Thumbdrive for factory radio

[Greg]

How do I connect a thumbdrive (memory stick) to my factory radio? Is there an aux input on the back of the factory radio? I would rather not use an MP3 player but I can if I must.
Thanks for your comments!.....Greg

[007Cruiser]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

I'm no expert but I believe you're out of luck on the '02.

[Bird03]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

There are no aux inputs on 02 and 03 radios. These are very low-tech radios. They won't even play mp3's that are burned to a CD.

[toysax]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

You can get an adapter to transmit a fm signal and then tune your radio to the station.

[ChromeDome]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

Greg, I had this JVC Radio/GPS installed last year. It has a USB port on the faceplate. I have over 30 hours of music on a memory stick and it is only half full. A great improvement over the stock radio,this is almost a Plug-n-Play unit with only a adapter needed to pick up the steering wheel controls. Of course, you would need a double DIN faceplate.

[Sealy]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

I've been known to suck on my thumb, drive, and hum a tune. Is this what we're talking here? Modern technology just leaves me flummoxed.

Does your glovebox have one of these . . .

[Bird03]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

flummoxed

You gotta be a Larry David fan, he's always flummoxed

[007Cruiser]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

I've been known to suck on my thumb, drive, and hum a tune. Is this what we're talking here?

I think he means one of these:

[BirdWingsToo]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

Greg,

I've been using an FM Modulator made by VR3 for the past few years. I got it a Wal-Mart for about $25. I don't believe VR3 makes that model anymore, but the one they have now seems better (e.g., mine won't remember the last song I played... starts at the first sone every time. But the new one apparently does remember. Also, mine only transmits on 8 stations; the new one has 12). Here's a link to what I'm talking about:

http://sewelldirect.com/vr3-thumbdri...3-fm-black.asp

There's one drawback... with the 12 preset stations, you'll have to find one that's not in use in the area you happen to be driving in (i.e., it's just static when you tune your radio to it). I haven't found this to be a problem, however, because the presets are low on the "dial," where you don't tend to find many radio stations transmitting. I travel quite a bit for work and haven't found a city yet where I couldn't find a station to use in my rental car.


The sound quality isn't as good as you'd get by having a wired connection to your car stereo, but it's still pretty good (as long as the mp3 files on your thumbdrive are good). A few positives:

• Since it uses a USB thumbdrive, you're not tied to one source "device" (like an iPod or iPhone). You can put your music files on any USB thumbdrive... use different thumbdrives for different music collections. This device plays .mp3 files as wells as .wma files.
• It's simple... Tune your radio to an unused station, set the modulator to the same station, and press "play."
• Set one of your radio's presets to the station you like to use. The modulator will remember the last frequency you set it to. So you don't have to match them up every time.
• It's easily controlled without looking at it... not many buttons: play/pause, next song, previous song.
• It's convenient and compact. This one is perfect for where the T-Bird's lighter outlet is... no wires; all one unit. Plug it into the lighter outlet and it's within easy reach. It's even black, so it doesn't look out of place in the T-Bird dash!
• No wires means you're not tied to one vehicle... you can use it in any vehicle that has an FM radio.
• It also has an audio input jack, in case you want to plug something into it as primitive as a CD player, or even another mp3 player (e.g., if you're riding with a buddy who has some good tunes on his own player).

It's not the highest-tech solution, but for under $30, it's pretty darn good in my opinion. I even bought another one in case my first broke (which hasn't happened yet). Bought my Dad one too. And if he can work this gizmo, then anyone can!

Hope that helps,

BWtoo

Edit: Found one at walmart.com (click here)... maybe they have one at your local Wal-Mart (check the car audio section). And here's another link to try.

[BirdWingsToo]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

Greg,

I hope you don't mind... I moved this thread from the "How to Use Website" forum to the "Thunderbird Chat" forum. Topic-wise, it doesn't really fit with the "How to use the website" topics and more members are likely to see it (and reply) in the more frequently visited "Thunderbird Chat" forum. Just trying to help keep things organized. Even so, I left a two-week "redirect" in the "How to Use Website" forum, so people will see the thread listed there as well for the next two weeks.

--BWtoo

[grampsfinaltoy]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

Sealy,
Is that Ipod plugged directly into the port in the glove box or is there some adapter between the Ipod and the port in the glovebox?

[Sealy]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

Sealy,
Is that Ipod plugged directly into the port in the glove box or is there some adapter between the Ipod and the port in the glovebox?

Ancient Chinese secret! If I tell you, well you know.


Actually, the port is an extension that runs to the rear inputs on my aftermarket Pioneer HU - which is iPod ready. It also has the mini-plug (headphone size) as an alternate input. As noted somewhere, I hate having wires hanging from the dash. Everything gets tucked away.


This one, too . . .

[Bob Berens]

Re: Thumbdrive for factory radio

I had my '02 radio out many times, back when I installed XM... XM Commander to be specific. The '02 radio was not manufactured with any "AUX IN", so MP3s, etc. (anything else that became popular just after the model year was produced) cannot be installed without some sort of adapter.

XM Commander works by utilizing an XM tuner (which can pick up XM satellite frequencies). It connects to (intercepts into) the antennae cable. The XM tuner can now then be heard on an FM frequency (there are three frequency choices.) The quality is excellent, by the way.

So, the '02 radio can successfully broadcast "external" input (MP3's, Ipods, etc.) by this method. I'm sure, such devices are available.