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My solution to the lack of aux jack on the car dock.

I agree that having an aux jack on the Nexus One car dock would be pretty sweet, but it is what it is, and I wanted to move on... Here is what I did:
Nexus One (duh)
Nexus One car dock (...)
Kensington LiquidAuxbluetooth car kit: us.kensington.com/html/14484.html
Micro USB cable
Plug the Kensington L.A. into the accessory outlet, and connect the audio output plug to your AUX on your stereo. The L.A. provides a USB port to use for the Micro USB cable. (for charging)
Plug the micro USB cable in this port and route to your car dock.
Once you pair your phone with the L.A. place it in the car dock and setup the audio to be whatever combination you would like. I personally use the dock for calls (because the mic is better) and the L.A. for audio.
One accessory outlet, (no splitters) one wire coming from it to the dock, audio routed through the AUX in your stereo, and (IMO) really great call audio thanks to the dock and noise canceling, which still works with the phone in the dock...
Just sharing my experience, YMMV, IANAL, OMG, WTF, BBQ...
Pics - Add http to them to view (I can't post links yet apparently...)
yfrog.com/2r20100415073238j -LiquidAUX Device
yfrog.com/1420100415073316j - Plugged into AUX and has Micro USB connected.
yfrog.com/2m20100415073324j - Cable Routing 1
yfrog.com/j120100415073338j - Cable Routing 2
yfrog.com/4720100415073414j - Wheel wireless remote, media functions work, I couldn't get phone button to do anything, but that may be a settings thing.
yfrog.com/0b20100415073331j - Dock on the windscreen, the stock MicroUSB cable that comes with the phone is pretty 'stiff' and stays in place very well.

Pics please...

Awesome Find.
30 bucks with free shipping on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-LiquidAUX-Bluetooth-Remote-Phones/dp/B0011UIX2K
I'm about to order mine

+ 1. That looks like a really good solution. Another benefit you did not mention is that by powering the Car Dock with the Micro USB cable, you do away with the spiral lead that is on the Car Dock power supply. So easier to route and hide.
Any issues with charging the phone and powering the car dock? Isn't the car doc charger higher output than regular chargers and perhaps the one on the LiquidAux?

how's the music sound quality?
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

logger said:
+ 1. That looks like a really good solution. Another benefit you did not mention is that by powering the Car Dock with the Micro USB cable, you do away with the spiral lead that is on the Car Dock power supply. So easier to route and hide.
Any issues with charging the phone and powering the car dock? Isn't the car doc charger higher output than regular chargers and perhaps the one on the LiquidAux?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No issues I have noticed so far, there is no additional <warmth> on the LiquidAux I have been able to detect, and the phone charges just as quickly as it would when plugged in using OEM adapter. And yes, losing the spiral lead is a nice bonus...

yellowy0y0 said:
how's the music sound quality?
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sound quality for me is great, there is no interruptions, etc I have noticed. But I suspect that this would be a YMMV kind of thing based on the car stereo used and the distance / path (if that even matters with the relatively short distance) between the LiquidAux device and the phone...

uansari1 said:
Pics please...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I added some pics above (imageshack) but couldn't post links (yet) so just add the http part and you can see them...

um, do you realize you can still use the headphone jack when the phone is plugged into the dock?
http://www.google.com/support/android/bin/answer.py?answer=178184

MonkySlap said:
um, do you realize you can still use the headphone jack when the phone is plugged into the dock?
http://www.google.com/support/android/bin/answer.py?answer=178184
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why yes, but some people in this particular forum were voicing their displeasure of having a mass of wires dangling all over their car / phone etc...
I was offering an alternative, and it worked well for me, nobody said or implied that you need to do it too...
<Sheesh/>

How long is that cable(the 3.5mm one from the liquid aux). Looks pretty short..

tokyomonster said:
How long is that cable(the 3.5mm one from the liquid aux). Looks pretty short..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is in fact short (4") while this works fine for my use, YMMV...

Interesting solution, I like it
Here are clickable links for the lazy
http://yfrog.com/2r20100415073238j -LiquidAUX Device
http://yfrog.com/1420100415073316j - Plugged into AUX and has Micro USB connected.
http://yfrog.com/2m20100415073324j - Cable Routing 1
http://yfrog.com/j120100415073338j - Cable Routing 2
http://yfrog.com/4720100415073414j - Wheel wireless remote, media functions work, I couldn't get phone button to do anything, but that may be a settings thing.
http://yfrog.com/0b20100415073331j - Dock on the windscreen, the stock MicroUSB cable that comes with the phone is pretty 'stiff' and stays in place very well.

furbyslayer said:
It is in fact short (4") while this works fine for my use, YMMV...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. I guess, worst case scenario, I can just buy a short extender.

