Fiat Ducato Cab Radio/CD sooooooo Old Fashioned

[Rob99]

Is it just me or is the standard Fiat Ducato radio/cd not really suited to the modern age? I would love to play music from my phone via the cab speakers. A simple aux line-in would do it. Some cars have these don’t they?. Then I would be able to play mp3s, podcasts and a whole universe of spotify music directed from my phone (or passengers phone whilst moving ?)

But no….my Ducato has a USB plug in port in which you can plug a stick with a pre-arranged catalogue of music providing you can negotiate the crazy proprietary menu system via a two line text box (dont - you will crash doing this). No podcasts or Spotify. There is a bluetooth thing called Blue and Me or something but it seems to be about phone calls rather then playing music.

Don’t the designers at Fiat have smartphones? My motorhome is about 5 years old but these technologies have been around for a while. Who has CD's nowerdays?

Has anyone else found an elegant way to connect smartphone to Fiat Ducato speaker system?
why dont they provide a Aux Line-in? Its such an obvious and cheap thing.

 

[Boringfrog]

They probably fit the cheapest in the factory as it's just a van. I've put a separate system in the back, bluetooth + Alexa + TV + speakers above bed and dining area. Cost maybe £200.

 

[pagey]

i had the same problem on mine and its not yet 3 years old i changed the pioneer for a sony unit with an aux in much better now

 

[PeteH]

I swapped mine out for a Sony Unit. Which has all the features you require. And can connect via Bluetooth to my Phone, Play my Music, and takes calls "Handsfree".

 

[Masman]

Cheapest way to do it.Buy a good quality Bluetooth speaker and use your phone.Plus you can take the speaker anywhere with you.I wish I had done this instead of spending £500 on a new unit and speakers.

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[Brains]

The local Scouts Ford Transit minibus that I drive on a regular basis has all these features.
2009, so even 11 years ago that was standard on a Ford !

I can only suggest you upgrade your "wireless" to a higher spec with something from a breakers yard!

 

[WillH]

Swapped mine out for an Alpine unit, much better.

 

[Rob99]

thanks folks but i dont really want to carry an additional speaker when i (should ) have in car speakers for use when driving and when camping. it seems bizzarre that this line-in has been omitted and I am wondering if perhaps I am missing the solution. Perhaps the bluetooth function (on the CD/Radio) does allow playback from phone as a pseudo line-in. A first look at the manual for "Blue and me" has not been encouraging - partucularly as it appears to be designed by Microsoft - a company that specialises in making things awkward and difficult haha.
Has anyone had experience of playing music from smartphone via "blue and me" to Ducato's cab speakers......?

 

[Rob99]

The local Scouts Ford Transit minibus that I drive on a regular basis has all these features.
2009, so even 11 years ago that was standard on a Ford !

I can only suggest you upgrade your "wireless" to a higher spec with something from a breakers yard!

Yes exactly !
what designer would forget line-in ? crazy. Maybe its hidden somwhere.

 

[Dorwyn]

Ours has an aux. Just a standard Ducato. Have you looked under the dash in the central console in front of the gear lever?

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[berni109]

There is a very recent thread running about a dab radio device that would allow you to connect your phone by Bluetooth and then use the FM to link to your old radio. £25 and it's fixed

 

[TheBig1]

Mine already had a multi-function pioneer head unit, or I would have fitted a cheap Android head unit. Pair your phone and you have access to everything on your phone, calls, music, satnat, internet, rear view cameras and video (when parked).

A basic model can be bought from £30 upwards

The basic radio/cd is very old technology now and only fitted to fill the hole in the dashboard until you fit something better

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our radio CD is the same with the USB socket in the glove box. It works well if I plug in my ipod touch, the steering wheel controls >> << select the tracks and volume all work, just press the 'Media' button on the radio. 2014 boxer.

 

[Brains]

I wonder if a previous owner has done a swap?
Put in their old one, so that could have the new one in their van ?

Back in the days when car radios were not a standard fitting, it was normal to find the car radio was older than the car.

 

[Richard n Ann]

negotiate the crazy proprietary menu system via a two line text box

Plug your phone in and select what tracks from your phone.

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[mitzimad]

swap it for an android head unit i gave about £200 for ours does everything your phone can and you can add apps to do everything

 

[Rob99]

Plug your phone in and select what tracks from your phone.

Thanks folks.....yes i worked out how to do that (though I still maintain it is awkward to use). But my real requirement is to play streaming services (spotify and podcasts) - not to play files which are resident on the phone. Phone reception permitting of course.
Anyway - time to stop whinging about it. I will just take the portable bluetooth speaker for that and just listen to the radio on the Ducato rig.

 

[Sianna]

Ive got the same issue on a 2012 Ducato, the radio is rubbish, no BT and the radio reception is sporadic to say the least! it doesn't hold a radio station for more that 5 miles! its disappointing to say the least but the only thing wrong with our new MH. Looking to upgrade to a SMART system that still fits in the same hole. Recommendations anyone?

 

[busby]

Mine needs new valves..BUSBY..