iPod mount, charger, etc. + MTX

[DagerOne]

Audio? Interior? Lounge? Move as appropriate.

I finally got my hands on an iPod (30GB Video variety...fifth gen?). I actually won it, which is pretty much the only way I'd probably ever get one.

There are a lot of different car mounts, FM transmitters, and chargers out there. I'm just wondering if folks have found one that works particularly well with our lighter location and the stick shift? I'd prefer one driven by the lighter rather than use batteries for the FM transmitter.

The BUSlink (http://www.buslink.com/B1/p_DM05FM.shtml) that someone posted in another thread looks nice, but is pricey and doesn't serve as a mount. I'd like an all-in-one solution if such a thing exists for the Cougar. :)

Alternatively, I've thought about trying to convert my cup spiller into a custom mount of some kind. Anyone tried it?

[nullxposur]

i think the buslink is the best solution. i bought it some months ago and the connector fits perfectly in our stock stereos. it cost me $108 shipped. i returned it because i got ahold of a wire tunes set (wiretunes.com) for around $40 on ebay but was unable to hook it up cuz it has a 20 pin connector.

do you have an aftermarket stereo? there's some other sets out there specifically for aftermarket.

the buslink is well worth it at 100 bucks since many other sets cost $200+. it charges your ipod when connected, lets you control it through your stereo. it's freaking awesome. with the buslink, why would you want a mount? you can easily leave it connected and hidden in the glove box since you don't need to touch the ipod to change tracks.

btw, the buslink is the same as the usa-spec. trust me. in fact, buslink sends you a cable with the words "usa-spec" written all over it. the usa-spec is a bit pricier though. last i heard, they were trying to get the buslinks discontinued so they may not be selling more in the near future.

[DagerOne]

I do not have an aftermarket stereo, just the stock in-dash casette player with the 6-disc changer in the back. I haven't looked in the back of it to know if there exists the connector the buslink uses? I know they changed the stereos from year to year, and the BUSlink page I looked at didn't specifically list the '99 Cougar in its applications (or any Cougar, for that matter). In addition, it lists compatibility with the iPod mini and nano, but doesn't list the most recent "video" iPod like I have.

I suppose 99% of the time, I wouldn't need a mount with the buslink. The only exception would be if some poor sap in my passenger seat wanted to actually watch a video on the tiny screen with sound through the car audio...not something that I'm really concerned about, to be honest. I'm not sure how the whole "controlling the iPod" through the stock stereo would work, though. Does the BUSlink remap the keys on the stereo somehow so that I can switch through folders and the like?

[nullxposur]

oh yea, i know. i'm thinking of buying the buslink again since the other one didn't work. i've been googling but can't find where it lists teh cougar. i just remember that when i bought it, i plugged it into the stereo and it fit perfectly. i have a 99 too so it should work for you.

i couldn't tell you if it'll work for your video or my nano. all i know is, the one i have on another car didn't list the nano but it still works. it SHOULD work since the functionality is basically the same.

the way it works is, you connect the cable to your ipod. then, you click on CD on your stereo and the device makes your ipod look like a cd changer. you can then just press Next, Previous, forward, rewind. you can create playlists and the stereo will think each playlist is a different cd. think of it like creating a playlist of your fav jams and you can then choose CD2 on your stereo to play the playlist. you can't switch through folders, just do those things mentioned.

i don't think you can use the ipod when it's connected. think of it when you connect it to your computer and play songs through itunes. i think that's pretty much the same way it works since your ipod will say "do not disconnect" and so forth.

all the time, it's getting charged so you don't need any other chargers. if you change from CD to radio, it stops playing and normally stops charging. when you press CD again, it resumes the song you left it on and resumes charging.