I posted this comment yesterday in the C6 General Discussion, but I think it is more appropriate for this section, so I am reposting it.

My wife has a 2005 C6 with the US8 sound system, this is the non-Bose standard system with single disk CD player. Standard equipment audio on 1SA package. She has been hounding me for the past few years to set it up so that she could play her iPod. As we well know, that is easier said than done. I tied the simple route with wireless FM modulators, but this was an absolutely useless setup here in Chicago where every FM channel is filled. I bought two different models of FM modulators and both are useless. I had no interest in taking apart my console, removing radio, etc.

Last Fall I purchased a Porsche Caymen S, for me. I also joined the Cayman Club which is a forum just like this one but for Cayman people.

I happened to come across the following posting by a Cayman owner regarding a unique way to hookup the iPod in a Cayman. The Porsche Cayman has the same problem as the C6, i.e. no input jack. And, the make things even more difficult the Cayman uses fiber optic cables in its audio hookup.

So here is the solution that was proposed - but remember he is talking about a Porsche Cayman - but it also will work on a C6

"I finally figured out how to make an iPOD FM transmitters work better in North America - even in a busy and frequency congested metro area. I live in the Phoenix Metro and there is no one frequency in the N. American FM band (88.1 - 107.9) that will work in the entire metro and quite frankly changing frequencies on these units and then the radio to match it while driving is unsafe. So this led to cut outs and sudden static bursts as other signals cut through quite often.

While messing around with this today I found that on our radios (at least the BOSE system), the frequency range runs down to the Europe minimum of 87.9 (really 87.8 but evens are locked out in N.A.). So if I could get my iPOD FM transmitter to transmit at 87.9, then I would be assured of always having a clear frequency with no risk of it ever being superseded by a clear air signal at that frequency.

Sure enough, the Monster FM transmitter I have can be put into a Europe or Japan mode. So naturally I put it into the Europe mode but to my dismay, it actually did not allow frequencies below 88.0 despite the documentation saying it could go to 87.8. But, the Japanese FM band is almost entirely below ours so by setting the Monster FM iPOD transmitter to Japan mode, I was able to dial in 87.9 on it and sure enough I am now getting by far the clearest sound I have ever gotten from one of these units and so far it hasn't cut out on me due to signal interference.

So in summary, program one of your FM buttons to 87.9 which is not a frequency used in North America and set your iPOD FM transmitter into Japan mode (assuming you have a unit that allows that - the Monster iCar Play 200 does) and select 87.9 and you have a sub $100 iPOD connection that shouldn't cut out on you due to station interference.
__________________
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EJP
E.J.'s Cayman S Gallery"

I read that and thought: Wow! that is a simple and different way around the problem. I wondered if it would work. I had serious doubts and I already had two useless FM modulators. But I found the Monster iCar Play 200 for sale on Amazon for $49.95, it is a $99.95 list item.
It was a simple setup just like described above. The C6 radio goes down to 87.7 and 87.9 on the FM dial. I programed the #6 radio button to goto FM 87.9. I setup the Monster iCar Play 200 to the Japan mode and programmed it to automatically goto 87.9 FM.

You just plug in the iPod to the Monster iCar 200, plug Monster into lighter socket, turn on the radio to FM, hit button 6 and it plays. The sound is surprisingly good dispite the limitations of FM and the iPod music files. But the real test was to drive in the city of Chicago to see if I would lose my signal or get interference. After driving for several hours I got no interference at all and did not lose my signal. I did find that someone (strange foreign language) is broadcasting in Chicago on 87.9, probably a pirate station; but, it was very weak and the iPod/modulator easily took over the band.

I would recommend this setup to anyone who wants a quick and easy iPod hookup for the C6. I just did not think I could get sound this good for only $49.95 and with no work at all, and best of all, NO INTERFERENCE. It is just a simple hookup and play, even my wife can do it. I just have to teach her to unplug it when she leaves the car, i.e. the lighter socket is hot even when the car is turned off and locked.

Hope this works well for you guys, it really surprised me.

 

87.9 is definitely the best. I purchased a Transpod for my setup several years ago. It has a range starting from 87.9 as do several others. No Japanese or European settings required. You just have to look for the transmitter specifications to verify that it will go that low. For some unknown reason, many of the smaller transmitters start out at 88.1. There's no reason for it. In the city, 87.9 is a must but it's preferred almost anywhere.

