My Latest "Macgyver" Project! ;)

[FS~Phat]

Now we have the new rules about phones in cars here, they must be mounted and NOT picked up at all.

I finally got around to making my own cradle for the car and integrating decent BT audio for the iPhone.
Nothing I could find commercially looked good enough for the clean look I wanted so I resorted to Macgyvering my own from a few bits I had lying around and a couple new bits to pull it together.

Whats involved?

Jailbroken iPhone 4S on 5.1.1 with a whole bunch of useful tweaks and apps that support landscape orientation.
The list is extensive so I'll post it later if there's interest.

An old vent mount cradle from my old iPhone 3GS (first on left in pic)

A new iPhone battery booster cover from Jaycar - (second from left) This one is really slim/clean and light and doubles the battery life, even has a standard iphone dock connector for recharging so you can charge it in the car, or off any usb/apple charger in the house. I didnt want cables which is why this one is so critical!

A bike mount kit with 4S and 3Gs cradles.

A Manhattan rechargeable BT audio reciever with 3.5mm out to connect into AUX in on the RNS 510. (pic in centre console) This thing is really great and for $55 dollars it was amazing value from scorptec computers. specs are 6.5hrs playtime and 3hrs to charge. 20hz-22Khz 748kbs BT 2.1 A2DP range 20M.

BT audio can be crap, but this thing sounds fantastic. After listening to the BT audio quality of my Kufatec BT Audio/Phone hands free its like going from AM radio to full Hi-Fi CD quality. And I kid you not, it sounds as good as an MP3 can sound in a car environment... no dropouts, no static and it sounds as good as songs from SD or MDI! The phone pairs with both the Kufatec and Manhattan simultaneously (which was a nice surprise) and even automatically switches to the Kufatec BT for a phone call and then back again. (now that was really a massive surprise!)

For now for $55 bucks its a great alternative that meets my criteria for quality wireless audio and I can charge it from the cigarette lighter (5V USB) or take it inside to charge. I didnt want to pay $400 for a 9W7 without knowing how the quality of BT Audio was going sound. Now I know, eventually I will install a 9W7F AVRCP A2DP kit to replace the kufatec/Manhattan BT and then I'll have complete RNS 510 BT Audio integration with steering wheel buttons for tracks skip and artist info. The only downside is having to switch it off/on as it doesnt look like it has a timer auto off when there's nothing paired to it. If it was going to be a long term solution I'd just wire it permanently to the fuse box with 12v/5V usb charger inline.

BTW I do have the iPhone MDI kit which completely integrates with the Nav unit/steering wheel controls and dash display, but that requires putting the phone in the glovebox! Putting in the 9W7F i mentioned above will give me all the same funtions as the MDI kit wirelessly!


Anyway onwards with the pics...

The bits to be "Macgyvered" with the Dremel!



Another better angle



Pilot hole in the old cradle clip almost ready to mount the nut from bike cradle. (nut dremeled out)



Drilling out bigger.. later to be dremeled and cleaned up ready for hotglueing the nut in place.



Cradle finished + original iPhone 4/4S bike mount case + Battery backup case ready for glueing the clip from the 2nd 3G case that came with the bike mount kit.


New iPhone bike cradle mounted and nut glued in. (notice it swivels in the centre on a ball joint!)






iPhone battery booster case mounted to cradle.



iPhone installed in booster cradle! Nice clean fit!





Now off to the car...............