I want to install a Wired FM modulator to my 05 Land Rover Freelander with factory in dash 6-cd radio. I searched around and heard that I need to use antenna adapters, possibly for a VW.
Can anyone tell me if this is right and what year(s) VW antenna adapter model would work for my Freelander? Anyone know where I can get them/what part no. I need? Thanks!
None of the sites that I deal with say that you need an antenna adaptor... that or else none of them "think" you need one.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
thanks, I think they don't "think" I need one. here is a picture of the same radio I have to show what the antenna plug looks like (lower right corner). It's not like the usual antenna plug.
sorry here is the pic and its on the lower left-doh!:
Yup , that's a VW / Mercedes antenna plug.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
i also have an '05 freelander with the 6-disc changer. i have a fm transmitter, but i'm in new york city and i can never find a clean station.
does the modulator work well? and where are you located?
I just started researching this (for my wifes car) and begun ordering the parts so I don't know what it will sound like yet. we also tried the fm transmitter thing and it leaves a lot to be desired in the middle of the city. Alot of reviews say that the modulator is much better than the transmitter so I decided to try it out.
So far, I have ordered a Clarion FM200 FM Modulator (was going to get a Scosche one from Crutchfield but some of the reviews there said the sound level may be a bit low) The Clarion unit has a gain adjustment that I hope will bring the sound level up without static or hissing. Like the Audiovox (no gain too) and the Scosche FM Modulator, there is a power switch to power the unit on & to totally disconnect the factory antenna minimizing interference from strong radio stations.
With a RCA to 3.5mm headphone jack wire, I should be able to attach it directly to the ipod. The only problem was the antenna plugs. I didn't want to tear the car apart before I got everything and was lucky I found the pic of the radio on the internet.
I havent decided wether to take the chance to order the antenna adapters online ( and pay for shipping) or to wait until I pull the radio and take it to Circuit City/Best Buy/Tweeter, etc. and have them match the antenna plug to the one I need.
thanks a lot. It's very difficult to find information about this car on line.
I'll wait to set up my car to hear how yours turns out. Good luck.
I finally had the time to do it over the weekend. So far, it works very well.
I used a Clarion FM200 FM Modulator I got from the cardomain store but I don't see it listed there anymore. Here is Clarion's webpage on it:
FM Modulator Linky
I also used a Scosche Volkswagen Antenna Adapter Kit I got off ebay here:
Antenna Adapter Linky
and I used a RCA to 3.5mm cable adapter from Radio Shack to plug into my ipod.
Cable adapter iPod plug Linky
To round it off, I used a Panavise dash mount made for this car (to use with a generic phone cradle):
Dash mount Linky
Unfortunately, I did not have a camera with me when I installed it, but installation is fairly straightforward after you remove the radio trim, shifter knob and unbolt the center console and push it to the rear for clearance. I didn't even need to unplug the regular radio wire harness as they were long enough to move the radio and unplug the antennna wire.
Using the adapters, I wired the modulator between the factory antenna and radio. I then mounted the fm modulator on the emply space below the middle of dash and under the front of the center console with 2 screws to a metal bracket I found there. I tapped the 12v power wire to the factory cigarette lighter and ground wire to a bracket under the dash.
I attached the 3.5mm adapter cable to the modulator's rca plug cable and ran it to the right of the center console and up the right side of the center dash area so the wire comes out next to the radio and left of the glove box.
The fm modulator has a power switch that I mounted in the center console to the left of the shifter.
The modulator has 2 fm frequencies you could choose to use and I just used the first one.
I set the gain adjustment to max. I tried different settings but the sound came out too low compared to the radio or cd. I also tired to increase the ipod's volume- the sound did get louder but it started to have static & distortion. I found the best compromise is to have the ipod volume set around 75% and the modulator's gain adjustment to max. When I switch from radio to my ipod, the ipod is only about 2-3 clicks lower in volume than my radio.
To use the ipod now, I just plug the 3.5mm wire into the ipod headphone jack, set the radio to the modulator's frequency (preset now into the radio) and turn the switch on.
The modulator disconnects the factory antenna to eliminate any interference from radio stations. So far, I have not had any interference from any of the strong radio stations in my area.
Although the sound quality is below that of a music CD, I am extremely happy with it- It sounds like a strong radio station with no interference. I previously tried iTrip and other fm transmitters but they always had problems as I still would pick up other radio stations. That was so annoying on any long drive or road trip.
This is by far so much better than those products. I'll try to get pics soon of the finished setup and post them.