[s-cars] iPod Update & help needed

[Bill Mahoney]

I just received a windows iPod that we have gotten for a summer intern
that we had.
My own should be along in a week or so I think.
THIS is cool.  VERY cool.  Of cours I am a jaded button pushing gadget
freak anyway.
I have learned that elegant car interfaces are non existant as far as
mp3 players go, so I'm calling this bleeding edge.
Remember iPod was the mp3 player of choice because of its small size,
great look n feel, ease of use and fast firewire connection.
connecting to the car requirements are IME:
Hard wires to car for power and sound.  Yet easy connections to the
iPod; via firewire and earphone jack.
Hidden in dash when not in use yet easy to see and tune when in use.
Flexible wires so that driver or passenger could hold & tune if desired
and easily return to a yet to be constructed holder/cradle/docking port.

Easy removal from car to load more music from time to time.  Yet not
easily stealable.

Supplying power via the firewire port is easy enough.
The only sound output from ipod is through the 3.5mm earphone jack.  I
would like to have it feed into the bose via a good fm modulator.
The problem is that most fm modulators that are able to be hot wired
into the car only take RCA jacks as inputs.
This can be worked around in three ways I think.
1 is to get a Recoton line splitter adapter that takes the 3.5mm
connection and splits it into left and right RCA plugs that could just
plug into the fm modulator.  However, I believe this simple solution may
create too much low level noise or something?
2 is to get a powered line adapter that I think may work around the
above outlined problem.  This would prolly work but is yet something
else to hook up and power too.
3 is to get like a $90 powered fm modulator from Germany (only one I
could find) that allows a 3.5 mm earphone direct input, but I am unsure
as to whether that would work as well as a separate line adapter as
outlined in #2 above.
So, I would welcome any advice that our fine list of stereo experts
might have to offer on this modulation problem would be much appreciated
and surely save me some trial and error procedures:)
And as always thanks in advance!
Will let you know as things progress.
Cheers'
Bill M
95 1/2 Avant  -with yet another ongoing project!
75Carrera