Using Tour with car stereo
- I've searched for about an hour tonight trying to figure this out.
I'm a recent ATT convert; love the phone (iPhone), love the customer service, love the price, HATE the wireless service. I have no signal anywhere, so I switched back to Verizon and got the Tour (of course).
One of the main things I wanted to do with my phone is listen to music while in the car on longer trips, which I take frequently. My iPhone was awesome in this respect; plug it in and it charges and plays flawlessly with my head unit. My radio is an Alpine iDA-x300, which is an all-digital receiver. There is no CD capability, no tape, and no AUX jack on the front or the back.
I've been reading online about how people got their BlackBerries to work with a car's stereo, without mention of the Tour, only other models. Most people have AUX ports, in which case they just plug it in with a 3.5mm audio jack and call it a day. Others have RCA inputs, so they get an RCA -> 3.5mm connector and call that a day.
The latter solution would be best for me, but one little problem; it doesn't work.
I know my stereo works because I've used it almost every day up until this point, and I get the usual static through the speakers when I select "Tuner" (I removed my antenna). However, when I plug in the RCA -> 3.5mm adapter cable that I just purchased, I get no audio whatsoever when I plug it into the BB. If I unplug it, I get audio, but not when it's plugged in.
I tried the USB functionality as well, but it just says No USB Device.
I'm out of ideas. Why won't this darned thing work??????
If I can't get it to work, this would be the only thing that I don't like about my Tour (other than the screen ripple), and would warrant a return [still within the 30-days].
Can anyone help me out?07-23-09 09:20 PMLike 0 - I used the storm with another headset besides the one it comes with it and I couldn't hear properly. I believe the reason is that the jack supports both stereo outputs or channels and mic input. If you look at the headset that comes with your Blackberry, you will see 3 divisions: left channel, right channel and mic input. The regular headset only have 2: left and right channels.07-23-09 09:33 PMLike 0
- I used the storm with another headset besides the one it comes with it and I couldn't hear properly. I believe the reason is that the jack supports both stereo outputs or channels and mic input. If you look at the headset that comes with your Blackberry, you will see 3 divisions: left channel, right channel and mic input. The regular headset only have 2: left and right channels.
Then why does it work fine when I plug in my regular computer speakers (3.5mm)?
This is frustrating...07-23-09 10:00 PMLike 0 - They are probably another or the ouput for an amp. Very common in car audio. You have to get the signal out to amps somehow and it's usually RCA. I'm guessing the real problem is that the only input is BT or iPods little port?07-24-09 04:38 PMLike 0
- I use a Motorola T505 and it works great. It works out really well for me as I can use it in both my personal car and work vehicle. it can be had for $60 at newegg/amazon.07-24-09 04:47 PMLike 0
- I've searched for about an hour tonight trying to figure this out.
I'm a recent ATT convert; love the phone (iPhone), love the customer service, love the price, HATE the wireless service. I have no signal anywhere, so I switched back to Verizon and got the Tour (of course).
One of the main things I wanted to do with my phone is listen to music while in the car on longer trips, which I take frequently. My iPhone was awesome in this respect; plug it in and it charges and plays flawlessly with my head unit. My radio is an Alpine iDA-x300, which is an all-digital receiver. There is no CD capability, no tape, and no AUX jack on the front or the back.
I've been reading online about how people got their BlackBerries to work with a car's stereo, without mention of the Tour, only other models. Most people have AUX ports, in which case they just plug it in with a 3.5mm audio jack and call it a day. Others have RCA inputs, so they get an RCA -> 3.5mm connector and call that a day.
The latter solution would be best for me, but one little problem; it doesn't work.
I know my stereo works because I've used it almost every day up until this point, and I get the usual static through the speakers when I select "Tuner" (I removed my antenna). However, when I plug in the RCA -> 3.5mm adapter cable that I just purchased, I get no audio whatsoever when I plug it into the BB. If I unplug it, I get audio, but not when it's plugged in.
I tried the USB functionality as well, but it just says No USB Device.
I'm out of ideas. Why won't this darned thing work??????
If I can't get it to work, this would be the only thing that I don't like about my Tour (other than the screen ripple), and would warrant a return [still within the 30-days].
Can anyone help me out?
I did this and used my ipod, satellite radio and phone in my last car. I loved it.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com07-24-09 09:48 PMLike 0 - My Pearl worked find with my alpine via USB, Tour does not I get the same response as you. I have the same Alpine deck and it will not recognize the phone. I have no idea why.07-24-09 11:13 PMLike 0
- I use the Satechi Bluetooth -> FM gateway with my Tour, works great. You just plug this little device into the cigarette lighter, and it pairs via bluetooth a2dp with your Blackberry (including the Tour, which is what I have). It then re-broadcasts the Bluetooth audio over FM. No wires, automatically pairs up when you start the car - even acts as a carkit and lets you voice dial using a button on the device. Since the proximity is so close, you may still be able to get a clean signal even with your antenna gone. I paid $100 for mine at the time, and absolutely love it.07-24-09 11:32 PMLike 0
- The outputs are to use an amp for a subwoofer in your car. There are a couple of options for you:
1) Get an FM transmitter. You can purchase one at your local RadioShack. A good one (less static) will run about $60-$80.
