Using Tilt to stream Internet radio to car A/V receiver

stuartdruc · 03-12-08, 02:23 PM

Hi there,
I listen to a lot of Internet radio, and appreciate the functionality of the Tilt to, among many other things, stream Internet stations from the Windows Mobile Media player to my Bluetooth headphones. I bought the unlimited data plan through AT&T, so that's not a limitation, and I pretty regularly get 3G or HSDPA speeds when connecting in our area. However, what I've love to be able to do is stream the Tilt's audio output to our Pioneer A/V.

The Pioneer unit is Bluetooth enabled, so I can easily use it with the Tilt to make and receive hands-free calls through the car's speaker system, but has no direct control over other functions of the Tilt as far as I can tell.

What's the most practical way to accomplish this:
* Is there a cable that can connect the Tilt's USB port to an iPod cable already connected to the A/V? I can access an iPod's library directly through the Pioneer, but there's no other iPod functionality, so I doubt this will work any more than the existing Bluetooth capability of the A/V
* A Bluetooth or USB FM Transmitter? If so, what brand's got the best sound quality?
* Last choice: a USB to RCA cable that I can connect to the A/V as an external auxilliary input. However, then I'd have to bring the car into the shop and hard wire the cabling because the A/V's already built into the dashboard, and the external input's not directly accessible as things stand

I'm leaning toward the idea of #2, as the closest I'd get to seamless Bluetooth connection, but I'm not sure that any of these will work except the last choice. I'd appreciate what others think about this.

Thanks,
Stuart

03-24-08, 10:02 AM

I'm curious about this, as well. I also own a Tilt and am looking into getting MLB Gameday Audio for Windows Mobile. It's $4.99/month, which is much less than my XM subscription, and would allow me to ditch XM as I would use my iPod and Tilt in the car. I've noticed the Alpine EX-10 allows my phone to connect via Bluetooth and will play any mp3 files on the phone, but I'm not sure it will do streaming audio. I don't know if I can trick the EX-10 by making the streaming audio feed part of a playlist, but I'm willing to give it a try.

btate0121 · 03-25-08, 06:15 AM

your car stereo may not support the a2dp profile. (thats the one that lets you CONTROL your device while streaming media). a2dp allows you to play music from the media player, and use the buttons to change tracks, fast forward and etc while connected WIRELESSLY via bluetooth.

I'm not sure how you're streaming it to the car stereo now (are you?). if not.. run a search for headunits with a2dp.. i did a search about a year ago and turned up about 5 different units from major brands... so I would imagine there are atleast THOSE units that support a2dp available from ebay or something.... or in stores if they carry items like that. Bluetooth for a2dp is something like bluetooth was in laptops when it first came out... it took a little while for everyone to catch on.. cell phones really helped!

Unfortunately there's no "killer app" for a2dp right now.. so many people don't even know it exists.. (if apple would have only put it in the iphone or touch... *sigh*). geeks like us running around with wimo devices know.. sure.. but how many people do YOU know with a wimo?

I just gave this another thought in my head... your stereo supports voice dialing or at least being connected to a headset profile for the phone right? if there's a button you can push to call up the telephone app (just like the call button on a standard bt headset... you press it.. your phone beeps waiting for a voice command to "call joe" or something"), then you can install microsofts voice command 1.6.

what does THAT do? well.. among tons of other useful things.. it allows you to press a button and say "start windows media player".. "Play album 'the strokes'"... "next track" push button - voice command style! i love tech.

btate0121 · 03-25-08, 06:32 AM

just looked it up.. looks like the alpine ex-10 does everything you need kevin! you sure can set that streaming channel as a favorite if you want. it differs on how you do it based on the way you acess it. (via the web? add the stream to your favorites, etc.)

**hyedipin** · 03-25-08, 10:00 AM

Wow, this sounds like a great setup, let us know if AD2P works with your stereo.. Otherwise just use good old AUX IN jack on your radio with 2.5mm headphone cable.

03-26-08, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by btate0121

just looked it up.. looks like the alpine ex-10 does everything you need kevin! you sure can set that streaming channel as a favorite if you want. it differs on how you do it based on the way you acess it. (via the web? add the stream to your favorites, etc.)

Oh, snap! Too bad I have to ask for it as a birthday present in August, thanks to taxes. :(

03-26-08, 01:08 AM

Originally Posted by hyedipin

Wow, this sounds like a great setup, let us know if AD2P works with your stereo.. Otherwise just use good old AUX IN jack on your radio with 2.5mm headphone cable.

I am doing this very thing using my Tilt and an AUX in 3.5mm cable going into my Pioneer 4900 deck.... I have the HTC splitter.

**hyedipin** · 03-26-08, 09:13 AM

Yeah, that should be just fine. Just add a nice little windshield mount, and that's it. :)

03-27-08, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by hyedipin

Yeah, that should be just fine. Just add a nice little windshield mount, and that's it. :)

I'm thinking about going with the Pro Cilp mount and a horizontal extender plate since I already have the iPod mount from them.

That's a lot of mounting goodness. :D