Topic: UUI Radio Mod - USB Port Placement

[ChrisPrice]

Appreciate TomatoSoup's old guides. I'm doing the same mod, taking an Epsilon Panasonic-built UUI radio, and affixing a Saturn Sky faceplace - netting me a USB port radio that has the Saturn Sky's unique faceplate.

I'm at the stage where I relocate the USB port to the side. Here's where I have it. Before I cut the sidewall, I was wondering if anyone thought this was a bad place.

By putting the USB port/riser there, I can tape it to the stand that's sitting right below it. Anyone foresee problems with this one?

[Helios]

So, this is actually on the side of the unit? Have you checked to see if you have clearance for a plug/ cable when the unit is installed? I personally think it's bad placement. I would locate the USB port on the rear of the unit, but I'd actually find a way to locate it on the front. If not on the front of the unit itself, I'd remotely mount it on the little panel beneath the radio (in the Sky) or near the cigarette lighter.

[TomatoSoup]

I would (and did ) route it to a place where it's not visible.  Inside the glovebox for example.  In my case I just have a dangling cable tucked into the driver footwell.

That way, you can leave your USB plugged in all the time, without worrying about some 'light finger' reaching in and nicking it.

[ChrisPrice]

Routing the USB port to the rear of the box isn't very easy. The riser cable for the USB port isn't long enough. Just turning it around to face the rear means twisting the cable... making it difficult to mount.

If there is a size problem, I will just use an L-shaped USB adapter. There is a wide gap on each side of the head unit, as TomatoSoup showed previously.

As to terminating the cable... I'm going to run it through the drivetrain tunnel, under the arm rest. That way, I can use app integration for iHeartRadio, Spotify, TuneIn, etc.

One thing Apple did right was backport iOS app controls to older iPod-compatible head units.