fitting a "stealth" car stereo for less than ?60

[tdafforn]

For about a year I have been mulling over the problem of having a stereo in my +2.
I like having the radio (despite the wonderful sound of the engine) in a car for those long traffic jams and for finding out about the jams. Trouble is, as we all know, the +2 can't take a normal modern stereo without modifications to the heater fan box. To get around this I tried one of the short phillips radios got from an old Renault van. Trouble with this is that its not RDS, is cassette only, and my one is on its last legs. It also looks awful in the dash. particularly compared to the turnlock which should be there.
I also thought about having the turnlock adapted, but looking at what is on offer it looked like I'd still not have RDS, and it seems a pricey option..
So I have gone for my own solution.
1) buy a new Kenwood (for ?50) which is compatible with IR remote control and has AUX Jack input on front cover.
2) buy steering wheel remote system for Kenwood radios (?3 from Ebay)
3) buy a two channel fibre optic patch cable (3M long) (?3 from Ebay) and stereo double male jack cable (3M) (<?3 ebay)
4) fit Kenwood to boot and wire up electrics (plenty of sources for this in the loom in the boot.
5) tape the IR LEDs (which on the steering remotes are helpfully in little "pods" separated from the remotes by 10 cm of wire) so they point into one end of the patch cables.
6) run patch cables through the car to the boot
7) tape the other end of the patch cables to the IR sensor of the stereo.
run stereo jack cable from AUX on stereo to the front of car

Voila!
Stereo which can be controlled from the front by two small remotes.
This includes controling sources, volume, CD tracks, on/off, radio tuning, mute etc...
AUX cable extension allows ipod or similar connection.
turnlock can be returned to the dash making it look normal.

Only negative I can think of is that you need to stop the car a get out to change CDs. However as I mainly use an MP3 and Radio that is not a problem!!
Cheers
Tim

[dgently]

Interesting. Hadn't thought of aftermarket controls on the steering wheel.

Would you have a "hard" on/off switch? Is the new boot stereo always powered?

[tdafforn]

The "source" button on the remote cycles through:
Radio
CD
Aux
and off so in theory you can turn off..
The stereo is also wired through the ignition feed meaning that it is always turned off when take out the keys.
The Stereo (like most modern stereos) has a secondary power supply that maintains the memory..
Cheers
Tim

[dgently]

OK, you got me thinking about low cost modern head units that could be stuck in the boot and controlled from the cockpit.

Check out the Sony MEX BT2600 (amazon link blocked). ?85, no wiring, full control from your bluetooth mobile handset.

[dgently]

?just to follow up with a bit more info

The Sony head unit supports the Bluetooth AVRCP profile for remote control via bluetooth. This means that most modern mobile phones are capable of controlling most of the functions directly from their mobile phone. You can also stream music from your phone to the headunit via the A2DP profile.

If you're suitably equipped and a little bit nerdy, you're cabin will be free from all 21st century trappings and you'll sit in and get out with your stereo controls in your pocket.

The casual observer could not detect it, unless they're equipped with a bluetooth scanner.

I'd love to try it, but can't without first reversing polarity on my 68 +2. I imagine these head units would draw a fair bit of power, likely forcing a swap from generator to alternator.

[oldokie]

No need to reverse the polarity of the car, just wire the unit "backwards" making sure to isolate it. Make sure the antenna isn't grounded!

[dgently]

I think I may have got a bit overoptimistic here

From what I can gather, the Sony unit is intended to be the controlling rather than the controlled device - i.e. you could play music from the phone in your pocket using the control buttons on the Sony head unit.

It is conceivable that the reverse is possible, where a software applet on the mobile handset controls the head unit, but I've been unable to find any evidence for this.


Sorry for the noise & confusion...

[tdafforn]

Bluetooth sounds cool...
Only slight hitch in my case is the lack of a mobile phone!
(I know, I must be one of the only people without one in the UK)
Tim

[SADLOTUS]

Hi, Not up to any modern kit and no RDS but I've used a 1970's German radio with FM - for radio2 and 4.
Most of the Blaupunkts, Beckers, Grundigs and my ITT have been FM from the 1940's and have a 5 pin din in the back or on a lead, into which can be connected an adaptor cable and an MP3 player with all your 40,000 songs on it.
I'm limited by the power output - 5-7 ohms - but as one of my children said ' Hey Dad, vintage radio as well!'... I'm sure she was refering to the content though.

Just checked... these people dont seem to stock the cable any more.
http://www.koenigs-klassik.de/_addition ... ment_.html

[Bruce Crowthorne]

I have gone for a modified old Motorola head unit, converted to FM and with the addition of a flying lead so I can use that for an MP3 player input. The MP3 input is great, I have a tiny MP3 player in the glove box.

But 2 issues.
1 The power output to the speakers is too low. I have started experimenting with an extra amplifier but it is picking up LOADS of interference.
2 I reckon the sensitivity of the receiver isn't good enough (not as good as modern receivers) and it is picking up lots of noise. Must admit I haven't started fitting suppressors yet.

So the idea of a hidden modern head unit sounds great.
Now which ones will play CDR/MP3 disks, have a sensitive FM receiver and a remote control ........

[stuartgb100]

Might be worth checking this out ?

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2867_6350.htm

It's an Aldi special offer available this Sunday (?39.99p) with remote control.

Regards,
Stuart.