Monsoon Ipod Intergration!
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:15 pm
Finally after tinkering around for a few months, ive finally figured out how to get ipod integration with our factory H1 monsoon stereo that has the 6 disk cd changer.
Myself like many, encountered the problem of trying to integrate a aux input into the factory radio with hopes of being able to add a mp3 player or ipod. I really didnt want to change out the factory radio. Reason being is that it actually not that bad of a factory radio, its got lots of power, and i cant complain (im upgrading the sub as we speak but that another project).
I came across a thread on the HML forum, some folks talkin about using a aux input module that plugs in between the cd changer, and gives you 2 inputs with a switch to select between them. Many talked about it, but no one "fully" confirmed that it worked. Not too bad i thought.. So i started to look through the wiring diagrams to check out what type of wires we got to play with.
Very simply there’s a ground, 12v+, R audio, L audio, common. and a data line. The data line intrigued me because how complicated would it be to make a communication box with a bit of programming to do simple commands like track fwd, back, stop, play and pass it along to the ipod..
After a bit of searching i found 3 companies that made a interface module for 95-2000 gm vehicles. that use a very similar radio then ours. After a brief email to each of the 3 companies, all of them said it wouldn’t work, and left it at that.. <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... rassed.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-[' /> i even asked for a pin out diagram for their modules but they wouldn’t help at all in the quest.
The connector looked the same, and from what i could see in the pics, the pin out looked the same for data, and audio lines. So i took the plunge and order one of the modules, not cheap, but it was worth the risk, i wanted to keep my truck as factory as possible without butchering it at all.
Sure enough it showed up, i plugged her in, set up the module for the gm vehicles, and BINGO, we got iPod connectivity <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />
Its actually pretty slick, you get track fwd, back, fast fwd, and such. I haven’t had enough time to tinker with all the settings, but i cant complain. It gets a bit confused if you try and do too many commands at a time. but does what its designed to do.
Now the modifying begins.. The module has a y connector which in theory would let me hook up my cd changer at the same time, but requires a 2 way double switch to select power and data between the ipod kit, and cd changer, both cannot be hooked up at the same time. So that will be in the works once the weather warms up.
It works great with my ipod touch 4g. <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... iggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />
Myself like many, encountered the problem of trying to integrate a aux input into the factory radio with hopes of being able to add a mp3 player or ipod. I really didnt want to change out the factory radio. Reason being is that it actually not that bad of a factory radio, its got lots of power, and i cant complain (im upgrading the sub as we speak but that another project).
I came across a thread on the HML forum, some folks talkin about using a aux input module that plugs in between the cd changer, and gives you 2 inputs with a switch to select between them. Many talked about it, but no one "fully" confirmed that it worked. Not too bad i thought.. So i started to look through the wiring diagrams to check out what type of wires we got to play with.
Very simply there’s a ground, 12v+, R audio, L audio, common. and a data line. The data line intrigued me because how complicated would it be to make a communication box with a bit of programming to do simple commands like track fwd, back, stop, play and pass it along to the ipod..
After a bit of searching i found 3 companies that made a interface module for 95-2000 gm vehicles. that use a very similar radio then ours. After a brief email to each of the 3 companies, all of them said it wouldn’t work, and left it at that.. <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... rassed.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-[' /> i even asked for a pin out diagram for their modules but they wouldn’t help at all in the quest.
The connector looked the same, and from what i could see in the pics, the pin out looked the same for data, and audio lines. So i took the plunge and order one of the modules, not cheap, but it was worth the risk, i wanted to keep my truck as factory as possible without butchering it at all.
Sure enough it showed up, i plugged her in, set up the module for the gm vehicles, and BINGO, we got iPod connectivity <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />
Its actually pretty slick, you get track fwd, back, fast fwd, and such. I haven’t had enough time to tinker with all the settings, but i cant complain. It gets a bit confused if you try and do too many commands at a time. but does what its designed to do.
Now the modifying begins.. The module has a y connector which in theory would let me hook up my cd changer at the same time, but requires a 2 way double switch to select power and data between the ipod kit, and cd changer, both cannot be hooked up at the same time. So that will be in the works once the weather warms up.
It works great with my ipod touch 4g. <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... iggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />