Comments on: More iBus circuits – iPod control using MFSW

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Wed, 23 Jun 2004 01:11:51 +0000

It looks like I won't need to make any more of these circuits, now that Apple/BMW have got together ... MotoringFile link

By: Gavin

Gavin — Mon, 14 Jun 2004 00:42:16 +0000

(I thought I posted a reply to Jared’s comments on Friday, but it doesn’t seem to be here…)
Regarding using a dock rather than the Belkin kit, that should work fine, the MFSW control goes in through a second cable in the top – the normal remote connection. Since the sound is taken from the line out on either the dock or the Belkin, there’s no problem with plugging something into the headphone jack.
As far and making a one cable solution going in through the 30 way connector on the bottom, this is what I was originally hoping to do. However, after a lot of internet searching and readind this thread on mini2 (http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56459) I now know that the info about that connector and its pin-out are know as the Holy Grail..! Apparently you have to be an established manufacturer with products on the market before Apple will let you sign the NDA needed to see that information. No-one has reverse engineered it yet and posted it publicly – at least none I could find. So, yes, a one cable solution would be neater but is it worth the extra effort… I don’t know.
As an aside, the ICE-link came out as a two cable system in its first incarnation, then switched to one, presumably to satisfy the Apple requirements

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Sun, 13 Jun 2004 23:46:57 +0000

Josh,
If the Belkin can do it, it is possible. However, without owning either a Belkin adaptor or even an iPod, I cannot know how the interface works, so I cannot mimic it …

By: Josh

Josh — Sun, 13 Jun 2004 23:38:17 +0000

Can you get that to work through the Dock port at the bottom instead of the remote control jack at the top? Thats one thing I like about the belkin, I only need one cord for sound & power.

By: Bentley Skeie

Bentley Skeie — Sun, 13 Jun 2004 14:02:39 +0000

I just found your site from Todd’s web site.
I am also interested in the MFSW iPod circut.
Please let me know if you have enough interest to produce these!

By: Randolph Lee

Randolph Lee — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 04:16:51 +0000

Count me in for one Ian

By: pezboy

pezboy — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 01:16:32 +0000

Okay cool. I don’t have the Belkin stuff so what is needed here? Right now I use an iPod dock with line out and plug in my aux to that. Does it control through that or what?

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 01:06:07 +0000

Jared,
When Gavin finished, all looks normal in the car:
Gallery link

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 01:04:37 +0000

Jason,
If I go anywhere further with this project, I envisage either acquiring a source of the iPod connector, or linking the circuit to a supplied iPod remote rather than expecting the “customer” to do it.

By: pezboy

pezboy — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 01:03:17 +0000

Are there any pics of a cleaner install? Do they wires hang out all over the place or is there somewhere nice you can tuck them?
If it’s pretty much invisible, I am in.