Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here! ZJ (93-98), WJ (99-04), WK (05+)
All ZJ/WJ/WK specific tech questions asked here!

Adding USB input to aftermarket stereo

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-20-2011, 07:37 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
peytonWJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Prosperity, SC
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
Exclamation Adding USB input to aftermarket stereo

i've got a pioneer deh-11e installed in my 04 wj limited. i'd like to add a USB input and stick it in the dash somewhere. the thing is, there is no USB option on my stereo. only CD, radio, and aux. so i was thinking i could splice off from the wire that connects to the aux input with a aux to RCA converter, add a rca male to USB female to that and voila! homemade USB input mounted in dash somewhere. i have minor electrical/wiring experience, and i figure that switching to aux input would let this work? please let me know!

also... how do you delete a thread? lol. i posted this thread in the wrong section
Old 04-20-2011, 10:52 PM
  #2  
CF Veteran
 
Bustedback's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 18 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Default

You need the USB port to already be part of the head unit. You can pick up a brand new head unit with a USB port, XM radio ready, and ipod ready for less than 200 bucks.
Old 04-21-2011, 12:13 AM
  #3  
CF Veteran
 
Gorillaxj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default

use this, head phone jack to usb
then if you want it female add this...
female2femaleusb female2femaleusb

never used this method, just Googled it lol

Last edited by Gorillaxj; 04-21-2011 at 12:16 AM.
Old 04-21-2011, 08:23 AM
  #4  
Seasoned Member
 
jronald's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Outside of RTP NC
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1993
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V8
Default

Dont know that you can, and Im not qualified to tell you, you cant.

USB should be a digital signal (01010101 and so forth)
Music (in this case) is very, very definitively analog (Voltage increases and decreases)

I think you will need a DAC also know as a Digital to Analog Converter.

Sorry
Ron
Old 04-21-2011, 12:36 PM
  #5  
CF Veteran
 
IZAREBL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Memphis
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
Default

Originally Posted by Gorillaxj
use this, head phone jack to usb
then if you want it female add this... female2femaleusb

never used this method, just Googled it lol
this is probably your best bet. i might have to pic me up one to! definately a good thing to keep around
Old 04-21-2011, 01:26 PM
  #6  
Member
 
ajk2005's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Flora Illinois
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 318ci 5.2l
Default

Originally Posted by jronald
Dont know that you can, and Im not qualified to tell you, you cant.

USB should be a digital signal (01010101 and so forth)
Music (in this case) is very, very definitively analog (Voltage increases and decreases)

I think you will need a DAC also know as a Digital to Analog Converter.

Sorry
Ron
That is correct. Usb has 4 wires(5v+, 5v-, Data+, Data-) A headphone jack has 3 wires(Ground, Left+, Right +)
There's no way you can use just a wire to make it work. Your gonna need something to power the usb device your connecting plus translate the digital signals to analog. You'd be better off getting a radio with a usb port built in or get a little laptop like a netbook to output sound to the stereo.
Old 04-21-2011, 02:49 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
peytonWJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Prosperity, SC
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
Default

thanks guys. the main reason i wanted to convert to USB is so i could charge my iPod and switch songs via my stereo head unit, as opposed to poking all over my iPod. guess that can't happen, but thanks for all the info!
Old 04-21-2011, 08:07 PM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
Gorillaxj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default

as stated above it may not work at all, but it definitely wont charge your i-pod or allow you to change the songs with the cd player.... you need a head unit that is capable to do so.
Old 04-21-2011, 08:16 PM
  #9  
Seasoned Member
 
jronald's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Outside of RTP NC
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1993
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: V8
Default

You will also need the correct cable to interface the iPod to the head unit. It will charge, and operate it from the right head unit.

Ron
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BluJay
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
4
09-26-2015 10:38 PM
Endlessknight
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
4
09-26-2015 03:20 PM
lukc22
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
8
09-25-2015 12:30 PM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


Quick Reply: Adding USB input to aftermarket stereo



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:34 AM.