Another question for you... Does the remote work with the phone? I'm waiting for mine to get here but I had read from many reviews that the control did not work properly with the iphone, just wondering if the nexus one had the same problem.
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

awesome writeup... Even if this thing doesn't work to pickup calls I don't care, I always have a bluetooth headset for the car anyhow. I think I'll get an extra socket and mount it all under the dash out of sight.
Even thought you can plug in a wire to the headphone jack I want a solution where I can stick the phone in the holder when I get in, and pull it right out without messing with cables every fricken time... Most the time I don't plug my phone in right now just because of that very reason.
With a nice setup like this I'd plug my phone in every time I get in the car... awesome, Thanks!
Just ordered mine off amazon.. seems like a great price for the product.

Nevermind, reread your first post, missed the info I wanted the first read through. Well, since I'm stuck with this post existing, may as well clarify, you said you can choose to have the phone calls go through the dock with this, right?

furbyslayer said:
It is in fact short (4") while this works fine for my use, YMMV...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4 inches, is that all you've got? - that is short
I think perhaps you meant 4' or four feet.

yellowy0y0 said:
Another question for you... Does the remote work with the phone? I'm waiting for mine to get here but I had read from many reviews that the control did not work properly with the iphone, just wondering if the nexus one had the same problem.
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The media functions work fantastic with the Nexus, the iPhone does not support track skip, where the Nexus does. I have not been able to get the phone button to start voice dialing like the iPhone does. I have not actually had a call while driving to pickup yet, so I can't say for certain whether that (pickup incoming) works or not...

kitsunisan said:
Nevermind, reread your first post, missed the info I wanted the first read through. Well, since I'm stuck with this post existing, may as well clarify, you said you can choose to have the phone calls go through the dock with this, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have call audio go through the dock, yes. The LiquidAux has a microphone, but it is quite far away from the the speaker's mouth IMO. Additionally, the dock still uses the extra Michael for active noise cancelling and is quite crisp and clear for calls. (I have so far made several outbound calls with great results.) The music pauses, audio routes up to the dock for the duration of the call, then the music resumed on the car speakers automatically...

Car dock = Desktop dock; so audio out possible?

I amazed I'm the first one to notice this, so I'm probably not. I took apart my car dock and found the PCB inside is almost identical to the desktop dock (see photos). The upshot here is that I would strongly guess that you could easily solder on parts to either one and add things like:
- An audio out jack to the car dock (!)
- Volume up/down switches to the desktop dock
- Speakers (small ones!) to the desktop dock
- An external mic to the desktop dock
Most of that doesn't seem so great, but adding an audio jack to the car dock would be fantastic.
Pictures 1 & 2 are the desktop dock, 3 & 4 are the car dock.
Notice the unused pads on the car dock PCB (pic #4) for a headphone jack at bottom left.
Notice the pads for the speakers in pic #2 (desktop dock) at the top.
Also in in pic #2 you can see where the volume rocker would connect at bottom left and mic at bottom center.
Finally the tiny circle near my thumb in pic #4 looks to be a micro antenna jack, hard to tell for sure.
JB

That's incredibly lame of google to not put the audio out when it's the same pcb.

James Bell said:
I amazed I'm the first one to notice this, so I'm probably not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good find.
Along a vaguely similar vain, I suggested over here a method of using a Desk Dock as Car AUX input. It has certain benefits over non OEM accessories that do similar. I am in the process if fitting a USB power supply to my car. Once that is done I will fit the Desk Dock semi permanent out of site as a BT AUX in feed.
Of course getting an AUX jack in the Car Dock would be much better.

next thing would be prying off the metal cover and see if they have the same circuitry inside. Then if yes all you have to do is solder a 3.5 female jack on it and voila'...

fan or heatsink?
cool beans!
i wonder if you could install a copper backing plate connected to a heatsink (like ones you can buy for ram) instead of the plastic piece to help with the high heat issues some are having...hmm...
seems like there's enough room

Dude, love how you tore the desktop dock apart on your desk and the car dock in your car.