2) As mentioned above, you can get an FM modulator which would directly inject the audio into your antenna input. You can get this at Pep Boys or a car audio installation place.
3) You can get an external auxillary jack. It plugs into your CD changer port on the back of your tuner. Again purchased at a car place.
4) Invest in a new CD deck which supports either stereo bluetooth or an AUX port.
Hope this helps07-24-09 11:41 PMLike 0 - Az: I have the tour and I stream via bluetooth to my Kenwood and it sounds awesome. I couldn't get the aux cable to work, but it was more of a curiosity for me than a necessity. Again, I paired the Tour with my Kenwood, click on the BT Audio and dial up my music on my Tour and it sounds terrific. Before giving it up, pair your BT and try that alternative. I know you'll be pleased.07-28-09 08:05 AMLike 0
- Wow, you bought another deck? I wish I had seen this thread sooner. I would have directed you to Crutchfield: LCD TV, Car Stereo, Home Theater, Speakers, Plasma TV and you could have chatted live with a mobile audio specialist that would have fixed you right up. I'm sure for a lot less than a new deck. Well, at least you got what you were looking to get. Good luck with it.07-28-09 08:15 AMLike 0
- I go old school and use a tape adapter and it works great
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com07-28-09 08:28 AMLike 0 - I have a Pioneer deck too that I think is wonderful. I was an Alpine man for several years but when my third headunit crapped out on me, I decided I was done with Alpine.07-28-09 10:34 AMLike 0
- There is a lot of great advice in this thread, but I think there is an obvious notion that some may overlook.
I too am in the same situation as az3579. I have a Tour and have a crapload of issues with playing it on my car stereo.
Before the Tour, I had a POS LG enV phone. That phone came with a short (3 foot), black 2.5mm to 3.5mm stereo RCA patch cable with right-angle plugs. I plugged the 3-terminal (left, right, and mic) 2.5mm jack into my phone, and plugged the 3-terminal 3.5mm jack into the faceplate of my car Kenwood stereo and it played fabulously. I couldn't use the cable with my BB, because the BB is a 3.5mm 3-terminal port.
I did, however, have a 2-terminal 3.5mm RCA male to 3.5mm RCA male patch cable from Belkin that I previously used for a set of computer speakers. I tried it. It works perfectly to connect my BB Tour to my Kenwood. The problem? Well, it is over 6 feet in length. (It's also white and has straight connectors.)
I really liked the short, black cable with right angle connectors that I had with my LG enV *AND* am still on the hunt. I purchased a patch cable from PCH Cables. It was the same format as my old LG patch cable, except that it was 2-terminals (left and right), instead of three, and 3.5mm on both ends. Perfect right? NOPE. Would not work. I assumed it was a problem with the cable and had the company ship me a replacement. Same problem.
I then tried a pair of jabra ear buds that have standard 2-terminal 3.5mm jack. Worked just fine on my BB. So that seems to indicate the cord.
Now two bad cables in a row is very unlikely. So I tried the new cables on a Nintendo DS. (Yes, low tech testing method, but effective nonetheless.) Guess what? The cable that did not work in the BB, worked on the Nintendo.
So now I assumed the problem was the port on the BB. I took it back to Verizon. Got a NEW replacement phone. Walked out to my vehicle and presto! NO! The new phone has the same exact problem as the previous one.
Next I compared the terminals on the cables. The new patch cable, the old long white one, and the jabra ear buds. To the naked eye they looked identical. If you really scrutinize them, you can see very fine differences on the outermost terminal (not sure if that is a terminal or the ground).
Further, if I plug the new patch cable into the BB and my car stereo, and then pull outward on the cable from the BB, but not enough to pull it loose, the BB switches to headphone mode. AHA!
So what I've found is that, depending upon how the terminals are milled, a 3.5 cord may or may not work on your BB. Whatever the mechanism is in the port that detects a plug, it does not work with all 3.5 RCA mini plugs.
Which brings me to.... anyone know where I can find a good 3.5 mm male to 3.5 mm male, black patch cable that is 3 feet or less in length that they KNOW works with the 3.5 port on their BB? (Right angle connectors preferred, but not mandatory.)
...Rob
Looking at the terminals on the cables themselves08-21-09 11:07 AMLike 0
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