what do you guys use as a car charger/craddle?

[polobreaka]

there isnt much discussion about a car charger/craddle/dock. ive seen a couple of post about the ebay ones that offer handsfree/fm transmitter but not much review.

im looking for car charger/craddle/handsfree type dock. i saw the griffin one, pretty expensive. what else is out there in the market?


EDIT: please post your vehicle and type of dock/setup/handsfree system, and a picture would help a million times

some people have really nice setup. it would be nice for others searching for a specific setup to get an idea here.

i have a 2002 subaru wrx, just a universal windows suction holder, factory radio with cassette line in adapter. looking to change up my setup for easier to use and not having so many wires dangling around.

thanks!

[billrobert]

YOU ARE TRY THE SOLAR IPHONE CASE ITS CHARGE YOUR Battery

[JUSTQUAN]

YOU ARE TRY THE SOLAR IPHONE CASE ITS CHARGE YOUR Battery

do you have this case? if so let me know your pros and cons...

[polobreaka]

anything else?

[HowEver]

do you have this case? if so let me know your pros and cons...

Clearly it's spam--although, hey, this one could be interesting somehow.

[caligurl]

i use and iGo charger and put the phone in the center console cup holder while charging.

[Blueline29]

DLO TransDock Direct is what I use. I'd used the DLO TransPod with my first mini all the way up until I got a 2G Touch and it was no longer a "supported accessory," and then I made the switch to the TransDock. LOVE IT.

Apparently, they're now calling it an AuxDock (http://dlo.com/products/view/auxdock). They do make a version that contains an FM transmitter; thank God I don't need one of those. ;) It doesn't specifically mention the iPhone as being compatible with it (I assume it's because of the lack of Bluetooth functionality or whatever), but I've used my iPhone on it numerous times without incident. I normally use my nano in the car, though, simply because it's lighter and I can use the click wheel without taking my eyes off of the road.

[Geo3G]

I bought the apple dock with remote control and added it to my existing iphone holder. So now it charges and has the aux hole straight to the stereo. So when the iphone light go off I use the remote to skip a son or go fast forward WITHOUT even touching the screen.

Keep in mind this dock is "suppose" to be for home use. But with a little modding it can be used in a car, and let me say it is nice! Much safer to just click the remote and not have to look at the screen.

[lssmit02]

I have a 2009 Honda Civic LX with an aux-in port right next to the lighter/power jack. Window is sloped pretty far away from the edge of the dash, so a window mount didn't seem viable to me. Also, I wanted to take advantage of the aux-in capability, to avoid using a radio based system. I went with the following.
Bracketron Grip-It Mobile Device Holder (http://www.bracketron.com/index.php?catid=6&pid=21)
Monster iCarCharger 200 for iPod and iPhone (http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=4341)
Both items work pretty well, and the vent mount puts my phone pretty much in line of sight for my turn by turn gps program.

[SS109]

I have an Apple 3G dock hardwired in my 08 Civic coupe.

[= bluntman =]

I use a Pro-Clip holder for my iPhone and a Griffin Autopilot to charge and to control the playback of the music (2004 Mazda 3).

[Smileyboy]

I have an Apple 3G dock hardwired in my 08 Civic coupe.

Do you have a picture?

[polobreaka]

i should've specify which car and what you guys use..it'll be easier for people to list their setup and can be informative for people looking for a dock/craddle charger/handsfree type set up. i will edit my 1st post.

[SS109]

Do you have a picture?

I'll snap a few when I get home this afternoon.

There is a coin pocket right under the shifter that the dock sits in. I have the cables running inside the center console to an outlet in the center console storage and the audio cable up to the AUX input up front. It's a slick install, holds the phone securely and is easy to access. Only problem is that it's mounted low, so you might have trouble using a GPS program as you would have to look down.

[SS109]

I'll snap a few when I get home this afternoon.

