After searching around, I bought this Ai-Net to RCA adapter from Crutchfield to give my Alpine CDA-7839 a set of RCA's that I could plug my iPod into (with the RCA to mini-jack adapter, of course). However, the head unit won't let me select the newly-adapted iPod as a "source". I did not have a changer plugged in, previously, so the head unit has never seen a signal through it's Ai-Net connector.

If I flip the small switch on the bottom of the HU (from "normal" to the "eq/div" position), I get the normal CD/radio operation, but with the iPod's audio coming through as very low-frequency sound (bass track only, really), on top of the normal CD/radio sound.

What do I need to do to get this to work? From what I've found, it looks like this should work. Advice?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ndustryalGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">After searching around, I bought this Ai-Net to RCA adapter from Crutchfield to give my Alpine CDA-7839 a set of RCA's that I could plug my iPod into (with the RCA to mini-jack adapter, of course). However, the head unit won't let me select the newly-adapted iPod as a "source". I did not have a changer plugged in, previously, so the head unit has never seen a signal through it's Ai-Net connector.

If I flip the small switch on the bottom of the HU (from "normal" to the "eq/div" position), I get the normal CD/radio operation, but with the iPod's audio coming through as very low-frequency sound (bass track only, really), on top of the normal CD/radio sound.

What do I need to do to get this to work? From what I've found, it looks like this should work. Advice?
</TD></TR></TABLE> There is something wrong with the adpt., the "black box" on the adpt. should trick the Alpine HU into thinking it has a changer plugged into it, it is the only way you can get the cd changer source to come up, [turn on] the switch on the bottom of the HU has nothing to do with it, you need to replace the adpt. or better yet get the Alpine KCA-420i iPod adpt. http://www.alpine.com and get full use out of your iPod ready HU. Lots of usefull info about Alpine and iPod at the Alpine site. 94

 

I'd love to get the KCA-420i, but unfortunately, my head unit is a few years old (approx. 5 yrs. old), so it won't work -- at least, that's what Alpine claims, and that's what most of the audio people I've talked to tell me. If they're wrong, I'd be happy, though!

So, otherwise, it looks like I'll need to exchange the adapter with Crutchfield, huh?

 

aaarrrggghhhh.......

Well, just for future reference (for anyone searching for this info and comes upon this thread)....

I called Crutchfield to troubleshoot/exchance the adapter. As it turns out, older units (like mine) that lack the Versa-Link capability are S.O.L. for using the adapter. So, I'm better off to upgrade to a new deck (and add the 420i, of course).

Thanks for the input, fcm.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ndustryalGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd love to get the KCA-420i, but unfortunately, my head unit is a few years old (approx. 5 yrs. old), so it won't work -- at least, that's what Alpine claims, and that's what most of the audio people I've talked to tell me. If they're wrong, I'd be happy, though!

So, otherwise, it looks like I'll need to exchange the adapter with Crutchfield, huh?</TD></TR></TABLE>You are right, iPod capable Alpine HUs did not come out till 04 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ndustryalGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">aaarrrggghhhh.......

Well, just for future reference (for anyone searching for this info and comes upon this thread)....

I called Crutchfield to troubleshoot/exchance the adapter. As it turns out, older units (like mine) that lack the Versa-Link capability are S.O.L. for using the adapter. So, I'm better off to upgrade to a new deck (and add the 420i, of course).

Thanks for the input, fcm.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If your HU is only about 4 years old the Aux adaptor should work. I think it was the KCA-121B. I've used it for a few installs, such as overheads where they wanted the audio to be able to come from the radio without doing the crappy FM mod's. It's suppose to work with any Ai-Net capable radio

 

You're probably talking about this adapter/box. I thought about it, but for $80, I'd rather buy the KCA-420i and (if I'm lucky) a used 2004 deck to connect to it.

I've been searching around on eBay, but if anyone on the board has a 2004 (or newer) Alpine head unit that they're looking to sell, shoot me an IM.

 

No, I'm talking about the KCA-121B.. it runs like $24 tops. it's the simple interface box for the alpines...

http://images.google.com/image...hl=en

 

I would've bought that adapter, if I'd found it first. Unfortunately, all the information I'm finding still indicates that my head unit would need the "Versatile Link" feature to function correctly with it (which is what the Crutchfiled rep. told me, too, after digging through some info) -- does that sound right? It seemed to me that a set of RCA's are a set of RCA's, but my HU couldn't "find" the iPod, when I had it connected with the adapter I mentioned above.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ndustryalGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would've bought that adapter, if I'd found it first. Unfortunately, all the information I'm finding still indicates that my head unit would need the "Versatile Link" feature to function correctly with it (which is what the Crutchfiled rep. told me, too, after digging through some info) -- does that sound right? It seemed to me that a set of RCA's are a set of RCA's, but my HU couldn't "find" the iPod, when I had it connected with the adapter I mentioned above.</TD></TR></TABLE>Go to http://www.alpine.com and ask them about your HU, probly get better info from them 94

 

or you can call them at 1-800-alpine-1

 

I thought as long as the deck has AI-Net it would work with the KCA-420i. My alpine is about 4 years old but is AI-Net capable. Will the KCA-420i work with my head unit? Sorry to thread jack!

Edit- According to alpine you do need a 2004 model. This sucks, I was about to buy this whole setup. I guess I will get a cd changer instead

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mekanism &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought as long as the deck has AI-Net it would work with the KCA-420i. My alpine is about 4 years old but is AI-Net capable. Will the KCA-420i work with my head unit? Sorry to thread jack!

Edit- According to alpine you do need a 2004 model. This sucks, I was about to buy this whole setup. I guess I will get a cd changer instead </TD></TR></TABLE>It has to be a 2004 or newer AI-Net HU, but there are still adpts. you can get to turn the CD changer port into an AUX. port 94