Adding Aux input to a VW Beta radio

whizzbang

I'm looking to add an auxillary input to the radio in my Golf to let me hook an mp3 player into it without having a ton of tape adapter cable hanging around.

To do this what I need is a Beta radio removal tool like this
http://www.caraudioplus.co.uk/pp/Radio_Removal_Tools/VW_Beta-Gamma_Radio_Removal_Tool.html

and a lead that connects into the CD changer like this (ideally one that actually works with the beta radio!)
http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/auxin.asp

does anyone know where you can get these in Dublin?

cheers!

Type 17

Don't know if you can get them here, but if it's of any benefit to you, I have dealt with Bluespot.co.uk (bought a Blaupunkt Mp3 head unit and various looms to suit my old CD changer and mobile phone kit).

I found them very helpful and responsive. I have no connection with them, other than having been a customer...

whizzbang

Cheers, I'll look into that!

J

dtamajka

Hi whizzbang,

please, can you tell me, whether your workaround is working? Does the input lead from http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/auxin.asp really work properly? I have exactly the same setup as you have (Golf with Beta radio) and was looking for a way to connect my MP3 player.

I was little disappointed, when I saw a notice at the end of that page (http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/auxin.asp), saying that the lead is not suitable for Beta radio. Fortunately, I read your post and hope is back again.

I am looking forward to your reply.
Regards

holly_johnson

Don't laugh at me, but I use my MP3 player in the car with the tape device from a CD hookup kit. I plug the tape thingy into the mp3 player, and then play the tape. Presto. A lot cheaper that the other suggestion I bet, and the sound quality is fine.

whizzbang

I found the sound quality was not up to scratch, also you can hear the tape whirring away in the player!also its messy with the cable coming out of the player.

J

holly_johnson wrote:

Don't laugh at me, but I use my MP3 player in the car with the tape device from a CD hookup kit. I plug the tape thingy into the mp3 player, and then play the tape. Presto. A lot cheaper that the other suggestion I bet, and the sound quality is fine.

holly_johnson

Fair point about the messy cable, but personally I didn't think it warranted spending much on. If it's something you'll be using all the time, then fair enough.
I only really notice the tape whirring between songs tbh.

whizzbang

dtamajka wrote:

Hi whizzbang,

please, can you tell me, whether your workaround is working? Does the input lead from http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/auxin.asp really work properly? I have exactly the same setup as you have (Golf with Beta radio) and was looking for a way to connect my MP3 player.

I was little disappointed, when I saw a notice at the end of that page (http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/auxin.asp), saying that the lead is not suitable for Beta radio. Fortunately, I read your post and hope is back again.

I am looking forward to your reply.
Regards

Hi there

right so, first off that cable will not work, I bought one and it didn't work. The beta radio will only accept audio in when the cd player is playing as information seems to be sent from radio to player and vice versa.

Instead what I did was get an extension cable http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/idc_cable.asp that goes between teh radio and the CD player and then I attached a switch that allowed me to channel in the mp3 player audio while the CD was playing. Essentially hijacking the audio lines so teh radio thought it was recieving audio from teh CD player but in fact it was comming from the mp3 player.

I documented what I had to do here.
http://jondean.100megs34.com/bgb/archives/2005/06/adding_an_auxil.html

be careful of the air condition unit below, the front of it is rubber coated and I messed mine up taking the radio in and out!

I hope this helps!

J

whizzbang

holly_johnson wrote:

Fair point about the messy cable, but personally I didn't think it warranted spending much on. If it's something you'll be using all the time, then fair enough.
I only really notice the tape whirring between songs tbh.

"Take on me" at full blast probably covers over the noise!

J

Bluetonic

whizzbang wrote:

Hi there

right so, first off that cable will not work, I bought one and it didn't work. The beta radio will only accept audio in when the cd player is playing as information seems to be sent from radio to player and vice versa.

Instead what I did was get an extension cable http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/idc_cable.asp that goes between teh radio and the CD player and then I attached a switch that allowed me to channel in the mp3 player audio while the CD was playing. Essentially hijacking the audio lines so teh radio thought it was recieving audio from teh CD player but in fact it was comming from the mp3 player.

I documented what I had to do here.
http://jondean.100megs34.com/bgb/archives/2005/06/adding_an_auxil.html

be careful of the air condition unit below, the front of it is rubber coated and I messed mine up taking the radio in and out!

I hope this helps!

J

I've done the exact same myself with a Seat Alana stereo which also has a ^ CD changer unit as a seperate.

