www.iFourWinns.com

I want to hook up an IPOD into my 230's Clarion XMD3 radio.

I checked out the back of the radio and the wiring diagram, and there are 6 unused RCA jacks in pairs as follows:
One pair Wire color Gray: I think for the optional (not installed) AMP
One Pair Wire color Black: I think for the optional (not installed) AMP
One Pair Wire color RED: I think for CD changer as per the wiring diagram.

Can I hook the IPOD into the CD changer RCA connectors?? I already have and adapter cable for hooking my Ipod into my stereo (1/8" to RCA).

Any tricks to it??

thanks!

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

Hook it up to the red jacks, that will be the AUX setting on the stereo. On ours we have to turn the IPOD up between 1/2 way to all the way to have about equat volume as with other audio we listen to, but works great.

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2005, 268 Vista, Table Rock Lake "Choices II"

Ours came with the 1/8" IPOD connection port factory installed from Four Winns (located by the drivers side cup holder). If you have that connection unplug it from the back of the head unit and abandon it. Purchase the IPOD flat bottom connection adapter. It will have RCA connectors that plug into the Clarion AUX input on the rear of the stereo head unit (where you abandoned the 1/8" to RCA connector wire). It will also have a power wire that you need to connect that will allow you to charge the IPOD while in use. The other end is the standard IPOD flat connector you use when downloading music from your computer. Using this type of connector will eliminate the need to adjust the IPOD volume altogether. All volume control is achieved using the head unit regardless of the IPOD volume setting. Just put the head unit on AUX and use your IPOD as you normally would. I have the same IPOD adapter/connectors in my vehicles. On the boat I have a port side "medicine cabnet" storage box located directly beneath the Clarion head unit. I cut a hole in the back of the storage box to feed the connector wire through. My IPOD gets pulled out, song selected, and placed back into the box ensuring it stays dry and out of harms way. Also the wire is 60" long, long enough so I can choose music while underway.

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Jeff
2006 H240 6.2 MX 320HP B3
La Habra, California

I will see if I can find the flat cable you are referring to, not exactly sure what it is, but I have some idea.

I scanned Ebay and I can easily find: 1/8" to RCA or Flat Ipod to Component video.

I can't find any that go from a flat IPOD connector to RCA and power??

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

I went with an adapter that was easily mounted beside the Clarion unit. Check out: http://cgi.ebay.com/WATER-RESISTANT-MP3 ... 7C294%3A50

You just remove couple of screws on the face of the stereo, and pull the unit out, connect the RCA jack, drill a hole, install the unit, put the stereo back in.

It is fairly quick and easy, but you won't have the iPod control / charging that you get with the iPod interface. I guess there are pros and cons either way - but in case the iPod interface should change in a few years, you might be better off with this set-up.

JMHO

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'06 Horizon 210

Search "TWO RCA (STEREO) TO IPOD INTERFACE BUS CHARGING CABLE" on Ebay. The link posted above is the method that Four Winns installed on our boat in 2006 and the method I disconnected. I highly reccomend using the bottom charging connection on the IPOD instead of the 1/8" ear bud top IPOD connection. The bottom IPOD connection is like a "pre-out" on the stereo head unit and it's charging the IPOD while in use.

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Jeff
2006 H240 6.2 MX 320HP B3
La Habra, California

Thanks Guys, both great solutions. I think I am going to try the cable with charging built in and see how that works. I think that will allow me to charge but will limit the use to IPOD.

I will order it today and see If I can hook it up before I go on vacation. THANKS

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

Bluesman,

I installed a jack on the same boat. I used the Jensen JPORT 1/8 ipod connector. Basically it's just an RCA to 1/8 stereo adapter. It was about $18 at west marine. I mounted it on the inside of the small glove box under the radio. If I change radios somewhere down the road I am not left with an ugly hole out in the open.


I just plug the ipod into the jack in the glove box.. The gap in that door is enough for the wire to pass through when closed and you can use the ipod in the cockpit. I bought stick on holder at Wally World and it holds the ipod right next to the radio. I am not worried about charging it since it lasts forever anyway.

Also
There is a process of changing the Aux input level to hi. This gave me the volume I needed and it sounded a lot better too. I will see if I can find the process online....

Edit:
Here is the link to the manual. Check page 15 for setting the AUX input level. (I assume you have a XMD3??)
http://www.prodigit.net/clarionDB/manua ... MD3-EU.pdf

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2004 230 Horizon
5.7GI/SX
Towed by a 2000 Expedition

Chubert, that was killer information on changing the volume level, it is buried in the manual, and I may have never found it thanks!!!!

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GI/DP 280-HP
2005 Suburban "The Battlewagon"

Being that the link to the xm3d manual is over a year old, it doesn't work. Does anyone have a good link or can anyone detail how to set the aux input level to high for use with an ipod or iphone? Thanks in advance.

Rob

PM me your e-mail address, I have the XMD3 and APX480M manuals saved off.

1. Press and hold the T button for 1 second or longer to switch to the adjustment selection display.

2. Press the << or >> buttons to select "AUX Sens."

3. Press the up or down buttons to change from high to mid to low. Default is mid.

4. Press T again to save & exit.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I have my Ipod connected with the two-cable type into the bottom edge connector. This way it charges at the same time. I've used a griffin RF remote to control it. The clarion ipod box is a piece of shit. I had one and ripped it out. It's so pointless to use that I really don't even want to sell it to some other poor bastard. It's bad enough that if I wanted actual iPod control from the radio I'd rather go the route of replacing the radio to get one with better integration.

Also, if you have a DVD player built-in you may be able to use it's AUX input too. I re-wired ours to put the output from the DVD player into the AUX input of the radio. Then I plugged the iPod cable into the AUX of the DVD. The DVD passes the AUX through when it's off. So now I can listen to both of them (either/or, of course) through the built-in stereo system speakers. It's a lot nicer than the tinny speakers on the TV.

Truth be told, I find it to be less work to just listen to satellite radio. Let someone else be the DJ, I'm out there to relax and already have my hands full running the boat.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Thanks for the info guys. Much appreciated!
Rob