 

The station you were getting on 87.9 was probably bleed over from someone broadcasting on 88.1. As with all wireless FM transmitters the effectiveness of this solution will vary based on location, and also based on expectations(primary sound quality).

Glad to hear you found a solution that works for you, just want to put the proviso out there so folks don't assume it will work just as well for them.

 

No matter how good your fm transmitter works, it doesn't come close to hardwired.

 

If it works in downtown Chicago, I think it will work in most, if not all, other places. I drove all over Chicago yesterday for hours listening to my iPod, and there was not one incident of interference or lost signal. Whatever is bleeding over from 88.1 or wherever, is not really a factor.

When listening to the iPod there is no hint of anything else on 87.9, it is a wide open and empty channel. The only time you hear any bleed over, is when the iPod is disconnected and the FM is operating by itself on 87.9, and it is a faint signal. Also, when listening to the iPod there is no sound at all during the silent period before and after a tune, where you would expect some background noise bleeding in. That was a surprise and helped to convince me that this really works.

This wireless solution will not appeal to someone who is a true audiophile who demands perfection; but, for the other 90% of us it probably works just fine. But be aware that not all radios can go down to the non-US 87.9 frequency, it will work in my C6 and the Porsche Cayman, but strangely the German radio in my 1999 VW Passat is not able to tune in 87.9.

 

I have that same setup. It doesn't work well in Austin, Texas. I wanted it to, but I finally gave up. Sometimes it sounded pretty good, other times it was horrible. I am putting in a new head unit this weekend with direct ipod hookup.

 

When you say you have the same setup, are you setup at 87.9 or 87.7 or some other FM band that is empty in the USA? These FM modulators are crap when you use them as instructed and try to find an empty FM band in a major city, they just don't work because the whole FM dial is filled.
I am proposing setting up the modulator to a Japanese frequency that is empty in the US but which may be available on your radio. Did you do that? You have to have a wireless modulator that can be setup to either the European or Japanese frequencies and you have to have an FM radio that can be tuned to those non-US frequencies.
Over on the Porsche Cayman forum everyone who has tried this satisfied with the result. I want to be clear that I am not advocating the use of a wireless FM modulator in the way the manufacturer recommends. You are doing something different here.

 

Although I agree that 87.9 is the best all around station for fm modulators, it is NOT Japanese or European. 87.9 is a frequency supposedly not available for commercial use but is often used by college radio stations. It is not a good choice because it is at the very end of the spectrum and a little more subject to interference from outside sources and close to other bands reserved for various purposes. This is not a problem for such short range usage. It's really more of a bumper guard on the spectrum. The vast majority of radios will tune to it but for some unknown reason only about half of the available fm modulators go below the 88.1 with or without any kind of "Japanese or European" switches. I personally have never seen this feature. RoadTrip now makes a very inexpensive unit that ONLY works on 87.9 because of surveys confirming that 99% of all users choose 87.9 anyway.

 

Just tried the set up on my 07.

Works great with the monster set up in the Japanese mode
and the radio set to 87.9

Thanks for the tip.

 

While it does work best on 87.9, it still has lots of interference.

 

For hardwiring, go to Crutchfield and look for a Scosche (sp?) adapter. Hooks into antenna.

 

I got sick and tired of the battle to get a hard-wired adaptor for the vette like what I have in the avalanche. All I have for connections are the 4-pin and 3-pin cables in the passenger footwell.

So I picked up an FM adaptor. Not great, but the Blose stereo sucks anyway and it'll tide me over until I redo the whole system from scratch later this year.

Anyway, to really improve things, I took the stock head unit out, disconnected the antenna and plugged a plain (insulated but not shielded) wire in instead (bared of course at the end to make contact in the jack). Then ran the wire down behind the radio and climate control and out under the center console cover past the stick to under the armrest tray.

Now the ipod can sit in the cup holder or in the console storage and never be more than 1/4" away from the antenna.

Works perfect, no hiss, noise, nothing now. Rock solid reception of the FM unit's measly output.

 

Now that's an innovative idea.

 

Hi,
First time poster.
Is there anyway to be able to put in a kill switch on the antenia so it wont go up.
Something you can flip off whenever you want to use your I pod with a FM transmitter?
Just a thought, oh by the way I am a gal so don't be too hard on me!

Ro