Learn: Home » Apple's iPod™ Hits the Road with Alpine
Installing the KCA-420i
I connected the KCA-420i to Alpine's CDA-9830 receiver ($329), a mid-level unit that includes Alpine's Bass Engine Plus™ and MediaXpander™ sound shaping controls (more on these features later). To connect the adapter, I gently pulled the receiver and kit out from my dash to access the Ai-NET CD changer port on the back of the head unit.
 Alpine's 9830 CD/MP3/WMA receiver with CD changer controls. |
For all the hoopla surrounding its introduction, the KCA-420i iPod Interface Adapter is a visually unassuming product. The interface is housed in a compact hideaway box (5-9/16"W x 1-7/16"H x 3-15/16"D) with an Ai-NET port on one side and an iPod connection on the other). Alpine includes an Ai-NET cable (approximately 78" long) that connects the box to your Alpine receiver's CD changer port, and another 78" cable that connects to your iPod (has a dock connector on one end and proprietary Alpine plug on the other). The box itself is small enough to fit easily under a seat, in a center console, or in the glove compartment of many vehicles. I plugged in the Ai-NET cable, ran it down through the dash, and under the foot mat. I connected it to the interface, which I then tucked under my front passenger seat and secured to the carpet with the included Velcro strips. The kit also includes four self-tapping screws for a more permanent installation.
 The KCA-420i fits easily under my front seat. |
The included cables are over 6 feet long, and are designed for mounting the box within the front compartment of the vehicle — remember that you'll be plugging and unplugging your iPod often, so you wouldn't want to install the interface in your trunk. I ran the iPod connector up from under the passenger seat and along the center hump of my Ford Ranger. There are several varieties of in-car iPod mounts available that secure the player in a prominent and visible location. But these mounts are designed for using the iPod to scroll through playlists and to select tracks. The KCA-420i, on the other hand, allows you to control the iPod from your compatible Alpine receiver, so there's no need to display the iPod in your car. I tended to drop the iPod into the cupholder, but you could just as easily toss it into your glove compartment or center console.
Power on the go
The KCA-420i takes great strides towards solving one of the iPod's biggest weaknesses — low battery life. Alpine's Ai-NET protocol allows for both audio signal and power signal transfer, so when you connect your iPod and power up the stereo, the iPod starts charging off the vehicle's 12-volt power. But don't expect your iPod to get charged as quickly as when you plug the unit into a wall outlet — your vehicle's charging system can't match the 110-volts you get from a standard electrical outlet. Rather than using the Alpine adapter as a recharger for your iPod, think of it as maintaining the charge through hours of playing. And just think how much you'll appreciate not having to attach a clunky battery adapter to your iPod just to keep the tunes going on a long car ride.
You also need to have some power left in your iPod before connecting it to the KCA-420i. I tried to connect the iPod when it had literally no juice left in its battery, and the receiver could not recognize it. Even after leaving the iPod plugged in for 20 minutes, the receiver continued to display "NO MAGAZINE" and the dreaded "dead battery" icon flashed ever so briefly on the iPod's screen. I suspect that the iPod needs to be able to send some sort of signal to the KCA-420i for the head unit to be tricked into thinking that a changer has been connected and needs power.
The best part of this power charging feature is that the KCA-420i requires no separate power or ground connections. You don't have to tap into your wiring harness or fuse box at all during the installation. If you feel comfortable enough to remove your Alpine head unit from the dash, then you can definitely install the KCA-420i on your own.
 The Alpine logo appears on the iPod screen. You can also see that the battery is charging. |
Safety and convenience
The first thing you'll notice after connecting your iPod to the KCA-420i is that the Alpine logo suddenly appears on your iPod's screen, which is pretty darn cool. Once you've connected the iPod, though, you won't be able to use any of the iPod's controls. You must use the head unit to select playlists and tracks. This is both a safety feature — the Alpine receiver is designed to be operated while driving, while the iPod is clearly not — and a convenience. You don't have to worry about accidentally touching the scroll wheel and skipping a track while driving, or dropping the iPod on the floor. In fact, the best thing to do after connecting the iPod is to put it somewhere where it won't get scratched or tossed about.
You also don't want to leave your iPod in your car on extremely hot or cold days. Apple rates the iPod operating temperatures at between 32° and 95° Farenheit. Temperatures outside this range can damage your iPod.
