How to have portable MP3 and Satellite Radio with Bose HU?

[ScottN]

I have a 2001 C5 Convertible without a CD changer.

I have not seen a way to hook up an Ipod and a portable Satellite unit (Roady, Starmate, or similar) to the Bose head unit due to the existence of only one aux input. If there's a way to do this, I'm all ears. I'm not willing to use FM modulation for either the Ipod or sat unit.

So as a compromise, I'm looking at other portable options to have satellite radio and mp3 capability. Here's what I've found so far:

1) Clarion NICE P200 portable GPS. It has a 20 Gb hard drive with 10 Gb for the nav maps and 10 Gb for mp3 storage. You can add a sirius satellite tuner that plugs directly into this unit.

2) Garmin StreetPilot 2730 GPS. Similar to Clarion unit but it has built-in XM capability and mp3 storage (but it does not say how much space is available for mp3 storage).

3) Pioneer Inno. Its a portable XM unit that has 50 hours of mp3 storage.

I'd love feedback on these options or any options that might be available.


Also, I'm assuming that the mp3s I created using iTunes will play just fine on the mp3 players listed above. Am I correct or is the iTunes mp3 format propriety to Ipods only?

Thanks.

[LarryW]

Scott,

I believe you could do it using the following interfaces:

PIE GM10-AUX Auxiliary Input Converter

and

Soundgate AUX3 (this thing supposedly gives you 3 AUX inputs )

You would also need the COR-HAR CD-changer harness since you don't have a CD-changer (this plugs into the two AUX port plugs located in the passenger footwell area, the other end would connect into the GM10-AUX adapter):

PIE COR-HAR

Then if you wanted an additional direct-connection to your iPod, you could add this interface (from the Soundgate AUX3 to your iPod's docking connector):

P.I.E. Uni-POD universal iPOD® interface

Regarding iTunes and other mp3 players, as long as the tracks listed in your iTunes library are saved/stored as .mp3 tracks, then you should be able to use them on any other mp3 player (non-iPod).

I believe iTunes, by default, is set to store audio tracks using AAC (Apple's proprietary audio format) but you can easily change this to use additional encoders as follows: launch iTunes, click Edit, then Preferences; click the Importing tab, then select 'MP3 Encoder' in the 'Import Using' combo-box.

Holy @hit Batman, what a @hitload of interfaces!!!

FYI, I have no experience in using any of the above interfaces; just thought I'd pass this info along

Good luck

Larry

[ScottN]

Thanks for the links! I'll do some research tomorrow.

I already have iTunes configured to record in mp3 format so hopefully I'll be good-to go.