Simultaneous GPS navigation and MP3 playback issue

[ducasse]

I'm using an iRock 400 with my iQue to play MP3s and obtain voice navigation instructions through my car stereo speakers. It works well, but...

Is there any way to prevent the music from being turned down every time the unit gives voice instructions? It's very annoying because the voice instructions are quite frequent and its disruptive to have the music being interrupted so often, particularly when the music is being listened to at high volume. I'd like to be able to have the voice instructions and MP3 playback to be at close to the same volume level and to be played simultaneously. If this isn't possible does anyone know if this is being considered as a possible option on a future software update? This really seems like a must-have option.

[JMckie]

You could:

1) use a third party MP3 player (I use pTunes) which doesn't know when Betty is talking
2) change your preferences on how often Betty speaks (under preferences -> guidance)

I have a couple of questions of my own:

With the cig lighter occupied by Betty, what kind of battery life are you getting with the iRock? Or is there a way of piggybacking the cig lighter adaptor?

With pTunes, is there a skin that displays the controls in large pushbutton touch screen format? An MP3 player for the iQue has to have finger-sized controls.

[rarora]

Could you please clarify how you have your iRock setup or connected with the Q and your car. I didnt' know the Q would minimize the volume for navigation prompts.

[Rich36]

Originally posted by JMckie
You could:


I have a couple of questions of my own:

With the cig lighter occupied by Betty, what kind of battery life are you getting with the iRock? Or is there a way of piggybacking the cig lighter adaptor?



Radio Shack sells adaptors that allow 2 or 3 items to be connected to the cig lighter.

[rarora]

Okay, I think I understand what you are doing, the iRock is a FM transmitter and you are playing MP3's from the Garmin, not from another MP3 player unit (eg iPOD).

[jrose1g]

With the cig lighter occupied by Betty, what kind of battery life are you getting with the iRock? Or is there a way of piggybacking the cig lighter adaptor?

For short trips I use the 12V power for the iRock and the internal battery for the iQue. I haven't tried the other way around, but when I use car power for both I have sound problems. I do have two power outlets available, but I have used the three way splitter for additional outlets in other vehicles.

Is there any way to prevent the music from being turned down every time the unit gives voice instructions?

I don't think so. You can turn down the volume on the voice guidance, but it will still lower the music volume. I like it that way, but understand why you might not. Usually when I am using the iQue I have some idea of where I am and where I am going, but if I am in unknown territory, I want those voice guidance instructions loud and clear.

[ducasse]

I'm using rechargable batteries on the iRock FM transmitter. I am playing MP3's on the iQue and have the iQue plugged in to the cigarette lighter. I've only been doing this a couple days (and several hours of play time) so I don't know what kind of battery life I will get with the iRock. The sound quality is quite good (better than expected) for MP3's on the iQue using the FM transmitter. The voice navigation sounds much better through the car speakers than through the small speaker on the car kit.

I just tried the aeroplayer and it doesn't lower the music volume during the voice navigation instructions so I'm satisfied with that. Not sure why Garmin does not allow a user configurable option for this, but I guess problem solved. I have to say that so far I recommend the iRock 400 FM transmitter for use with the iQue.

[Last Mrk]

Wouldn't it be great if the features of the iRock were built into the iQue so you wouldn't have to worry about batteries or wires for power or for that matter the iRock just hanging there?