This is very much what I'm working on. Just don't want to get into too many details until I've had a chance to try a few ideas.

A friend of mine who'* an expert in all things iPod was telling me that the signal problem that people encounter with the integration modules (alternator whine, etc.) is that the signal coming from the bottom port on the iPod is designed to come through a USB cable and into a steady power level computer, which then segregates out the signal.

OEM systems that are specific to the iPod essentially have a USB port into which the iPod cable is plugged. Non-OEM systems that try to take just the sound signal and provide power through the iPod cable are apparently flawed in that way.

Of course, when he was telling me this, what my brain was hearing was "blah blah blah iPod cable blah blah blah mini-plug on top of iPod." Not my area of expertise.

Could this be a a viable solution to my iPod integration issues? The problem I'm running into is related to my desire to maintain my XM services thru the factory HU. I've conversed with PAC and Peripheral, and neither offers a product for my '05 SSE to integrate the iPod, without disabling the XM. I have neither Bose nor Monsoon, and there is not a multi-disc changer in my car. There is a CD/AUX button on the radio face.

Thanks,

Mark

I bought a Harmon/Kardon drive+play 1, and the wired FM modulator.

I had it installed by a pal who has previously been quite skilled and reliable. BIG mistake.

The Harmon/Kardon display is pretty okay. The device has about the best iPod integration that one can get. However, the choices for getting the signal to my HU include the cassette adapter (best sound quality, ugliest appearance,) the wireless FM adapter (not helpful,) the wired FM adapter, which my pal decided needed to be broken into its component pieces and then re-soldered in two halves, and doesn't work worth a flip, because in a metropolitan area, nearly EVERY frequency has distortion or signal on it.

So, the wired FM modulator is unusable. And, my friend'* installation shorted out the other day, and now it'* just a big bunch of beautifully made junk.

There is this new line of head units - here'* an example - Factory Look-A-Like DVD Receivers To Fit Chrysler,Dodge and Jeep Vehicles

Perfect chassis fit. Bluetooth phone integration, iPod integration, etc. Says that they can work with steering wheel controls with an adapter. They don't seem to be able to answer questions about the chimes, OnStar and so on.

Very frustrated.

My Harmon Kardon unit does quite well in several ways - it charges the iPod, the iPod menus are available on the screen, the remote control is great - the sound is for crap.

Following the suggestion of some other posts, we installed a mini-plug to XM module connection, which works but sounds terrible. The wired FM modulator is better, but not acceptable.

In either mode, the alternator whine is staggering and the sound fidelity muddy.

We've wired the power for the unit straight to the under-rear seat fuse block and installed line noise filters on the power line - no help.

So, I have this lighted barnacle on my Kuda USA pad, just above the cell phone. And my iPod rides in my briefcase.