AirPlay audio in 996...
07-21-2014, 08:32 PM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
AirPlay audio in 996...
Those of you who have been tinkering with various ways to get audio piped into the stock stereo may be interested in my current scheme.
I have an Airport Express that's been sitting around unused since I last overhauled my network. I cracked the case open, removed the AC/DC transformer, and soldered leads onto the logic board. I ordered a 12v to 3.3v step-down transformer from Amazon, which will allow me to use the switched power (the famous phone connector) to provide juice for the Airport.
I already have the aux connector for the Porsche radio. Once that's plugged into the audio jack on the Airport Express, I'll be able to transmit (NOT stream) audio wirelessly (using Airplay) from my phone, iPad, laptop, etc.
Not only is this a fun way to use something that was sitting around gathering dust, I'll also have the only Porsche in San Diego broadcasting a wifi network named "Black911."
I have an Airport Express that's been sitting around unused since I last overhauled my network. I cracked the case open, removed the AC/DC transformer, and soldered leads onto the logic board. I ordered a 12v to 3.3v step-down transformer from Amazon, which will allow me to use the switched power (the famous phone connector) to provide juice for the Airport.
I already have the aux connector for the Porsche radio. Once that's plugged into the audio jack on the Airport Express, I'll be able to transmit (NOT stream) audio wirelessly (using Airplay) from my phone, iPad, laptop, etc.
Not only is this a fun way to use something that was sitting around gathering dust, I'll also have the only Porsche in San Diego broadcasting a wifi network named "Black911."
Last edited by 5CHN3LL; 07-21-2014 at 09:06 PM.
07-21-2014, 08:57 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
...but with an iPhone or iPad, you can't get a 3G/4G and wifi IP address simultaneously, so while you can 'stream' content loaded on the iPad, iPhone, etc to the Airport, you can't play streaming content like Pandora, iTunes Radio, etc. over 4G, to the iPhone, then to the Airport.
07-21-2014, 09:02 PM
#4
Race Director
Thread Starter
True - I'm on a cheapazz data plan, so that's not an issue for me. My phone's loaded up with music - I guess that's old-school...
The only "streaming" music I listed to in the car is 91x... I removed the term "stream" from my original post to avoid confusion.
The only "streaming" music I listed to in the car is 91x... I removed the term "stream" from my original post to avoid confusion.
07-22-2014, 12:59 AM
#7
Rennlist Member
Apple TV has different limitations. It doesn't create a wifi network, and requires both it and the streaming device to be connected to the same wifi network. Still no bridge to the internet. I'm not sure if either device would properly stream if you set up your phone as a wireless -> wifi hotspot and then connected an apple tv or airport express to that network, but the complexity might exceed the benefit of the solution!
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07-22-2014, 01:32 AM
#8
Me too but T-mobile recently announced another game changer in the industry allowing you to stream music without counting towards your data usage. I happen to have this carrier so I'll be looking for another 3G tablet I can dedicate to my bimmer.
07-22-2014, 02:13 AM
#9
Race Director
Thread Starter
Lots of good points, but Pfbz has it right, I want to use the stuff I already own. The only out-of-pocket expense is the six bucks I spent on the step-down transformer.
Of course... Bluetooth with A2DP protocol will allow a wireless network connection and then stream to the audio device. But the OP was describing a solution to work with his original stock CDR radio modified with a simple aux input and no bluetooth. Apple TV has different limitations. It doesn't create a wifi network, and requires both it and the streaming device to be connected to the same wifi network. Still no bridge to the internet. I'm not sure if either device would properly stream if you set up your phone as a wireless -> wifi hotspot and then connected an apple tv or airport express to that network, but the complexity might exceed the benefit of the solution!
07-22-2014, 02:37 AM
#10
Fair enough on the $6 BOM. You can also get a bluetooth adapter that plugs into an Aux for $8.91. Not sure how this is not a simple, low cost solution. This way you can use your original radio too. That said, any solution is a good solution!
07-22-2014, 07:15 AM
#11
Fair enough on the $6 BOM. You can also get a bluetooth adapter that plugs into an Aux for $8.91. Not sure how this is not a simple, low cost solution. This way you can use your original radio too. That said, any solution is a good solution!
http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Wirel...etooth+adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Wirel...etooth+adapter
07-22-2014, 06:55 PM
#12
Race Director
Thread Starter
The bluetooth on my phone is occupied - it displays alerts and speed info from my radar detector. I don't know if the iPhone 5 can connect to and utilize two bluetooth devices at once, but it doesn't really matter, since I already owned the Airport Express. Once I learned that it runs on 3.3v dc internally, I saw no reason not to use it in the car...
07-22-2014, 07:01 PM
#13
Race Director
Thread Starter
Once iOS 8 is released, Airplay will (supposedly) work peer-to-peer, so devices that aren't on the same wireless network should still be able to communicate. If this is true, I'll be able to stream music sometime later this fall...
...if I upgrade my data plan.
...if I upgrade my data plan.
...but with an iPhone or iPad, you can't get a 3G/4G and wifi IP address simultaneously, so while you can 'stream' content loaded on the iPad, iPhone, etc to the Airport, you can't play streaming content like Pandora, iTunes Radio, etc. over 4G, to the iPhone, then to the Airport.
07-22-2014, 11:30 PM
#15
Rennlist Member
So lifehacker did a little write up on car airplay's here... They claim you can overcome dual network problem by connecting from the phone to the AE by setting it up manually with a static IP address and making sure that the DNS/Router/Search fields are blank, allowing the iPhone to connect simultaneously to 3G/4G for internet and AE for wireless audio.
With several versions of hardware, firmware, and software in both the airport express and iPhone, don't know if it would still work but maybe give it a try when you get it all up and running?
Some also complain about the relatively long boot time of the airport express making it less than ideal for a car environment where it would likely be switched on and off frequently, and others have audio dropout problems, but I love the general idea, so let us know the outcome!
With several versions of hardware, firmware, and software in both the airport express and iPhone, don't know if it would still work but maybe give it a try when you get it all up and running?
Some also complain about the relatively long boot time of the airport express making it less than ideal for a car environment where it would likely be switched on and off frequently, and others have audio dropout problems, but I love the general idea, so let us know the outcome!