Since the pcb's are the same size, couldn't you swap them out, cut a hole in the case and then you'd have audio out on the car dock?
=D

@muncheese
Yah I think so. Problem is it'd recognize it as the desktop dock...errr and you'd lose the speakers and volume rocker from the car dock.
My motivation to solder on an old headphone jack is low - my '01 325 doesn't have an aux in to plug into it! Maybe I'll do it anyway if I can find the right jack.
@SPAS79
I started to pry off the metal top but ran out of time to fool with it. I want to look up the chips and see if any of their outputs can be used to trigger the mute line on my stereo.

Well the speaker wouldnt matter since it'll be going through the car audio system, same for the volume, just control the car stereo volume. =)

I took off the metal cover on the desktop dock, picture below.
There's a daughtercard called an NF2301. Made by nFore and (poorly) described here:
http://www.nforetek.com/products.htm

Adding an Aux out on the Car Dock will place it on the Dock itself.
Ideally for neatness, it would be on the base near the suction cup. I suppose you could run a short cable along the chrome arm and situate the jack on the base near the USB outlet.

Chrome arm should be hollow as it already has power running through it. Might be enough room to run a small cable through it.

This is very exciting
Keep us updated on what happens with you!
Bump!

this is fantastic news. I actually have an audio socket left over from my desk dock audio switch project. If someone wants to buy me another car dock or can prove that soldering on a jack will work then i'd be willing to rip it apart and do what google SHOULD have done in the first place!

I cant wait for some chinese company to make this for the nexus:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19747
I have one currently that I used with my iphone and while it felt cheap.. It did everything:
held my iphone in place in the car
charged and did audio out with single sync cable
audio out can be routed either to the 3.5mm aux line AND the built in FM transmitter
remote (which stopped working after 1 week)
Mostly I like the fact that it mounted/charged/audio-out my iphone all at once with 1 cable and was only $12 shipped.. I would love something similar for my nexus

If all the talk about the 2.2 update enabling the FM transmitter is true. It would explain why the car dock has no audio out.
And if Google keeps the Nexus One updates on the same track it should be arriving next Tuesday.
First Tuesday of every month has had a blog update and the second of update of each month has been on or around the last Wednesday.

sweltzin said:
If all the talk about the 2.2 update enabling the FM transmitter is true. It would explain why the car dock has no audio out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have seen no talk of enabling an FM TRANSMITTER. Just rumours of them enabling an FM receiver, which would be no solution for the car dock.

Even if it did have an FM transmitter, I would prefer the audio out on the dock. Less hassle, better sound.

logger said:
I have seen no talk of enabling an FM TRANSMITTER. Just rumours of them enabling an FM receiver, which would be no solution for the car dock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's both.

muncheese said:
It's both.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats a fairly vague comment.
Yeah the radio is a transceiver. Thats fairly obvious. It is after all a cellphone.
But are you saying Google will be activating the FM transmitter in such a way as it will transmit audio to a car FM radio? Or are you just saying the FM radio fitted to the phone is a transceiver.

3.5mm FM Car Transmitter Car Charger - Thoughts??

Hey guys,
Got a HTC Sensation, would like something which does
1. charge while in car
2. fm transmitter (I don't have bluetooth or aux in my car)
3. a holder in the car so I can use gps easier
I found this:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-5mm-FM...613695?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item1c1d79eb7f
Any thoughts??
Any other suggestions?
I'm in Australia.
Many thanks!

Since that one is a universal dock, it seems to charge from the bottom since most phones do. The problem with that is the Sensation's charge port is on the side.
Also, I'm very very picky about audio and FM transmitters nearly always produce static or some kind of white noise.
My solution/reccomendation for cars without an AUX port is to pick up one of these bad boys: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-cassette-Adapter-3-5mm-plug-/110650779646?pt=AU_Electronics_Portable_Audio_Accessories&hash=item19c34ce7fe
It's a cassette tape that provides you with an aux cable.
Then to cover your mounting needs, just get something like this: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-Mount-Holder-Charger-HTC-Sensation-Incredible-S-/190560511133?pt=AU_MobilePhoneAccessories&hash=item2c5e4aa49d
And it even comes with a car charger.
If you are worried about wires and want this to be a stationary installation, use black zip ties.
If you have any questions or want other suggestions, let me know.

