Database Info

Nexus One DIY Docks

There's a lot of discussion about docks for the Nexus One. Since budget is a big issue for a lot of us, why don't we resort to DIY solutions?
Please share your ideas in making a Nexus One DIY dock.
EDIT:
Neat DIY solutions we have here so far
Business Card Holder http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=5700465&postcount=41
Paper Cup http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=5779280&postcount=42
iPhone 2G Dock http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=5801510&postcount=47
Cassette Case Dock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mj3s4ONvLY
Paper Clip Dock http://www.deanying.com/PermaLink,guid,a99a1c06-b55b-4001-afeb-46a707055ecc.aspx
Dollar Bill Dock (works for other currencies too ) http://www.androidhackz.net/2010/02/docking-station-for-a-buck/
Tissue Roll Dock http://bobbyjason.co.uk/blog/2010/02/nexus-one-andrex-dock/
Dough Dock http://bobbyjason.co.uk/blog/2010/02/green-android-desk-stand/
Lego Dock from 3gdo http://3dgo.net/2010/01/15/nexus-one-lego-dock/

Before breaking out the duct tape you might want to have a look at the 3rd party cradles on ebay.
Another option is the one dollar docking station

Volker1 said:
Before breaking out the duct tape you might want to have a look at the 3rd party cradles on ebay.
Another option is the one dollar docking station
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Cool
Good thing the Clock app works on landscape
I think, the cradle mentioned here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=627552 would also work nicely. Good thing we have those in the Philippines. I just hope it's safe for the Nexus One.
Thanks for the ebay tip. Found a lot of options

oops. double post

I've been waiting for alternate docks too.
I don't need the bluetooth or RCA connectors, just a stand with pins to charge the n1. (via the pins, not micro usb)
can someone with a dock post some pictures of the dock pins, if they can volt-test the pins that would be great.

Not fancy enough to use pins or anything, but it does what I need. Legos FTW!
3dgo.net/2010/01/15/nexus-one-lego-dock/
Unfortunately I can't post links yet...

The ebay knockoffs use microUSB, just like the lego dock As far as I know there are no pin-utilizing ones apart from the official one. Too bad I already have bluetooth speakers

britoso said:
I've been waiting for alternate docks too.
I don't need the bluetooth or RCA connectors, just a stand with pins to charge the n1. (via the pins, not micro usb)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely agree. Sadly, I bet we won't ever see one. I'm guessing it's much cheaper just to mold a piece of plastic around a micro-usb plug than to actually match the pin setup. I'm guessing that's why we saw them appear so quickly after launch.
Hope I'm proven wrong, though. That Nexus dock is hella expensive, and apparently kind of buggy.

Here are two "innovative" docks I came across in the Android Forum
http://bobbyjason.co.uk/blog/2010/02/nexus-one-andrex-dock/
http://bobbyjason.co.uk/blog/2010/02/green-android-desk-stand/

^LOL...too much doh for my tastes But that TP one has potential backup use

Heres the one I made with a business card
http://kmobs.iq0.org/Nexusdock3.jpg

persiansown said:
Heres the one I made with a business card
http://kmobs.iq0.org/Nexusdock3.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool. Could you share with us how you did it?

persiansown said:
Heres the one I made with a business card
http://kmobs.iq0.org/Nexusdock3.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
brilliant, please post how you cut/fold the card to make it strong enough.

britoso said:
...if they can volt-test the pins that would be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that would be nice.
I have lots of plastic in different colors left.
Should not be too hard to build something.

Here are the pictures of the pins on the Desktop Dock from Google, I should be be able to get a voltage test tonight and let you know.
Hope this helps.
yfrog.com/ca20100205185942j
yfrog.com/1520100205185950j
NOTE: Since I'm a new member I cant embed the images, sorry. They are from imageshack.us

My favorite is the paperclip dock. Search youtube for iphone paperclip stand.

scgolfer7 said:
Here are the pictures of the pins on the Desktop Dock from Google, I should be be able to get a voltage test tonight and let you know.
Hope this helps.
yfrog.com/ca20100205185942j
yfrog.com/1520100205185950j
NOTE: Since I'm a new member I cant embed the images, sorry. They are from imageshack.us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I'm thinking we can build one of these out of plastic/putty/clay/plaster of paris etc.
Cut up a usb cable and connect the +5v and GND to to simple pins/nails (blunted/filed) at the bottom. ( with a little soldering).

