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xframe88
22-07-2005, 12:10 PM
EuroAccord13 Edit : Photos Fixed....

Hi guys,

I have finally got my 40gig Ipod integrated with the factory Euro 05 stereo system.
This install is thanks to great info provided by the people of OzHonda forum, especially the very helpful member Learner.

I did not want to ugly up my interior by installing a 3rd party deck in the car so integrating with the stereo was the only way, which thanks to our deck having no line input proved to be a pain.
The answer to this problem is the Soundgate SNHOND3, which is very difficult to get anyone to send from the USA, but evetually I got it.

As well as having a discrete install, I wanted to have the ipod powered by the car when in use to avoid flat batteries. It turns out that the bottom storage compartment is the perfect height to easily house a ipod sitting in its cradle. This looks nice and neat, and allows you to simply close the door to the compartment to conceal the ipod from potential theft.

Heres how I made my system work:

1. Install SNHOND 3, make custom length dual RCA to 3.5mm stereo cable. Plug 3.5mm connector into Line Out of the Ipod cradle. This bypasses the volume control of the ipod and provides a better quality output than the headphone output.
2. Purchase cheap cigarette power adapter to suit ipod ($14 at Strathfields). Hack into this and bypass the power contacts on the adaper, solder standard figure8 cable to adapters input power rail. Splice into the 12V cable coming into the rear of the euro's cigarette lighter, twist the figure 8 tight around the 12v incoming cable, then solder it together, finally wrap in insulation tape. Then connect the other end of the cable which has the standard ipod style dock connector into the rear of the ipods cradle. (* Note that these cigarette adapters for ipod include a circuit to convert 12v to 5v so do not totally bypass the electronics). Your cigarette lighter will still work as normal.
3. I dremmelled a small hole into the rear of the storage compartment and pulled the cables through.
4. As the compartment is on quite a downward angle, you need to support the ipod. I went to a local foam store and bought a slab of dense foam. Then I just hacked away at it until i had a sort of "glove" to wrap around the ipod sitting in its cradle. I cut it on a slight angle so the ipod points toward the driver, allowing easy viewing of the screen when driving. Then when this was in place, I stuck down the cradle using some double sided tape. It is then simply a matter of slotting the ipod into the cradle (very easy) and you are ready to go.

Now whenever the car is turned on your ipod is ready to play and is getting charged as well. Just press CD/AUX on your head unit and your ready to turn it up :)
I have done some serious test driving at top speed and around corners and the ipod does not budge, perfectly secure.

All up its worked out very well, and once you get over the stress of pulling apart the dash to install everything, its actually pretty easy, just take your time.

I dont know how to include pictures in my post so heres some links to a few pictures:

http://www.ozhonda.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=508/3982ozhon1.jpg


http://www.ozhonda.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=508/3982ozhon2-med.jpg

http://www.ozhonda.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=508/3982ozhon4-med.jpg

Eventually I will get a decent knife and do a better job on the foam glove but right now I dont care, its all about the music!

I hope this helps anyone interested in this, happy to answer any questions, and thanks again to Learner for starting all this!

euro77
22-07-2005, 01:00 PM
Nice write up :thumbsup:

kam
22-07-2005, 01:27 PM
EuroAccord13 Edit : Thanks for posting the photos dude, the link is all fixed now :)



nice job ! love the ghetto foam job for the i pod :D

ill post your pics for you :)

type one
22-07-2005, 05:12 PM
cool, looks hot and so functional.

xframe88
22-07-2005, 05:36 PM
thanks Kam, dont think we need those pics posted twice tho :)))

PERTH_EURO
23-07-2005, 06:10 PM
good work :thumbsup:

Usual Suspect
23-07-2005, 06:13 PM
god i love the compartments in honda's.

nice work.

xframe88
25-07-2005, 03:52 PM
Just a quick update, I have now added a isolation transformer, as between tracks you could hear a slight electrical buzz coming through the system.
This noise was only there when connected to the power adapter, when the ipod is connected without using the cars power the noise isnt there.
It wasnt a loud noise at all, and could not really be noticed with music playing, but it was worth fixing anyway.
Nice and cheap from Altronics and simply connected in line - http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=C9555

madjace
02-08-2005, 11:02 AM
so can you control the ipod from the car stereo then ? and also do the names of the music appear on the stereo . i am thinking of getting a euro so this info will help

xframe88
02-08-2005, 12:11 PM
Nope, you cannot control the ipod using just the snhond3, however you can add an interface from another company to make this happen. None however will make track info display on the euros centre console.

madjace
02-08-2005, 07:42 PM
so the other intrface you speak of will let you skip the next song and adjust volume etc ? which interface is it ?

ZC_CRX
02-08-2005, 10:07 PM
nice work mate :thumbsup:

xframe88
03-08-2005, 11:06 AM
so the other intrface you speak of will let you skip the next song and adjust volume etc ? which interface is it ?

Using the SNHOND3 interface you can already adjust volume via steering wheel, what you cant do is skip tracks and recall playlists.
There are a couple of add-on interfaces that enable this, such as the Ice Link - http://www.dension.com/icelink_info.htm (ps you still need the snhond3 either way)

madjace
03-08-2005, 03:51 PM
thanks for that info , if any ones has the hole lot fitted together and working let me know what you think , otherwise i will post pics and stuff when i have it done

05Euro
08-10-2005, 07:45 PM
Using the SNHOND3 interface you can already adjust volume via steering wheel, what you cant do is skip tracks and recall playlists.
There are a couple of add-on interfaces that enable this, such as the Ice Link - http://www.dension.com/icelink_info.htm (ps you still need the snhond3 either way)

Take a look at a post I just made in another thread regarding the Dension Ice Link Plus. You don't require the SNHOND3 if you use that product.

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?p=455677

silverabt
10-10-2005, 04:33 PM
nice and neat

eurosp
10-10-2005, 04:52 PM
Nice. But I am too lazy. I think I will just use a FM Transmiter.

eurotrash
10-10-2005, 09:20 PM
I got a call from a guy @ the car kit company today , he said he has a intrface for the euro called - "connects2". He said it will control tracks & volume - I checked the maufacturers site - www.connects2.com - not sure if this wil work -

Help?

05Euro
10-10-2005, 09:42 PM
I got a call from a guy @ the car kit company today , he said he has a intrface for the euro called - "connects2". He said it will control tracks & volume - I checked the maufacturers site - www.connects2.com - not sure if this wil work -

Help?
Yeah I got the same answer from him when I asked a while back. I think he deals with Dension worldwide. The dealer I got my Ice Link Plus from deals with Dension USA. They seem to be completely separate companies in terms of the variants of the Ice Link Plus that they sell. All I know, is that it works for me in an Australian Honda Accord Euro.

If The Car Kit Company quotes you a price using the Connects2 adapter for the worldwide version of the Ice Link Plus, and it's cheaper than the I20-HONDA-R3, go for it!

eurotrash
10-10-2005, 10:42 PM
He wants crazy $$$ for the "connects2" - $299.00 - Tell him he's dreamin...!!

I know you need an interface to control ipod - but surely you must be able to connect sound only of the wiring harness. Has anyone tried?

05Euro
10-10-2005, 11:13 PM
He wants crazy $$$ for the "connects2" - $299.00 - Tell him he's dreamin...!!

I know you need an interface to control ipod - but surely you must be able to connect sound only of the wiring harness. Has anyone tried?
Sound only = SNHOND3
Full control = Ice Link Plus (I20-HONDA-R3 model)

I got my Ice Link Plus from the US for around AUD$260 including shipping. It's gone up US$20 since then, so maybe about $285 now.