Thanks for the reply constrabus.
Problem is...I don't have a cassette player in the car.

I got something similar off of amazon a few years ago for my MT3G. The FM transmitter worked just fine. I now use it with my Sensation 4G, but my newer truck has an aux. jack so I don't use the FM anymore. The one I got plugs directly into the lighter jack and then I run a USB cable from the side into my phone. I have had it for several years without a problem. Go for it.

I have a fm transmitter with a 3.5 jack I plug it in and it doesn't go in all the way and only plays the left side. Same thing on my EVO but on my transform it goes all the way in and plays both sides. Any ideas on how to fix it.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

Headphone Jack Longer Than Headphone Plug

Hi. I purchased a Star Note i9220 n9000 a few months ago and I wanted to plug in new headphones. The headphones that came with the phone fit the jack perfectly and I can hear out of it just fine but when I plug in different headphones, the plug is too short and the jack is too long. Does anyone know where I can purchase an adapter or headphones with a longer 3.5mm plug? I also posted a picture to compare. Notice how the one on the right is a little longer and has 3 ridges instead of two.

thebriando said:
Hi. I purchased a Star Note i9220 n9000 a few months ago and I wanted to plug in new headphones. The headphones that came with the phone fit the jack perfectly and I can hear out of it just fine but when I plug in different headphones, the plug is too short and the jack is too long. Does anyone know where I can purchase an adapter or headphones with a longer 3.5mm plug? I also posted a picture to compare. Notice how the one on the right is a little longer and has 3 ridges instead of two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This heaphone is not compatible with your phone.

thebriando said:
Hi. I purchased a Star Note i9220 n9000 a few months ago and I wanted to plug in new headphones. The headphones that came with the phone fit the jack perfectly and I can hear out of it just fine but when I plug in different headphones, the plug is too short and the jack is too long. Does anyone know where I can purchase an adapter or headphones with a longer 3.5mm plug? I also posted a picture to compare. Notice how the one on the right is a little longer and has 3 ridges instead of two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the picture on the earphones?

Lindsay02 said:
Is the picture on the earphones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No that is not the picture of the earphones, but if it's made by the same company then they should use the same jack and headphones. I bought my phone off Amazon, just look up Star Note n9000. Normal 3.5mm headphones have plugs that are too short, the headphones that came with the phone are still 3.5mm but they are a bit longer. So I need help finding an adapter or headphones that have the special longer plug. Thanks to anyone who can help.

iluvyoulinux said:
This heaphone is not compatible with your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I know it isn't compatible. That's why I'm trying to find headphones that are compatible with my phone or an adapter that can make it compatible.

Hope This Helps!!
Take a look on ebay for Quad connection Headphones or similar

TonyM4 said:
Take a look on ebay for Quad connection Headphones or similar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help, but could you send me a link? I can't seem to find it.

Lindsay02 said:
Is the picture on the earphones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, the headphones in that picture look like they might work on my phone. Do you think you could send me a link to those headphones if you can?

Hey guys, I'm giving up on trying to find headphones that work with my phone. I'll just buy a wireless, bluetooth one now.
Update: I changed my mind, i'm not giving up on trying to find compatible headphones for my phone.

normally 3.5 is 3.5, but from the way it looks these are more like 3.6 or 3.7 so it looks like they have their own headphone type or something

mjz2cool said:
normally 3.5 is 3.5, but from the way it looks these are more like 3.6 or 3.7 so it looks like they have their own headphone type or something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure that the 3.5mm is the diameter instead of the length. So both of the headphone plugs in the picture are 3.5mm. It's just that the one on the right's length is a little longer than the other one. I really need help trying to find an adapter for this or finding some other headphones with the longer plug. I also figured out what the three rings/ridges on the other plug meant. The third ring is for the microphone. So I tried to find earbuds with a microphone, although i am not sure if all earbuds with microphones have a plug that's longer than standard earbuds.