3bs said:
My favorite is the paperclip dock. Search youtube for iphone paperclip stand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most decent solution so far! Thanks a lot!
Here it is http://www.deanying.com/PermaLink,guid,a99a1c06-b55b-4001-afeb-46a707055ecc.aspx

love this thread .
i wod go for the Tissue Roll Dock http://bobbyjason.co.uk/blog/2010 02...e-andrex-dock/

about the 3 pins
if you see from the bottom you have 3 pins, 2 on the left, 1 on the right from the micro usb.
if you haven't attached the microusb you have the following:
pin 1 <-> pin 2: -2.5 volts
pin 2 <-> pin 3: +2.6 volts
pin 1 <-> pin 3: 0 volts
when you have attached the micro usb you get
pin 1 <-> pin 2: 2 volts
pin 2 <-> pin 3: 2.6 volts
pin 1 <-> pin 3: 4.6 volts (with the stock loader I get 5 volts)
so I assume the outer pins are for charching (5 volts = usb power).
Can someone with the stock docking verify this?
Does anyone know what the purpose for the other pin? It should detect the dock mode? There is no 4th pin for the car dock...

How to enable HDMI out, if we could just find a freak'n connector

I found an app in /system/bin/ that lets you control your displays :-D
Now we just need to figure out the pin-out of the connector If somebody can find me a plug that fit the docking port correctly I could probably figure out the pinout for us and post instructions.
Code:
# nvdmmultidisplay
*******************************************************
dmmultidisplay usage:
dmmultidisplay [disp_option] [case_option] <activity_option>
<disp_option> can be one of the following (default is '--lcd'):
--off: Turn off all displays
--lcd: Test LCD Display
--hdmi: Test HDMI with no display on LCD
--crt: Test CRT Display with no display on LCD
--tvout: Test TV-Out Display with no display on LCD
--lcd_hdmi OR --lcd_crt OR --lcd_tvout: Test for dual display at the same time
<case_option> can be one of the following (default is '--case1'):
--case1: Demonstrate case #1
--case2: Demonstrate case #2
<activity_option> can be one of the following:
--ui: Show only UI without playing video
--play: Play only video without displaying UI
--uiplay: Show UI together with playing video
--file <filename>: Video file to be played (including path)
--query_displays: Query some info about all displays
--query_active: Query more info about active displays
Command-line examples:
Turn on LCD and HDMI displays and play default video; use case 1:
dmmultidisplay --lcd_hdmi --play
Turn on LCD and HDMI displays and play default video and show UI; use case 2:
dmmultidisplay --lcd_hdmi --case2 --uiplay

KinkyMunkey said:
I found an app in /system/bin/ that lets you control your displays :-D
Now we just need to figure out the pin-out of the connector If somebody can find me a plug that fit the docking port correctly I could probably figure out the pinout for us and post instructions.
Code:
# nvdmmultidisplay
*******************************************************
dmmultidisplay usage:
dmmultidisplay [disp_option] [case_option] <activity_option>
<disp_option> can be one of the following (default is '--lcd'):
--off: Turn off all displays
--lcd: Test LCD Display
--hdmi: Test HDMI with no display on LCD
--crt: Test CRT Display with no display on LCD
--tvout: Test TV-Out Display with no display on LCD
--lcd_hdmi OR --lcd_crt OR --lcd_tvout: Test for dual display at the same time
<case_option> can be one of the following (default is '--case1'):
--case1: Demonstrate case #1
--case2: Demonstrate case #2
<activity_option> can be one of the following:
--ui: Show only UI without playing video
--play: Play only video without displaying UI
--uiplay: Show UI together with playing video
--file <filename>: Video file to be played (including path)
--query_displays: Query some info about all displays
--query_active: Query more info about active displays
Command-line examples:
Turn on LCD and HDMI displays and play default video; use case 1:
dmmultidisplay --lcd_hdmi --play
Turn on LCD and HDMI displays and play default video and show UI; use case 2:
dmmultidisplay --lcd_hdmi --case2 --uiplay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone have a SandDisk Sansa device with the connector? I know you can buy breakouts of that connector (like the ipad) from Sparkfun. Maybe that one fits. It is similar to the ipad 30 pin connector

