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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...

Broke my standard headset, what to buy?

Hey guys I've been searching around and haven't been able to find a lot of info.
I broke the headset that comes with the Desire. Now I want to buy a new headset that's cabled and have the same three buttons as the standard one.
Instead of just buying the stock one again, I hope to find something wtih better sound, does anyone know where to find that?
Regards!

Broke how? Do the controls still work?

accidentially pulled one of the earbuds of, so that I now only have one earbud.

If the controls still work you could solder a standard earphone plug insted of the earbuds, so you could connect any other headphones to it. I'm actually thinking of doing this so I can use the controls both with the headphone that in my car (line in). If you can wait I will do this to mine next week, so I could tell you how it goes.

balerio said:
If the controls still work you could solder a standard earphone plug insted of the earbuds, so you could connect any other headphones to it. I'm actually thinking of doing this so I can use the controls both with the headphone that in my car (line in). If you can wait I will do this to mine next week, so I could tell you how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do a google search for "diy-merge-original-headset-with-the-headphones-of-your-choice" to find a post on the modaco forums (I can't post the link). This should give you some tips - not great photos, but you can see the general idea. If you go this route it would be great if you could take some photos, especially on how the controls come apart.
Good luck! AD

not really good at solding so I'll rather buy new ones and further the cord out from the unit with the controls, so I don't think it's really difficult for me to do it.

I'm using a sony bluetooth headset with controls (MW600)
Volume sensor is fiddly (I rarely change vol so I dont mind) and it's nice and loud (louder than the stock headset). It pairs beautifully (real quick and easy) and the sound quality is good, I feel it could be slightly better though..
Receiving calls works as you would want, 1 press answer, mic works great, 1 press hang-up and autoswitch back to media.
Over all I'm happy with it

I'm starting to think the stock headset is a very bad design.
The control section with the buttons and mic should have tapered ends where the wires come out so it can't get caught on anything.
I have got mine caught on stuff twice, the second time the wire ripped the pad off the PCB which is no longer serviceable.
I've bought a new headset off ebay, this time Im going to get some black epoxy resin and make a tapered end so it cant get stuck on things.

AlienDonkey said:
Do a google search for "diy-merge-original-headset-with-the-headphones-of-your-choice" to find a post on the modaco forums (I can't post the link). This should give you some tips - not great photos, but you can see the general idea. If you go this route it would be great if you could take some photos, especially on how the controls come apart.
Good luck! AD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct! That is where I got the idea. But insted of soldering the new headphones to the pcb of the controls I was thinking of cutting the wires of the earbuds and soldering a female connector instead. So I would not need to open the controls/cut my headphones jack and I could use any kind of headphones since swapping would be very easy. Also I would have external controls in my car using the line in.
Do you guys want / need pictures (even though it is only a simple connector)?

Joopvan, sent you a pm

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.

[Q] Headphone Jack replacement?

My headphone jack was playing up, so I took it apart and in the process idiotically broke it all together.
I'm just wondering what part the 3.5mm jack is? Can I get a standard motorola one they've used for other models or is this one specific in any way? And more importantly, where to get it from?
Many thanks.

Sid19 said:
My headphone jack was playing up, so I took it apart and in the process idiotically broke it all together.
I'm just wondering what part the 3.5mm jack is? Can I get a standard motorola one they've used for other models or is this one specific in any way? And more importantly, where to get it from?
Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the jack soldered to the mainboard?

WIP Modding the mod. JBL speaker mod thread

Figured why not since it has been asked. Here are some images before i start work.
Disassembly requires removal of the back sticker. Its very thick held on by some pretty strong adhesive. It will come off one time and its not going to be able to be reused. I am working on a file for those with die cutters or a cricut like my self to remake a new rear sticker.
Back looks very promising. Test points and lots of them. And look at that. We have GND, outs for both AMP's AUDIO in and all that good stuff as well as full points for the ARM micro in it.
Mods. 3.5mm in and 3.5mm out. So it can be stand alone or you can make use of the mods amp and what not for some better audio. Micro switch to set it from the mods speakers, line in and line out.
Note.
Speakers are set up so they are sealed. You do not want to mod this area. JBL did all the math for this and you will alter the sound. Good news is there is a fair amount of room in the bottom of the unit. Also the kick stand can be easily replaced as well as the usb type c. Very well engineered unit. And no you can not add a larger battery. Thats the biggest that will fit.
This will not be a find the test point and solder a wire. It just will not work with how its layed out. It will all be done from the underside but sould be pretty easy. Hell you can relocate the type c under the kickstrand if you are skilled.

Awesome initiative. Keep it going!

Yeah, keep us posted for sure!
What are your goals/objectives for the mods? I'm very curious to see what can be done myself.

Interesting... I may open mine and turn it into a boom box.

I'll be working on this more this weekend. Did some measurements with the test points and got a sloppy and quick 3.5mm on it that worked. Now to start tracing the traces and planing it out.

bignazpwns said:
I'll be working on this more this weekend. Did some measurements with the test points and got a sloppy and quick 3.5mm on it that worked. Now to start tracing the traces and planing it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any updates? I haven't had time to mess with mine at all.

bignazpwns said:
Figured why not since it has been asked. Here are some images before i start work.
Disassembly requires removal of the back sticker. Its very thick held on by some pretty strong adhesive. It will come off one time and its not going to be able to be reused. I am working on a file for those with die cutters or a cricut like my self to remake a new rear sticker.
Back looks very promising. Test points and lots of them. And look at that. We have GND, outs for both AMP's AUDIO in and all that good stuff as well as full points for the ARM micro in it.
Mods. 3.5mm in and 3.5mm out. So it can be stand alone or you can make use of the mods amp and what not for some better audio. Micro switch to set it from the mods speakers, line in and line out.
Note.
Speakers are set up so they are sealed. You do not want to mod this area. JBL did all the math for this and you will alter the sound. Good news is there is a fair amount of room in the bottom of the unit. Also the kick stand can be easily replaced as well as the usb type c. Very well engineered unit. And no you can not add a larger battery. Thats the biggest that will fit.
This will not be a find the test point and solder a wire. It just will not work with how its layed out. It will all be done from the underside but sould be pretty easy. Hell you can relocate the type c under the kickstrand if you are skilled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I'm currently trying to mod my JBL soundboost 2 to add a jack input because my custom rom doesn't support audio routing for moto mods, but I can't find where to make a connection to the amplifier input. I found something to make a connection at amplifier output, but if I use this the sound will be very low,like in headphones. that's why I'm searching for the amplifier input.
I know it was long ago, but I just found your work on xda and I would like to know if you remember where the amplifier input is located. Thanks !
If you can't or don't remember don't worry

Hello, how are you? I hope you have had an exit, for weeks I have been measuring in free time to try to add a 3.5 mm jack or a bluetooth module, but I can not achieve it since it has an i2c and an i2s bus and I do not know how to connect it , do you have any idea how? Thanks a lot