Sadler
Member
- Nov 29, 2006
- 907
- Boat Info
- 2005 Nordic Tugs 37 FB
Mercury RIB dinghy with Honda 2 hp 4 stroke,
sold: 1997 290DA,
- Engines
- Cummins QSB 380
I needed a way to keep my iPod charged, so I followed the posts on CSR on how to buy a suitable cable and be able to charge the iPod and get the audio from the iPod to my head unit’s aux-input.
I was ready to buy the $40 cable off eBay, when I discovered that a nifty iPod Remote control and display unit that also charges the iPod had dropped to only $70 from the $150 I paid when I put one in my car a year ago. The text on the display is much bigger and much easier to read in bright sunlight than the iPod’s, so I decided to give it a try on the boat. It’s not marinized, but for $71, I figured I didn’t have much to loose. It’s called a Drive and Play made by Harmon Kardon. Best price I found was $70.46 from Total Electronics listed on Amazon.com. I just checked, and the price since 2/21/2007 has gone up to $79.88.You can probably find it cheaper.
The unit works much like the iPod with a twist wheel and four buttons. The display can be set to light up in use, or stay on or off all the time. Best of all, it shows the playlists, albums, artists, etc. just like the iPod and scrolls very fast and easy.
The control is mounted separately from the display, making it easy to arrange things to suit the room you have on your dash. Mine went in very easy and is a huge improvement. I’m not quite done. I still have to put in a holder for the iPod, which I’ll mount up under the dash on the right to keep it dry. In the photos, on the right you can see the cable running to the iPod which is resting in the drink holder next to the driver.
One thing I worry about is the display getting drenched by a wave. It’s up under the windshield, but there’s still that chance. I cover it when in rough seas or rain. Overall, a great addition. Photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Sadlerlv/InstallingAnIPodControllerIntoA290DA
Sadler
I was ready to buy the $40 cable off eBay, when I discovered that a nifty iPod Remote control and display unit that also charges the iPod had dropped to only $70 from the $150 I paid when I put one in my car a year ago. The text on the display is much bigger and much easier to read in bright sunlight than the iPod’s, so I decided to give it a try on the boat. It’s not marinized, but for $71, I figured I didn’t have much to loose. It’s called a Drive and Play made by Harmon Kardon. Best price I found was $70.46 from Total Electronics listed on Amazon.com. I just checked, and the price since 2/21/2007 has gone up to $79.88.You can probably find it cheaper.
The unit works much like the iPod with a twist wheel and four buttons. The display can be set to light up in use, or stay on or off all the time. Best of all, it shows the playlists, albums, artists, etc. just like the iPod and scrolls very fast and easy.
The control is mounted separately from the display, making it easy to arrange things to suit the room you have on your dash. Mine went in very easy and is a huge improvement. I’m not quite done. I still have to put in a holder for the iPod, which I’ll mount up under the dash on the right to keep it dry. In the photos, on the right you can see the cable running to the iPod which is resting in the drink holder next to the driver.
One thing I worry about is the display getting drenched by a wave. It’s up under the windshield, but there’s still that chance. I cover it when in rough seas or rain. Overall, a great addition. Photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Sadlerlv/InstallingAnIPodControllerIntoA290DA
Sadler
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