USA Spec PA11-HON2y Review
USA Spec PA11-HON2y Installed in a 2004 AccordSo, long story short,
The install went great and while I don’t have many photos of the installation, I did write up a review of the PA11-HON2y.
In short, it’s a pretty nice device which does exactly what it claims to do: provide a basic iPod input to OEM head units, and provide a basic level of control (next / prev track, ff/rw, pausing when turning off the vehicle or switching away from the iPod).
I have a strong suspicion that the other USA Spec interfaces work in a very similar manner (see here for why), so even if you have a non-Honda vehicle, you may want to look at these interfaces if you are looking for a way to hook an iPod to your head unit.
So you are sufficiently satisfied with this device?
I am looking to purchase a PA12-TOY for our 2007 Toyota Camry.
I am also interested in a decent hard mount solution for the iPod. I think it would be nice for my wife to be able to ‘dock’ her iPod when she gets in the car so she can futz with it at will, and be able to see the device with a minimum of fiddling. Paying_attention_to_the_road ++; Have you looked at any hard mount docking type devices?
I saw that there was an additional feature of the PA12 device, in that you could hook an auxiliary device to it as well (such as a Sirius Radio, which I also gave her for Christmas). It seems that the PA11 has that functionality as well. Did you happen play with it? If you haven’t, would you mind scoping it out with some other device in the input? I would really love to understand any potential ins and outs of this device before laying out the $150 that it seems to sell for. I want this solution to be as simple as possible for my wife. She is tech savvy, but if it isn’t a clean solution, I am not interested in it.
In the absence of the PA12 or similar device, I would at least hope to come up with some type of hard mount device that uses the dock connector plus power to run the iPod off of the car battery, and feed the head unit via the line out instead of the headphone jack.
Also, 404 on the install manual.
Thanks :)
The review says that, yes. ;)
The hard part is the dock… There are some holders that I’ve found, but none which you can just plug the iPod right into which both connect the dock. There are plenty of holders, but none of them are particularly elegant.
You should get her the PA12-TOY or PA11-TOY (artist display on head unit really isn’t that important, since the iPod’s screen is available) and just ensure that it’s all mounted someplace accessible and she understands how dangerous it is to be screwing with an iPod (and not paying attention to the road) while the car is moving.
–> The review says that, yes. ;)
That the review says you are satisfied with the device? It seemed more of a technical description than “I dig this/Its pretty ok/It is barely sufficient/It sucks”. I guess that the non-electronics person might think that you were happy with it, but it is not abundantly clear to the general audience, imho. Of course, I believe I can infer that based on this reply that you are happy with the device.
Now, WRT to using the Aux input, I didn’t see any reference to that in the 2nd or third read of the review. If you have a moment to try that out, I would like to know about your impressions. Of course, if you have no interest in the Aux input, then I guess thats cool too.
–> she understands how dangerous it is to be screwing with an iPod (and not paying attention to the road) while the car is moving.
She totally gets this, believe it or not. She is currently using her iPod via the Aux in and a headphone cable. I just want it to be a sexier solution.
I will continue on my search for a mounting device. If you run into something in the future, would you either let me know, or at least post about it? Thanks much :)
Some of the weird cellphone accessory places make dashboard-mount universal mounts, which iPods can then connect to. Most of those are pretty nifty…
I can’t actually try out the aux in, because I don’t have access to the interface anymore. It’s buried in the dash of a car sixty miles from here. :( I’d really like to, but I just can’t right now. I might be getting one of these for myself, though, and if I do I’ll add more about that.
I guess I didn’t put a specific “I am happy with it” or something, just this part, which reads, in part:
“…just as I have no difficulties recommending the PA11-HON2y.”
In my way of talking, that’s a recommendation. :)
thank you, again – you rock (:
No problem. :) I like doing that kind of stuff.