Routing Calls/Music Through Car Speakers

[kadield]

Long time reader here with, probably, a stupid question and was hoping I could get some assistance.

I've been plugging my phone into my car through the Aux port and the sound quality has been great but I've been getting this horrible low high pitched squeal through the speakers. I've screwed around with it for a little bit and I've noticed it only happens when I have my phone plugged into the A/C adapter along with it being plugged into the AUX port.

So, basically, my question is two fold:

1) Is this a common issue or is the cable I bought a PoS?

2) If it is a common issue, what's your recommendations for a bluetooth/FM radio transmitter solution?

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[kadield]

The power adapter I bought directly from the Sprint store...so I'm assuming that it's not cheap lol.

The audio cable I bought from Walmart though, so it may be a cheap PoS. You have any recommendations on cables?

 

[kadield]

Not really. I just got one from Radio Shack while I was there. I think it was just a radio shack brand...in fact, I think it's this one: RadioShack? 6-Ft. 1/8" Stereo Audio Cable - RadioShack.com

I also edited my post above with the charger I have.

Just don't buy anything Monster brand. Rip-off/scam!

Awesome

I'll head over to Radio Shack tonight and grab the audio cable (I'm making the assumption at the moment my car charger isn't responsible for this, as it's not some crappy offbrand PoS).

Thanks for the awesome help Monkey!

 

[dwhitman]

I've got the Sprint usb auto charger paired with a Monoprice audio cable, and definitely get the hum. Since we're apparently using the same charger, might be worth trying a different one.

Probably obvious, but if you increase the media volume on the phone, and turn down the volume on the car stereo, the hum isn't as bad (at least for me).

 

[kadield]

Ok, I'll try the audio cable first and see how it goes. I bought a cheap car charger when I got the phone about 2 months ago and it failed. hard. So I went to the sprint store and got another one and it has been working great. So I'd hate to replace it unless I know for sure that it's the cause of the problem.

But thanks for the input dwhitman!

 

[kadield]

I actually just went to my car (am at work) and hooked everything up and then seperated out the cords as much as possible as I'm still getting the interfearance.

However, I noted on my audio cable that there's a huge indentation on it (the AUX port is inside of my arm rest...why, who knows) so I'm not sure if that is what's causing the issue or if it's the phone itself.

 

[digmys]

Sounds to me like the cigarette lighter outlet in your car is not properly grounded. It is very common for subwoofers to hum or squeal if the installer did not properly ground the amp.

Unfortunately there may be nothing that you can do to fix this other than not charge the phone when plugged in, apart from buying a new car or running your own charging cable from the battery or fuse panel and properly grounding it.

I hope the audio cable works for you but i seriously doubt that it will.

 

[kadield]

Ok, if that ends up being the case I may end up looking at a wireless bluetooth option.

Would this be a decent option?

Motorola MotoRokr T505 Review - PCWorld

 

[azkevman]

Ok, if that ends up being the case I may end up looking at a wireless bluetooth option.

Would this be a decent option?

Motorola MotoRokr T505 Review - PCWorld

I highly recommend the T505. I have been using it for over a year, first with the Pre, and now the EVO. It works great for both calls and streaming media over your car stereo. It has great battery life, and even in large markets I am able to find an interference free station due to the wide spectrum of frequencies available on the device.

 

[kadield]

I highly recommend the T505. I have been using it for over a year, first with the Pre, and now the EVO. It works great for both calls and streaming media over your car stereo. It has great battery life, and even in large markets I am able to find an interference free station due to the wide spectrum of frequencies available on the device.

Ok, I was just looking at the audio cables and they're going to be like 15 bucks and I can get the bluetooth for around 50, so might as well get the bluetooth since the cable more then likely won't fix it.

Thanks for the recommendation Azkevman!

 

[RayStinkle]

are you talking about the classic alternator whine? when you rev the engine you can hear the noise pitch go up? if so, just get a ground loop isolator, about 10 bucks at radio shack. fixed me right up.

 

[pwnst_r]

are you talking about the classic alternator whine? when you rev the engine you can hear the noise pitch go up? if so, just get a ground loop isolator, about 10 bucks at radio shack. fixed me right up.

^This.

9 times out of 10 it's the HU. It may just be accentuated via the AUX port which is why you're hearing it now.

 

[HYDE]

are you talking about the classic alternator whine? when you rev the engine you can hear the noise pitch go up? if so, just get a ground loop isolator, about 10 bucks at radio shack. fixed me right up.

Yup. You are going to get that altenator whine because the electronics in the car are routed through that first. Another option is to take the power wire from the cigarette lighter and run it straight to the battery. I used to install car electronics for years and every time we did not get our power from the battery, we had problems with that whine.

 

[kadield]

Thanks for the suggestion on the ground loop isolator! I'll check out Radio Shack tomorrow and see if I can get one and will let you guys know.

 

[bucko21]

Another thing to mention, a lot of cars cigarette lighters are not made for using with electronic devices.. A lot of GM cars when you try to use the lighter outlet for anything other then a lighter will blow the fuse and turn on the interior lights when you are trying to use the outlet. If you have extra ports use them, they are properly grounded and made for electronic devices.. Trust me if you have ever taken apart a lighter from an older car you will see the ground is not always a ground but a wire that is attached to a connector and hooked up to the outer shield.. That is just grounding it to itself..

 

[bucko21]

Just a quick add on when I say older car I mean from 95-2005...