I am about to pick up an Alpine KCA 420i that will connect (and charge) my iPod to my Alpine head unit. The issue is that the head unit is a few years old and therefor doesn't have the current integrated iPodd control. Everyone tells me that it should work nonetheless, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with one of these.

Anyone?

Thanks!

 

if the Ipod controller plugs directly in to the headunit, it should work

 

If your Alpine headunit has Ai-net and you do not have a changer then it will work. All that plug does is connect the Ai-net aux to the ipod via a 2.5mm headphone jack and allows for direct connect versus fm module. It will not allow you to control your ipod. It works ine I have one, but if you have to have it intergrated then you will need a higher model radio (and newer).

You know your radio is Ai-net because it will say it on the radio face. If it has changer control and does not say it, then it has the oplder M-bus technology.

 

The head unit is Ai-net, so it will be fine.

Are you saying that it plugs into the headphone jack???? I thought it connected to the iPod with the multi-pin connector.

 

Not the 420, they have another unit that does. in all honesty I would stick with the 19.99 420 because you will be able to see all the numbers in the playlist versus it stopping at 99 with the 100 dollar unit. They have a newer one for 2006 that cleans that up, but is more expensive. I got my second 420 from crutchfield.

 

Hmmm... I think you are mistaken.

I picked up a KCA-420i yesterday and tested it out. It plugs into the head unit via an Ai-Net connection, and the other end plugs into the iPod via a multi-pin connector; the same as the one you plug into your computer. It charges the iPod while you drive too.

Since my stereo is a few years old, I can't control the iPod with the head unit other than going next/prev track, but if I unplug the iPod, choose what I want to listen to and plug it back in - all is good!

 

I found it a pain to use on my cda-9835 but upgraded to the 9855 and it was much easier to use with the glide touch feature. Atleast the glide touch was useful for something...

 

It works great for me. WAY better than any of those FM modulator or Aux cables. This is true sound and it charges the iPod as well.