I do. The pins fit perfectly, but it's connector goes to USB. Not sure where to go from here

sledgie said:
I do. The pins fit perfectly, but it's connector goes to USB. Not sure where to go from here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow.. Ok then. I am going to order this. It is a sansa breakout plug that allows you to solder to the board. Once we get it working, we can make a cable with the plug they sell also.
http://www.kineteka.com/sansabreakout.aspx
... and see if we can figure out the pin outs!
Thanks for the update.

YOU ROCK! great find... I just ordered one too....
Does anybody know if it's safe to hook the HDMI directly into the connector? I am worried that the dock might have extra power filtering circuitry or protection we could be bypassing by hooking directly into it. (i have only heard plans for a dock, personally i would rather have an HDMI adapter, it would be AMAZING for presentations, opening up a google docs slideshows work great on this thing already)

Did you try plugging the Sansa USB cable in?

no, i just checked to see if it connected into the port. for gits and shiggles!
Yes, i did plug the USB into my computer. Nothing recognized while G Tab was running 2.04. When i reboot into CWM, i went into mounts and storage, mounted /sdcard. Computer didn't recognize. pulled USB from computer - viewsonic reset. Mounted storage in USB mode - same happened. Nothing showing up on the computer.

I know its not cost effective but wondering if something like this would do anything with the sansa usb connector attached?
http://sewelldirect.com/Sewell-HD-Deck-USB-to-HDMI.asp

KinkyMunkey said:
YOU ROCK! great find... I just ordered one too....
Does anybody know if it's safe to hook the HDMI directly into the connector? I am worried that the dock might have extra power filtering circuitry or protection we could be bypassing by hooking directly into it. (i have only heard plans for a dock, personally i would rather have an HDMI adapter, it would be AMAZING for presentations, opening up a google docs slideshows work great on this thing already)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is on its way. Tried to find a similar breakout for HDMI, but not found yet. I guess I will just cut the end off a cheap HDMI cable and wire it to the breakout. When we get it right, I will wire it to the regular plug. I bought one of those too.
Now, who is going to figure out the pinouts? I dont have a scope to read signals like these.. just a good multi meter

insight3fl said:
Mine is on its way. Tried to find a similar breakout for HDMI, but not found yet. I guess I will just cut the end off a cheap usb and wire it to the breakout. When we get it right, I will wire it to the regular plug. I bought one of those too.
Now, who is going to figure out the pinouts? I dont have an scope to read signals like these.. just a good muti meter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello guys, I am Mike from Kineteka. We noticed traffic coming from XDA and decided to investigate. We are very interested in your discovery and would like to work with you on developing an HDMI adapter.
Regards,
Mike
Kineteka Systems

Kineteka said:
Hello guys, I am Mike from Kineteka. We noticed traffic coming from XDA and decided to investigate. We are very interested in your discovery and would like to work with you on developing an HDMI adapter.
Regards,
Mike
Kineteka Systems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Mike! Welcome. We need help! no one has an hdmi cable for the viewsonic yet. As you see, someone believes the sansa cable fits our viewsonic dock... I and others have ordered on that chance. But we do not have the pinout on the dock connector...and as I mentioned, we need a pigtail HDMI cable to connect to the sansa breakout. Can you send me a private message and we can work on this.
thanks
Dennis

Ok... got my sansa connector breakout board/connector and a spare connetor. but, I have not a clue what to do next! The breakout board connector comes with the other parts to put around it such as the locking pins and plastic cover, but there is no way that fits over the breakout pc board, it is slotted for a cable like the parts on the regular cable connnetor I got. So I assume it does not work so I am clueless why it is included. That being said, there is very little contact with the connetor and the port on the tablet (absent the locking pins to hold it in). Now the big question is while I have it "sitting in there" (connected) how do we begin to test any signals coming out of the port??