There is a coin pocket right under the shifter that the dock sits in. I have the cables running inside the center console to an outlet in the center console storage and the audio cable up to the AUX input up front. It's a slick install, holds the phone securely and is easy to access. Only problem is that it's mounted low, so you might have trouble using a GPS program as you would have to look down.

Here we go:
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/public/97308/IMG_0879.jpg
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/public/97309/IMG_0880.jpg
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/public/97310/IMG_0883.jpg

[Smileyboy]

Cool install. How does that stay in when u take a sharp, fast turn or slam on the brakes?

[SS109]

Cool install. How does that stay in when u take a sharp, fast turn or slam on the brakes?

The lip on the front of the dock is pinched between 2 sections of the console. I drive fairly spiritedly through a canyon to/from work and it does not move at all. If I were worried, I would just use some 3M double sided tape to anchor it, but for now it works just fine.

Now I just need to figure out how to mount a dock in my other car.

[polobreaka]

Here we go:


that looks pretty clean!

[mobileinstall]

I have a lot of information about charging cradles and iphone carkits on my website here

http://www.mobileinstall.co.uk/iphone.html

A lot of new cars have a 3.5mm jack for connecting your iphone to play music through your hifi now but you do have to be careful with chargers that plug into the cigar lighter socket with a USB socket on them as many will not charge the new 3Gs

If you go with Griffin then their chargers are pretty good provided it is labelled iPhone compatable rather than just iPod you shouldn't come unstuck.

If you're using the car for your daily commute and you want to use the functions of your iPod through your car hi-fi then you can't beat the Parrot MKi system as it was designed just for this

There are various different options depending on whether you want

Just charging (http://www.mobileinstall.co.uk/iphone.html)

Charging with music (http://www.mobileinstall.co.uk/icelinkone.html)

Charging with handsfree (http://www.mobileinstall.co.uk/thb8.html)

Charging with handsfree and music (http://www.mobileinstall.co.uk/mki9200.html)

Charging with handsfree music and TomTom Satnav (http://www.mobileinstall.co.uk/iphone.html)

Its all explained here (http://www.mobileinstall.co.uk/iphone.html)

Cheers...... Rick

[polobreaka]

thanks rick! do you guys support US customers?

[sjdigital]

I use a Brodit cradle mounted around the air vent to the right of the steering wheel (UK, right hand drive car) and it's hard wired to a USASpec iPod adapter which is hooked up to the car audio system. This way I have full access to the iPod controls and also to the Navigon screen when using navigation. And the voice navigation instructions are routed through the car audio system. The only thing missing is an integrated phone connection as the iPhone doesn't route phone calls through the dock connector. But I'm holding off on a bluetooth kit until I can determine if there is an after market one that permits calls to be answered via the iPhone screen yet still routed through the BT device.

[temetrepo]

i've been thinking on getting this one

http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-System-iPhone-Generation-built/dp/B001QFXDA2/ref=pd_cp_e_2

anybody tried it?
looking for some feedback on it

[polobreaka]

i've been thinking on getting this one

http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-System-iPhone-Generation-built/dp/B001QFXDA2/ref=pd_cp_e_2

anybody tried it?
looking for some feedback on it

ive been thinking about getting this one as well. a couple of users here have them. review says its pretty decent for its price. original company is named canada drive safe, these are all copies of it and supposily the knock offs have beeping sound do it...im not sure.

[arod757]

Here's what I use in my '06 Chevy Monte Carlo...
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6372/p9282858.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/7728/p9282860.jpg

Kensington LiquidAux and a mount I found on Ebay that mounts with double-sided 3m tape. I don't trust suction cup mounts. My old gps was always falling.

[polobreaka]

how does it hold up with heat? i used 3m double sided tape for my turbo timer and it falls off overtime.

[arod757]

how does it hold up with heat? i used 3m double sided tape for my turbo timer and it falls off overtime.

So far so good, and it's been friggin hot here in the San Antonio area.

[SS109]

that looks pretty clean!

Thanks.

