Blackberry - radio reception
 

Guys, I've recently bought a blackberry and one of those FM tuners. It's working "ok" but at times it'll have a little static and have to deal with the loose wire and loose phone.

I'd like to do two things and need some advice. (I've got the physical mounting handled)


1) Is there a better way to wire this up inside the dash so I don't have that wire and power plug hanging everywhere?

2) Is there a direct plug in way to help reduce the static?



My plan at the moment is to hard wire the FM tuner into power and then just wrap the wire around the antenna wire. I'd think that would "work" and it would all be hidden. But.. is there a better way?

Rich

Your antenna wire is a coaxial cable, which has a ground shield under the outside insulation. Very little signal, if any at all will be radiated from the
antenna wire. I suggest running your antenna wire into a splitter / matching network, and connect the wire from your FM tuner to it, along with the radio in your dash.

Excellent info Bob! Can I buy a plug and play "splitter" at my local Radio Shack? I'd like to get this done by this weekend if possible.

Rich

Any more info on this? I have a FM transmitter for my iPod that doesn't have a visable antenna.

Just did a live chat with crutchfield. They said they don't have anything and that I need to buy a new HU. Hum... between that "advice" and the fact that they were not paying attention to what I said makes me think...


So Bob. Can I somehow cut back the ground shield and wrap my FM modulator wire around it?

I'd think there has to be some sort of plug and play wire out there?

I know the 07 rangers had a plug in on the face of the radio. My 06 does'nt.

Rich

Hi Rich,

This is the closest thing I could find, a splitter with Motorola connectors on it:

http://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SIE%2DT268

It might be cheaper just to mount another antenna for your FM tuner.....

So.. I can buy a splitter and an additional antenna. Cut the new antenna down to say 1ft long, package it under the dash, and wrap my FM modulator wire around it?

Rich

also, the plug on the end of a antenna wire.. is that called a "Motorola connector"?

Hi Rich, I'll give your questions a shot:

1) No, if you cut back the shield on your present antenna, it will ruin it.

2) No, you don't need both a splitter, and an additional antenna. I think your best solution is to look for a FM antenna that attaches to your windshield (or rear window).

3) Yes, the type of connector on automotive antennas is called a Motorola connector, and they come in 2 sizes, standard, and miniature

Just curious about the FM tuner, doesn't your present HU have FM on it?

The backberry plays music. (8GB worth on mine) The FM modulator is a little radio transmitter. I tune the trucks radio to the station it's transmitting on (can set it to what ever I choose) and then over the trucks radio I can hear what's playing on the blackberry.

Also, when a phone call comes in, I just reach up and touch the answer button to talk on the phone. The blackberry automaticly turns off the music when the phone rings and the speakers in the truck become the phones speaker. It's completely hands free and I can hear them clear as a bell. They can hear me just fine too.

I just simply want what I have now to play music a little clearer (static at times) and I don't want to deal with a big 12v plug in and wire strewn about.

I've seen this done before. I just don't know how to wire this into a stock radio.

Is this the right thing you guys are looking for? http://shop.sirius.com/edealinv/serv...2&oldParentID=

I'm not sure.. but it very well might be!

Is that a motorola female connection on the box?

So does that thing require power? Or does it just dis-connect the antenna when a signal is put into it?

EDIT:


This sure looks like what I'm wanting. But it doesn't seem to have the three level (stereo?) headphone jack?

http://69.10.45.153/Product/Product_...25_install.jpg

I know I saw it the other day at Bestbuy when I was looking for something else I thought it was pretty cool: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1158319078975

http://www.tss-radio.com/product_ins...oducts_id=4082

A sales guy at this place is plugging his blackberry into this and his car to find out if it works. If it does I told him I'd buy it from him.

Ok, now I understand what you want Rich! Your best bet is to do away with the FM transmitter! I'm sure your Blackberry has a headphone jack. Does your HU have a MP3 input on it? If it doesn't the best bet is to wire into the audio pre-amp, so you can take the audio signal from your Blackberry and use just the pre-amp, and output stage of your HU. If your HU doesn't have the MP3 input, if I had your HU, I could modify it for you.

No it doesn't have the mp3 input jack. The 2007 and up rangers do.



EDIT:

It didn't work. The sales guy was very interested though, and has me contacting another guy who is a cell phone guru.

I'll let you know how it goes.

if you have a cd changer input on the back of your radio you could use one of these.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/soundsdsford.html

I'm not sure if it has a input on the back? That web page lists up to a 2005 ranger. ?

I've talked to several of these places online and it seems there is no off the shelf plug and play solution. So on Sat I'm going to just give wrapping the wire around the antenna wire a try. (while I have the radio out I'll take some pics of it) If I can't figure this out I'll think I'll take Bob up on his offer! (after we get back from vacation)

Thanks guys..

Rich

Well I made a hard mount for it today. Turned out decent IMO.
web page

Looks like I'm stuck with the FM tuner unless Bob is still willing to "hook me up"?


Rich

Rich, I will need your Blackberry, and your HU to put a switch in the preamp
input to take the headphone audio signal from your Blackberry. I'll also have to add a level matching network to match the output of the Blackberry to the
input of the HU preamp. I tinker with stuff like this in my electronics shop when I have time. I'll be more than happy to do this for you, I just can't predict how long you will be without your HU, and Blackberry.

That sounds compicated?

My blackberry is my *only* phone. I use it for home and for work. I really could'nt go without it for more than a few days. Is there any way I could have my EE friend measure something and tell you what you need to know? (I'm ignorant about this stuff)

Rich

Hi Rich....I've sent you a couple PMs. Does your EE friend have much experience tracing out circuitry without a schematic? In a lot of cases, there will be ICs, that you have to download the datasheets for, to figure out what the I/O pins are doing.......

I'll ask him tomorrow. He's a genuine guru at this stuff. You name it and he's done it for the OEMs. (mostly ford)

Rich

Bingo! Ok, ask him if he can find out where the MP3 input is for your HU!

If it can be found, all might be needed is to install a mini stereo plug jack, and
use a cable like this to connect your Blackberry to your HU:

http://www.audiogear.com/cgi-bin/sho...&preadd=action

The wiring diagram for a 2006 Ranger might call out the function of the pins in the red connector for your HU. Do you have the service manual for your
Ranger?

Nope, no manual for the ranger.

Rich