Kinkymonkey,
Did you get your plug yet and have you had any luck with the pin out?
Mike from Kineteka, can you lend any insight on the pinout for us?
Thanks

So,, What can i supply about your development??
I have received your PM. and what information need i supply?

xjarl said:
I have received your PM. and what information need i supply?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We need the schematic for the connector
Thx

I just got it, but it won't fit the plug, it looks like the metal tabs under the connector are just a little bit closer together then slots on the plug - it fits in sideways but it won't go in straight because of those metal tabs :-( Did it actually fit in yours? (i have one of the first 1000....)
Ya- that black cover in the bag is wierd.. did you notice the big holes in the side too- i think those little tiny plastic clips are meant to cover them- man would that be a pain to put together. it must have come from whatever kit the sansa connector came from, They just bought a bunch of cheap connectors and soldered on the breakout board.
On a plus note, the box also contained a cool rubber ducky robot, a christmas card, and a multipage color sales guide for the archos tablet line (LOL! ironic) so it wasn't a total loss... just a really expensive rubber ducky...

oh, btw wrap a piece of electical tape around the pins coming out the back of the connector (instead of the black plastic cover), that way you don't have to worry about touching them when you are plugging in it (sending static electricity from your fingers into the HDMI connector would probably be a bad thing)
Wrap it from the thick part of the connector back down the pc board coming out the back.
I did that so i could get a better grip - but it still won't fit

KinkyMunkey said:
I just got it, but it won't fit the plug, it looks like the metal tabs under the connector are just a little bit closer together then slots on the plug - it fits in sideways but it won't go in straight because of those metal tabs :-( Did it actually fit in yours? (i have one of the first 1000....)
Ya- that black cover in the bag is wierd.. did you notice the big holes in the side too- i think those little tiny plastic clips are meant to cover them- man would that be a pain to put together. it must have come from whatever kit the sansa connector came from, They just bought a bunch of cheap connectors and soldered on the breakout board.
On a plus note, the box also contained a cool rubber ducky robot, a christmas card, and a multipage color sales guide for the archos tablet line (LOL! ironic) so it wasn't a total loss... just a really expensive rubber ducky...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not get any of those trinkets......but my plug engages but just not very deep. I wa assuming the metal hook piece ( when it would be assembled with the cover and the black plastic " buttons" for squeezing the pins) would hold it in. But the other poster said his plug fit.....so i dont know.
I wish Mike from the vendor would chime in again.

a bit confused
XDA is no longer worth my time.

I am briefly reserecting this old thread as I got my dock today. I was all set to pull it apart, cut the end off an HDMI cable and try and trace the pinout with my Sensa Breakout plugs I bought from Kinetica. Well, after seeing the connector on the dock, and knowing the Kinetica plug did not fit and I was going to have to modify and force it on someway, it is not even close to looking like the plug on the dock. I think the poster who plugged his Sansa cable in must have forced it or something or it is completely different from the cable that Kinetica sold us as a Sensa plug. It looks so much bigger in width and it the throat is much narrower ( I know the dock plug is made for the tablet to just "sit" on it and not stay pugged in, but even though it does not have the little clips on the sides that hold this type of plug engaged, the SAnsa cable is just not going to work. So, I will not be pulling the dock apart at this time until someone can spec the dock connector and find us one that is an exact fit.
I wasted $20 bucks on those two plugs unfortunately along with a few others here.

cable to connect dock and tablet

I searched for similar threads and came up empty, so forgive me if the idea is not new.
Wouldn't it simplify matters if there were a cable to connect the tablet and dock, just like it was mounted? Then, the protective case or screen protector wouldn't matter or cause issues with docking. We could enjoy both worlds, and still use great cases like the upcoming Gumdrop.
I figure the tablet side could come from a usb data cable, but where could we source the male connector found in the dock?
Thoughts?