Just ordered this dock for my other car:

http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/public/98928/2POINT5_POR997V2I.jpg

[Revival Cr8tive]

Ok people...

I would like to put my iPhone 3G S in the car, I have a craddle and now I need to make a choice between going for an FM Transmittor/Charger or a new Car Stero, with Bluetooth/USB connection on it.

Can anyone out there shed any light on this subject ? The Apple store a bit light on FM Transmittors/Chargers and the reviews are pretty bad.

Suggestions welcomed!

Thanks!

[polobreaka]

Ok people...

I would like to put my iPhone 3G S in the car, I have a craddle and now I need to make a choice between going for an FM Transmittor/Charger or a new Car Stero, with Bluetooth/USB connection on it.

Can anyone out there shed any light on this subject ? The Apple store a bit light on FM Transmittors/Chargers and the reviews are pretty bad.

Suggestions welcomed!

Thanks!

does the USB connection the new headunit charge your phone? if it does, then that would probably be the better route.

but if it does not, i would probably stay with the stock radio and get a FM transmitter/charger because you can at least listen to your phone while charging.

[yellowwheels]

When I got an iPhone I looked at a lot of craddles and didn't like any of them, so I bought a cheap simple Griffin charger and made a cradle myself out of a cut down small plastic electronics box sourced from a Maplin shop (in UK). I wanted something that would fit in any car, but doesn't use a suction mount. I photograph cars as my job and don't want the suction device visible in shots. I also don't like the suction mounts getting in the way and advertising the presence of a satnav. They also leave a circular smear that shows up in photos. My cradle has a short flexible band fixed to the rear. At the top of this is a hook, that so far fits every car I've sat in! The back of the cradle is covered in velcro, and I have a few velcro covered foam pads that I can stick in any order to make sure the cradle is angled towards the driver and avoids bright reflection, and stops it swinging in corners. It's far from perfect, but very convenient, portable and extremely cheap!

http://www.yellowwheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/timandrew_YWZ-7316.jpg

FYI I made a video review (http://www.yellowwheels.com/2009/10/tomtom-satellite-navigation-for-iphone-western-europe-review) of a trip from Zurich, Switzerland to Oxfordshire, UK using the Western European Tomtom app. Although, I found it was too low for the video camera so wedged it further up the dashboard with the photographer's best friend; namely Gafer tape! I'll start a new topic for this

Of course I'll have a look at the proper Tomtom car cradle when i have a spare moment....

Also BTW, I was surprised that the Mercedes I had on test didn't have satnav built in, and also discovered that the iPod connector in the glove compartment didn't work with iPhones....

[raluce]

I have a Canada Drive Safe. It works beautifully within my Volvo 60S. Only difficulty is finding a fm station not being used when I want to use the built-in transmitter. Other than that issue, the mount and charging are wonderful. I highly recommend this unit.

[danski69]

I have a Brodit cradle with a Griffin powerjolt charger, used witha GPS booster for Tom Tom app (I have a heated screen in my Passat and I think this screws with the GPS signal), all hardwired into the power feed to the cigar lighter. My headunit is a JVC KD AVX33 which has bluetooth, so I`m happy with the setup...

[Tilt]

I was wondering if anyone has tried parrot bluetooth products? I'm considering one of these units but want to know how it works when playing music. I'm assuming you have to use the headphone jack which isn't a problem since I currently use the aux jack on my car stereo but hate how the phone answers when it is plugged in.

[polobreaka]

I have a Brodit cradle with a Griffin powerjolt charger, used witha GPS booster for Tom Tom app (I have a heated screen in my Passat and I think this screws with the GPS signal), all hardwired into the power feed to the cigar lighter. My headunit is a JVC KD AVX33 which has bluetooth, so I`m happy with the setup...

do you have any pictures?

[zdblue11]

did anyone notice anything about the battery life on the ipods after using the chargers from the car?
well it seems like my ipod's battery life was signifcantly reduced after constant charges from the car...
is it just me or is anyone facing similar problems?? :confused: