no a2dp.. no problem… (part 4)

before reading this post make sure you read the previous post.

I did get a nice little answer to my last question..

mek_man: I realized I forgot to ask, will the BluStream allow for AVRCP across bluetooth?  So if track forward on the radio is pressed it will advance the next track playing via a2dp?

AAMP of America: It will…but oddly enough not on the iPhone.  That is a limitation of the iPhone right now and Apple may do a firmware update to correct.  On the Droid it does work.

mek_man: Great! I am sold.   Do you know the price?  I will likely but a few.

AAMP of America: Unfortunately, I do not know the price as of yet.  I want to say $99.95 but I am not positive.

_________

So that wraps that quest up..  I have determined that the PXAMG unit is the right fit for my car!  =)

So I went off to go spend some green.. and bought the following:

• PXAMG = $55.00 (off ebay) [RETAIL = $189.99]
• ANYCOM FIPO = $10.98 (off ebay) [$44.95]
• Droid Case and Dock + 5′ Micro USB Cable = $56.61 (SiedioOnline.com) [Retail = $62.90]
• USB Car Charger = $2.75 (off ebay) [Retail = $12.99]
• Cigarette Lighter Socket = $2.39 (Parts Express) [Retail = $2.99]
• Add-A-Fuse = $7.45 (Parts Express) [Retail = $9.99]
• Misc?? = $10 (can’t think of anything, but let’s give an allowance)

This all totals to a whopping $145.18.  Keep in mind that if you don’t care to have your phone in a nice dock, or have it charge in a way that cables are hidden, this wouldn’t cost you more than $75.00.  That is also only if you know how to hunt for deals!

All that green allowed me to do this..

All setup and ready to go.  Pop my phone in the nice dock that charges it (soon!) and it pairs automatically with my car!

Now some step by step pictures of what I did to my car!  (I missed a few pictures in the process, so sorry in advance, but I will talk through them!)

Sky with the top down ready for operation..

Man my carpets are dirty!!  All that rain in California has been a pain.  PXAMG unit with harness and iPod cable waiting to be installed.  Have to start by popping the paneling on the side off.

Same goes for this side

Center console..  Really I need to get behind the radio to install the unit!

Steering wheel with radio controls.  Remember my goal is to have these work when I press them with the a2dp enabled device!

Gotta remove the glove compartment too.

Popped that sucker off using a plastic putty knife..  Don’t want to scratch my baby.

Same thing here..

To remove the glove compartment you have to pull these pins out.

It comes out pretty easily, but it had a cord attached to it that needs to be popped out.

Another shot of the same.

Close up of the cord.

Glove compartment sitting on my lap.

Behind the glove compartment.  Where I plan to mount the PXAMG unit.. easy access to update firmware and at the BluStream if I deem necessary.

Drivers side lower panel needed to be removed.  It had three fasteners that needed to be pulled out.  They will probably need to be replaced if I do this a few more times as they are plastic clips and all.

The other two that I had to pull out.

Panel disconnected.

I removed the upper panel, but it had two electrical connections that needed to be removed.

More of the same..

Had to pop the screw covers off to get the passenger paneling off.

This came out pretty easily.  Had to disconnect the trunk release.

Prying the top of the piano black panel was killing me!  I didn’t want to crack it or scuff it.

Finally got it off.. also took the main stereo cover off at the same time.

It was stuck due to the shifter being in Park.

Had to put the car in neutral and remove the cover.

Radio came out really easily.

Started to connect the harness.

The harness needs to be connected in a certain way depending on the car you have.  Pretty easy stuff.

Shizam!  iPod Control!

No I don’t have a pink iPod.  It is the lady’s.  Easiest one to grab at the time..  Honest! I swear!! O=)

She had Aerosmith playing..  I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.  Unfortunately, my camera’s battery died at this point.  I could of resorted to using the Droid to take pictures, but I was tired from all the work I had done..  So I packed the car back up and recharged the battery while doing so..   I guess I did miss a thing (or two)! ; )

All packed up and wired.  This is where I located the iPod cable.

This is the FIPO unit connected to the dock.

Almost done.  The dock is mounted, but I haven’t had a chance to hide the power cable.   I am going to route it behind the unit to the windshield then down the side of the car to the fuse box.  At the fuse box I will add a circuit and hide the power cable in there.

Navigation built into my phone all plays through my head unit now! : )

Wow!  That was a lot of work..  Still have to do a little more to wire up the power to the dock.  I am working at a few more angles for this.  I think the FIPO is a working solution, but I think it needs some refinement.  I don’t think it has the high end frequencies to hit all ranges of the audio.  So it looks like I might need to look in to the BluStream, but for now I have a working solution!

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