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I have installed an Alpine CDE-171RM dashboard on my car. Since it features an usb port, I was wondering if I could just plug a bluetooth usb dongle, or something similar, to have bluetooth audio streaming.
Is it possible? My common sense would say no, since Alpine sells a bluetooth enabled dashboard identical to mine for 100$ more.
However, who knows? :)
I wouldn't count on it. As Nick C said, you'd need one that acts like a USB storage device, which means that you'd have to specifically buy one. Regular bluetooth adapters simply act as a bluetooth antenna, and don't have the bluetooth software stack loaded onto their internal circuits. But you do get fancier ones, which cost more. Alternatively, you could have a bluetooth system installed on the Auxiliary port of the unit, but then you might as well just go trade it for the bluetooth-enabled model. It will work out much cheaper that way.
Get one of these things and just load all your songs on there.
Otherwise, if that's not an option, get a quote for someone to install an SPDIF cable so that you can plug it straight into your phone/device.
This one works perfectly. I use this on my Ford Focus
Unlikely.
Most generic bluetooth dongles require drivers to work on different systems. A windows computer, for example, would have drivers to work with this type of software. Often they're provided on a disc with the hardware. A car stereo, however, doesn't not usually support software installation.
The best option would be a dongle like the image below. The most simple setup would be to plug it into a 3.5mm AUX jack on the front of the stereo (assuming you have one) and also into the USB port. The USB port would only provide power, and the 3.5 TRS would carry the audio signal. You could still use a wireless connection between your phone and stereo this way.
Additionally, if you want something that looks a little more elegant, most head units provide ports on the back of the device where you can input a signal. You might need a 3.5mm -> RCA adapter depending on what sort of plugs your head unit has. Then, you could attach a 12v -> 5v step down to the bluetooth unit for power, and hide everything away behind the dash. You might want to have the dongle somewhere that's occasionally accessible like inside the glovebox, for pairing.
I have a similar setup in my car and it works really well. You should be able to pickup both items for about $20 or less.