Hey guys i found some earbuds that might work with my phone.
http://www.amazon.com/Alpatronix-Pe...=1381367364&sr=1-148&keywords=earbud+with+mic
I am not entirely sure if these will work with my phone but they have the three ridges on the plug that my current headphones have. Please notify me if you don't think these will work or if you think they will.

thebriando said:
I'm pretty sure that the 3.5mm is the diameter instead of the length. So both of the headphone plugs in the picture are 3.5mm. It's just that the one on the right's length is a little longer than the other one. I really need help trying to find an adapter for this or finding some other headphones with the longer plug. I also figured out what the three rings/ridges on the other plug meant. The third ring is for the microphone. So I tried to find earbuds with a microphone, although i am not sure if all earbuds with microphones have a plug that's longer than standard earbuds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, i realised that
normally, the ones with a mic aren't any longer

mjz2cool said:
yeah, i realised that
normally, the ones with a mic aren't any longer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think you could show me a side by side comparison of a headphone plug without a mic and a one with a mic? Thanks!

thebriando said:
Do you think you could show me a side by side comparison of a headphone plug without a mic and a one with a mic? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i could, but it is an apple one, so i don't know the difference with a normal one with mic, but i can compare the apple thing with a normal one without mic, maybe i can a normal one with mic, will see later this day

mjz2cool said:
i could, but it is an apple one, so i don't know the difference with a normal one with mic, but i can compare the apple thing with a normal one without mic, maybe i can a normal one with mic, will see later this day
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, please do so whenever you can. I really appreciate the help.

thebriando said:
Do you think you could show me a side by side comparison of a headphone plug without a mic and a one with a mic? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really needed.
The short one: 3.5mm 2 (or 3) conductor stereo jack (TRS - Tip ring sleeve)
The long one: 3.5mm 4 conductor stereo + mic jack (TRRS - Tip ring ring sleeve)
So, all in all, just look on the net for TRRS to TRS adapter. Should run you 10$ at most. They're a bit rare but hey you'll be able to use any headphones with any stereo jack.

polobunny said:
Not really needed.
The short one: 3.5mm 2 (or 3) conductor stereo jack (TRS - Tip ring sleeve)
The long one: 3.5mm 4 conductor stereo + mic jack (TRRS - Tip ring ring sleeve)
So, all in all, just look on the net for TRRS to TRS adapter. Should run you 10$ at most. They're a bit rare but hey you'll be able to use any headphones with any stereo jack.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
both of these types should be the same size, and most phones are compatible with both types, so an adapter shouldn't be neccesary.

mjz2cool said:
both of these types should be the same size, and most phones are compatible with both types, so an adapter shouldn't be neccesary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. You're wrong.
Edit: I think Apple uses a TRRS connector that is the same size, but that's pretty much the only exception, because surprise surprise it's Apple.
Edit 2: Here's a link for one, for instance: http://www.scansound.com/index.php/4-conductor-trrs-to-3-conductor-trs-3-5mm-adapter.html

polobunny said:
Nope. You're wrong.
Edit: I think Apple uses a TRRS connector that is the same size, but that's pretty much the only exception, because surprise surprise it's Apple.
Edit 2: Here's a link for one, for instance: http://www.scansound.com/index.php/4-conductor-trrs-to-3-conductor-trs-3-5mm-adapter.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
never had any problems with any trrs on any device, most phones should be compatible with trs and trrs

Doesn't work with cassette adapter?

Hi All, I am a nebie to Android and the Nexus 5 is my first android device. I just got mine yesterday and was trying to get it to work with my car speakers using the Monster iCarPlay cassette adapter. I can only hear static though. When I connect my iPhone it works fine. Earphones work fine on the Nexus 5 though. Am I missing something here?

Pretty sure the iCarPlay adapters only work with iDevices (regardless of how they connect i.e. headphone jack).

I think daewond3r might have a point. I use a cheap tape adapter at work and I haven't had any audio problems with mine.

daewond3r is correct. They only work with "i" devices. I'd recommend a cheap FM transmitter off of ebay.

uh60james said:
daewond3r is correct. They only work with "i" devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not possible. The iCarPlay cassette adapter uses a standard 3.5mm TRS plug, it will work with anything that has a headphone jack.
My guess is the iPhone working was just a coincidence and you have a flaky cable or the head in the cassette isn't lining up correctly with the head in your cassette player.

Holy ****, people are still using those?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Mr. Sprinkles said:
Not possible. The iCarPlay cassette adapter uses a standard 3.5mm TRS plug, it will work with anything that has a headphone jack.
My guess is the iPhone working was just a coincidence and you have a flaky cable or the head in the cassette isn't lining up correctly with the head in your cassette player.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you can confirm that it does not use Apple's TRRS then.

uh60james said:
So you can confirm that it does not use Apple's TRRS then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, look at any picture of it online. It's TRS.