With my set up you dont need the switch, I've simply wired directly the output from the ipod onto the correct pins (in my case 19 +20 http://steve.jellybaby.net/xantia/minidin.jpg) to the head unit. Hey presto - the head unit communicates with the CD Changer but the head units input is coming from the iPod.

whizzbang

Bluetonic wrote:

I've done the exact same myself with a Seat Alana stereo which also has a ^ CD changer unit as a seperate.

With my set up you dont need the switch, I've simply wired directly the output from the ipod onto the correct pins (in my case 19 +20 http://steve.jellybaby.net/xantia/minidin.jpg) to the head unit. Hey presto - the head unit communicates with the CD Changer but the head units input is coming from the iPod.

Interesting! does the CD player still work? how do you switch from one to the other?

Bluetonic

whizzbang wrote:

Interesting! does the CD player still work? how do you switch from one to the other?

There is a CD changer in the head unit and then a seperate CD player in the 6 CD changer so I've no need for the output from the 6 CD changer, that simply acts as a dumb terminal to the main head unit. I can still play CD's through the main head unit and my iPod throught the 6 CD changer.

All I needed to buy was a set of 3mm earphones.

You gotta love the high spec of the lastest Seat Ibiza Sport... more CD players than you can shake a stick at.

whizzbang

Bluetonic wrote:

There is a CD changer in the head unit and then a seperate CD player in the 6 CD changer so I've no need for the output from the 6 CD changer, that simply acts as a dumb terminal to the main head unit. I can still play CD's through the main head unit and my iPod throught the 6 CD changer.

All I needed to buy was a set of 3mm earphones.

You gotta love the high spec of the lastest Seat Ibiza Sport... more CD players than you can shake a stick at.

clearly, you can never have too many CD players!

J

dtamajka

whizzbang wrote:

Hi there

right so, first off that cable will not work, I bought one and it didn't work. The beta radio will only accept audio in when the cd player is playing as information seems to be sent from radio to player and vice versa.

Instead what I did was get an extension cable http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/idc_cable.asp that goes between teh radio and the CD player and then I attached a switch that allowed me to channel in the mp3 player audio while the CD was playing. Essentially hijacking the audio lines so teh radio thought it was recieving audio from teh CD player but in fact it was comming from the mp3 player.

I documented what I had to do here.
http://jondean.100megs34.com/bgb/archives/2005/06/adding_an_auxil.html

be careful of the air condition unit below, the front of it is rubber coated and I messed mine up taking the radio in and out!

I hope this helps!

J

Hi,

thank you - I saw your procedure with CD player on monday (didn't know it is you). Unfortunately, it is not applicable for me, since I don't have a CD player.

I sought through the web to find an adapter which can suply CD player to feed radio with proper signal - to let it believe it is a CD player playing. I found something here: http://www.bortesi.it/interfacce-aux.htm. I think the right one is the third adapter on the page. What do you think?

I wrote them a mail, but no answer yet. I will keep you informed.

Regards

whizzbang

dtamajka wrote:

Hi,

thank you - I saw your procedure with CD player on monday (didn't know it is you). Unfortunately, it is not applicable for me, since I don't have a CD player.

I sought through the web to find an adapter which can suply CD player to feed radio with proper signal - to let it believe it is a CD player playing. I found something here: http://www.bortesi.it/interfacce-aux.htm. I think the right one is the third adapter on the page. What do you think?

I wrote them a mail, but no answer yet. I will keep you informed.

Regards

Hi there

I was those yokes when I was doing my investigation! they look like they do the job of tricking the Beta radio into thinking it is talking to a CD player! which is exactly what you want! although the web site does look a bit dodgy so I'd try and pay with paypal or something rather than give your credit card details over! I think I was these units on another more respectible web site somewhere!

Let me know if they do the trick for you!

J

dtamajka

whizzbang wrote:

Hi there

I was those yokes when I was doing my investigation! they look like they do the job of tricking the Beta radio into thinking it is talking to a CD player! which is exactly what you want! although the web site does look a bit dodgy so I'd try and pay with paypal or something rather than give your credit card details over! I think I was these units on another more respectible web site somewhere!

Let me know if they do the trick for you!

J

Hi,

finally I found it! Furthermore, I can order it in my country (Slovakia) - I have ordered it already.

Look at here (in german): http://www.dietz24.biz/assets/s2dmain.html?http://www.dietz24.biz/ and search for '1218' - should find 'Multimedia Ton Interface VW/ AUDI'
or here for catalogue in pdf (in english):
http://www.autoradia.sk/catalog/download/dietz.pdf
Go to page 9 in catalogue and look for Interface 1218.

I will let you know, when I get it in my hands. It might take a month to get it - order personnel told me.

Cheers

whizzbang

Excellent! And that looks like a good reputible company as well!

Let me know how you get on with it!

J