Just a thought,
A lot folks who bought the cheapster charging cables from Amazon had complaints about the male end coming apart easily.
I bought the 2 pack of the KHOMO brand cables and mine are solid.
I was wondering if maybe some of the really crappy ones might be easier to pull apart?
It would be cool to find a molex crimp type connector that would work.
Other than this I haven't a clue as to where to find the frigging Asus plug.

Have a look at this thread on tf101 connectors: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056615&page=4
I read elsewhere that tf101, tf201, tf300 and tf700 40 pin connectors are compatible. Can someone else confirm?

Kraka said:
Have a look at this thread on tf101 connectors: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056615&page=4
I read elsewhere that tf101, tf201, tf300 and tf700 40 pin connectors are compatible. Can someone else confirm?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good find link wise (guess I could've searched a little harder)
I imagine the 40 pin connector is the same for all models, at least for 201 300 and 700 not sure about the tf101.
I know if you get the Asus USB adapter thing or the SDcard reader it works with all tablets.

Bionic Dock DOES work.

So despite posts on here suggesting that our phone wouldn't work with the Standard Dock for the Bionic, I decided to take the plunge and snag one anyways ($10.99 w/free shipping on Amazon here if you're Prime). I figured I could eat the cost if it wouldn't work, and I also ordered a small micro usb 'extension cord' at the same time, to see if that would help.
The dock arrived today and I popped the phone on the dock - it doesn't sit flush in the cradle (as to be expected, the port is shifted to the left), but it does connect, the phone recognizes it's connected (and offers various dock modes), and it charges the device (when plugged in, of course).
I still may try and disassemble the device and shift the plug over to make it fit flush, but it does work as is.
Just figured I'd share in case anyone else just wanted a simple dock/charging station wasn't up to spending the $80+ that the A2 specific HD dock goes for.

chicknlil said:
So despite posts on here suggesting that our phone wouldn't work with the Standard Dock for the Bionic, I decided to take the plunge and snag one anyways ($10.99 w/free shipping on Amazon here if you're Prime). I figured I could eat the cost if it wouldn't work, and I also ordered a small micro usb 'extension cord' at the same time, to see if that would help.
The dock arrived today and I popped the phone on the dock - it doesn't sit flush in the cradle (as to be expected, the port is shifted to the left), but it does connect, the phone recognizes it's connected (and offers various dock modes), and it charges the device (when plugged in, of course).
I still may try and disassemble the device and shift the plug over to make it fit flush, but it does work as is.
Just figured I'd share in case anyone else just wanted a simple dock/charging station wasn't up to spending the $80+ that the A2 specific HD dock goes for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have time, would you mind posting a picture of it sitting in the cradle for me? I would love to get one, but I'm picky about dumb things. Just wanted to see what I would be looking at.
Thanks.

skearton said:
If you have time, would you mind posting a picture of it sitting in the cradle for me? I would love to get one, but I'm picky about dumb things. Just wanted to see what I would be looking at.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do once I find batteries for my 'real' camera. So used to using the phone as a camera these days.
But I can tell you it sticks up and out, and looks awkward as hell. So it's probably not going to be aesthetically pleasing to you.

