[wjbiv]

Just wanted to share a product I've found very helpful in adapting the factory Shaker 500 to my iPod. Of course the story starts with the PIE AUX adaptor unit, which installs pretty easily, thanks to many posts on the subject in this very forum.

That was just the beginning. I wanted to be able to do some basic controlling of the iPod without risking my life, I also wanted in car charging. My search led me to discover the Harmon Kardon unit that provides complete control and a big lcd screen to boot, but that was not only out of my budget, but I couldn't see permanently installing both the controller and the view screen on my pristine dash. So I moved on to the DLO Transpod Direct, which is an automotive dock connected to an arm that terminates in a 12 V adaptor. Plugging this unit into the 12 V socket in the middle of the dash put the whole iPod within easy reach.

I drove like this for a month, and then that big ol' dock sticking out started to bug me. I always had to remember to pull the iPod and hide it or bring it with me, just to keep potential theives from getting ideas. I also periodically banged into it when moving my hand between the wheel and the shifter.

Finally I discovered the perfection of the RF remote. Note I said RF, not IR. The Rf remote doesn't need line-of-site like IR, so the Ipod can be anywhere in the car. I moved the audio line to the center console box, and purchased the IJet Rf remote by a company called ABT (http://www.abtech2.com/iJet.php). I plan on adding a car charger to the setup, thanks to the convenient 12 V outlet right in the box there.

The iJet even comes with a little clip that attached the remote to the visor. I love this setup. The downside is you still need to pull out the iPod to actually choose albums or playlists, so if you jump around a lot in your collection you won't like it. But if you're like me, and tend to select a playlist or album and listen from beginning to end, this really works great.

The iPod is completely out of site, and I can play/pause, skip forward/skip backward, and even turn off the iPod, all without taking my eyes off the road. Attached some pix of the setup. Forgive me if this idea has already been floated, just wanted to share.