

One other question, maybe for f5, Which wire behind the radio is the accessorie wire that drops out after 20 minutes?

Here is a picture of my completed install.

looks great, Nice Job!

looks awesome, that treo is the same phone I've got, how did you get it to mount there? Setup looks great.

It is a magnetic mount on a flexible rod suctioned to window. I found it on e-bay. I use it all my vehicles. Very easy to take off and on.

Babhumv, where did you install the two units in the dash? Also, I would like to attempt it myself, how would you rate the difficulty of the project? Keep in mind I'm not an electical pro. Aslo, where did you ground it? I think they mentioned something about not grounding it on that metal bar behind the radio.

When you get the panel off you will find tons of room behind there. I stashed the units to the right of the radio, between the radio and glove box. I used the power to the power outlets and used that ground also. Just tapped into the wires. I did it before the Holister Hills trip and it worked flawlessly. 4 hours up and 4 hours back. I did not want to tap into anything related to the radio because it is integrated with the onboard computer and feedback could cause a problem. The power outlets are just that, constant power at the dash. I still need to figure out the accessory wire though. Hope this helps.

And by the way THANK YOU BuzzH3 and FROGGY69ER for starting the thread and being the 1st to try it. It works and seems to be a solid, clean, excellent sounding, & fairly low cost way to integrate the Ipod.

That helps tremendously! So really you didn't have to take much of the dash apart. just the center trim panel and the radio. And I assume you mean you tapped into those two power outlets at the bottom of the panel? I didn't know they also had ground wires. That would make sense to use those! So really, that's the only special wiring you needed to do, right? The rest of it is just plugging in the harnes to the factory one and the radio I would assume.

When you get the panel off you will find tons of room behind there. I stashed the units to the right of the radio, between the radio and glove box. I used the power to the power outlets and used that ground also. Just tapped into the wires. I did it before the Holister Hills trip and it worked flawlessly. 4 hours up and 4 hours back. I did not want to tap into anything related to the radio because it is integrated with the onboard computer and feedback could cause a problem. The power outlets are just that, constant power at the dash. I still need to figure out the accessory wire though. Hope this helps.

And by the way THANK YOU BuzzH3 and FROGGY69ER for starting the thread and being the 1st to try it. It works and seems to be a solid, clean, excellent sounding, & fairly low cost way to integrate the Ipod. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

No problem. I have learned so much from this forum that it's nice to give a little info back.

I just have to get around to installing my setup, which is the aux input and the Harman Kardon Drive + Play. I have a 2 year old boy and a 7 week old girl, so I don't get much time for anything. I'm hoping to get it done this weekend.

I would also like to know (f5fstop, kodiaz, anyone..) if there is a RAP acc power line that is safe to tap into near the radio.

BABHUMV, Thanks, and everything looks great. Just something for everyone to be aware of. My UII stopped charging my IPOD!! I checked all the connections, and everything seems fine, but still no charge. I think it is a bad power wire. I disconected it, and nothing changed. I am assuming that the red wire is the one that charges the unit, since without it, the interface would not need a power source. Anyway, I called Logjam, and they said it is probably a bad Interface, and they sent me a new one. I will let you guys know if this solved the problem in case anyone else has the same issue.

Where did you connect the red wire off the Ipod Aux unit?