That's what I was thinking.
Maybe I can take a dremel to it?
Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2

I have to apologize - I'm having a comedy of errors here when it comes to trying to get pictures (that aren't from the phone itself, at least). I can't find the main camera. I found an older camera but it's apparently dead (got a pretty purple grainy picture at my attempt). If I do happen to find that regular camera anytime soon, I'll snap some pictures.
In the meanwhile, I've linked to 2 pictures of the dock w/o the phone in it (taken by the phone, ofc) ... instead of sitting flush, the phone is over to the left about the length of my pinky. Please ignore my fat hands holding said dock.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8mauz9yfq72htoa/2013-04-12 13.02.10.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6xwo6w8t4fpbzsx/2013-04-12 13.01.47.jpg

So I took it apart (and probably destroyed it, but oh well) ... there's 2 rubber pads on the bottom, one on each side. Beneath each pad are two small phillips head screws. Pop those four out and the device should separate. I tried making my own hole next to where it comes by default (stretching the cabling, flipping the shield, etc), even marking the usb so that it was extended out far enough. No dice. Worked briefly as a dock again but I wasn't happy with how unsteady it was and fiddled with it more, and now it doesn't recognize it as dock.
If anyone else wants to hack at it and is willing to cover your own shipping costs, toss me a PM and I'll be happy to send in onward.

[RESOLVED] HOX AT&T US, pj83100 POGO

Alright. Apparently this specific phone has weird or messed up POGO pins. And I really need some help.
I've searched but can't find anyone with this issue.
There are supposed to be 5 pins total (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1611116). On my phone, there are 5 positions, but the first (GND) is blocked off by the outer plastic of the case. I picked away the plastic to find no pin present, just a plastic stub from within the phone. And while I will (next week) be taking the phone apart to do multiple things (replace broken digitizer, & upgrade battery, replace back-door), surely someone knows something about this?
I ordered a Seidio Innocell case to further enhance my battery life. It is the version marked to support the AT&T variant. However it does not work. I would think that the GND connection is unnecessary to charge the battery (unsafely), so I can only assume that the 4 pins available are not as identified with other variants. Perhaps the 1st pin is dislodged by some means, though that does not explain the plastic covering it... Other than perhaps a manufacturer defect that I never noticed?
Can anyone assist?
Like I said I'll be opening it up soon, so I'll probably modify the back door to support this Innocell casing anyway. So any information would be useful as to what might be going wrong here.
*EDIT:
I can confirm after picking away more plastic, that there IS indeed the 1st pin (you can see it in attached image if you look closely), and that my phone was poorly manufactured. The pin is shoved beneath the casing due to lack of clearance when it was assembled. No wonder. Charging still does not work, so I'm wondering if there is a way I can manually test these two pins (#1 & #5) for charging capabilities? 5v battery and two wires perhaps?

This belongs in the q&a section, not sure why you've posted it here?
Where did you buy the phone?
Sent from my Evita.

timmaaa said:
This belongs in the q&a section, not sure why you've posted it here?
Where did you buy the phone?
Sent from my Evita.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My apologies, first time posting. I read the posting stickies, and did not think to post it in the appropriate location.
This phone was purchased from Walmart, with the related AT&T contract. One month before they released the OneX+, what luck.
My battery is at post office now, should arrive later today. I'll install and update my post, though I believe I'll be solving my own problem & answering my own question soon enough. Completion sake, anyways. The pins do work, i sent voltage through it using a multimeter, and android notified me I was using an invalid charging apparatus (incorrect mwa i guess? was @1.5v). SO that's good news I suppose.

Wow, I've never seen a new Evita with such a serious manufacturing defect like that. You should swap it out under warranty.
Sent from my Evita.

timmaaa said:
Wow, I've never seen a new Evita with such a serious manufacturing defect like that. You should swap it out under warranty.
Sent from my Evita.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha i know right. I just opened it up, all 5 pins are available on the motherboard's bottom connector(radio/pogo/buttonLEDs). But indeed, they did not properly cut the 1st pin's plastic. Nor did they insert the actual pogo pin on it, which are both back-door flaws. Back-door assembly line failure - lol Sounds dirty.
Well all is well now. I used a HOX+ back-door instead, cause the red on black looks nice. SO I didn't have to rig my own graphite onto the plastic. All 5 pins working perfectly. Attached some photos so you guys can see what I mean. Take care all, this issue is now resolved