I believe it's worthwhile as an alternative to Honda Australia's MP3 CD player option. In fact, it uses the same interface on the headunit, but connects to your iPod instead of providing a second CD player.

madjace
11-10-2005, 09:06 AM
http://www.thecarkitcompany.com.au/

these guys have just relesed a kit for the honda accord euro that works of the steering wheel controls for those that want to purchase this kit with in australia and not have to buy from overseas ..

chop_sticks
12-10-2005, 05:11 PM
Ohhh good stufff!!!!!! Imma gonna try it. Hopefully i dont wreck anything else lol

nitro
16-03-2006, 07:22 AM
2. Purchase cheap cigarette power adapter to suit ipod ($14 at Strathfields). Hack into this and bypass the power contacts on the adaper, solder standard figure8 cable to adapters input power rail. Splice into the 12V cable coming into the rear of the euro's cigarette lighter, twist the figure 8 tight around the 12v incoming cable, then solder it together, finally wrap in insulation tape. Then connect the other end of the cable which has the standard ipod style dock connector into the rear of the ipods cradle. (* Note that these cigarette adapters for ipod include a circuit to convert 12v to 5v so do not totally bypass the electronics).

Actually, as the iPod has to deal with firewire, which as far as I can tell doesn't have a strictly defined voltage (anywhere from 12-18volts) it seems to be fine taking the 12-15 volts from a car system... My 3rd gen 40Gb seemed to charge happily enough wired straight into the 12volt line at the back of the cigarette lighter in my car.... (Haven't tried my 5th gen - I killed the cable I made and haven't got around to making a new one)

Omotesando
16-03-2006, 08:30 AM
Nice solution, and thanks for providing the details of installation.

If only FM runs at 44KHz... hmmm.. would be so much easier :(
Or if the headunit can receive A2DP Stereo Bluetooth - can just play the music using my mobile phone via bluetooth :(

EuroDude
18-03-2006, 10:04 AM
The IceLink Plus is compatible with the 5th gen iPod Video 30GB/60GB yeh?

nitro
18-03-2006, 11:19 PM
The IceLink Plus is compatible with the 5th gen iPod Video 30GB/60GB yeh?

Yep, I just installed one to use with my 5th Gen 60Gb :)

EuroDude
18-03-2006, 11:37 PM
Sweet! Got an ipod video today. damn they're nice units :)

EuroDude
27-03-2006, 06:56 PM
Well i've installed my iPod Video 60GB into my Euro and it works well - you can even play MusicVideo's/Movies/FamilyGuy etc.. ;) Lol it was a btch getting the panels off.

The only thing that bursts my bubble is that the Steering wheel and Honda HU controls react slowly with the iPod :( So it sometimes takes like 3 or 4 seconds to change a song. Plus it sometimes gets confused on whats playing. The iPod shows the wrong song, but I think it gets it right like 10 seconds later or something. Maybe i'll try the 1.1 iPod firmware.

Now I gotta mount the cradle without damaging the dash...

coyote
28-03-2006, 12:13 PM
Well i've installed my iPod Video 60GB into my Euro and it works well - you can even play MusicVideo's/Movies/FamilyGuy etc.. ;) Lol it was a btch getting the panels off.

The only thing that bursts my bubble is that the Steering wheel and Honda HU controls react slowly with the iPod :( So it sometimes takes like 3 or 4 seconds to change a song. Plus it sometimes gets confused on whats playing. The iPod shows the wrong song, but I think it gets it right like 10 seconds later or something. Maybe i'll try the 1.1 iPod firmware.

Now I gotta mount the cradle without damaging the dash...

If you don't wanna damage your dash, do as I have and purchase a dash mount made specifically for the Euro. Look here: http://www.kioskcommunications.com.au/kiosk/ProductBrowse.asp?tid=2&cid=23&mid=151

Photos of my setup are here: http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37927

EuroDude
28-03-2006, 12:33 PM
Thats what ive been looking for, thanks for that :thumbsup:

coyote
28-03-2006, 12:38 PM
Thats what ive been looking for, thanks for that :thumbsup:

No worries. They ship overnight too...

Take my advice and NEVER leave your iPod in view the car when you're not in it. Mine was stolen last week: http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40359

EuroDude
28-03-2006, 12:54 PM
Hmm leaving a cradle in view is a worry - I may think up an alternative ;)