Video Cable on Ebay

[dr g]

Originally Posted by hoddy4

Who is paying $30? Mine was available for $22 and has more functionality than the so-called commercial ones. I've done the DIY before and if I spend more than 1/2hr. of my time it's not worth it.

The OP linked an auction that ended at 30 bucks (PLUS shipping). There's no reason to bother when, even at 22 bucks, you can get a commercial version for less. The "added functionality" is baloney, a side-effect of it being a DIY job based on the headphone adaptor.

BTW I do agree that saving the time on hacking it up yourself is worth some money; I tried and failed myself with a different type of adaptor (that others had gotten to work). However I AM saying that there's no reason to buy someone else's DIY stuff when you can get commercial, better quality stuff for the same or less.

[hoddy4]

I agree that either way can be satisfactory. However, I'm not really sure what separates the so-called commercial from some of the DIYs. In some cases, the DIYs can be superior.

[dr g]

Originally Posted by hoddy4

I agree that either way can be satisfactory. However, I'm not really sure what separates the so-called commercial from some of the DIYs. In some cases, the DIYs can be superior.

Design and possibly construction quality (and thus reliability). Commercial solutions are much more elegant than hacked boxes and/or cut-and-soldered wires. DIYs aren't superior in any real way.

[Raging Idiot]

Originally Posted by hoddy4

I'd recommend this one also. The guy seems to be from Atlanta. He is very helpful and I'm sure he is not making big bucks on each one. The build quality is good and it has 3 outputs, usb headphones, 2.5mm, and 3.5mm. It also has usb power in and a switch for video and talking and a 6' rca cable. The video output quality is good but as the above poster states there is no objective standard. In my opinion, the output is composite so the quality will never really wow you. Youtube on a 30" Dell TV is quite good. The only negative that I have seen so far is a little bit of humming/buzzing from the speakers when the video is engaged. The fact I was able to get it for $22 is strictly a function of the auction style.

Yeah, some people must think if it's not purchased from chinese labor or some sort of assembly line then it just isn't worthwhile....while others seem to think that taking a gamble on destroying their adapter is better than purchasing one of these already built and potentially just keeping their other one as a spare. Also, when I first tried doing it myself I had to go to Radio Shack and purchase a soldering gun and solder, then went back to get glue, then dinged the casing while opening it, then while closing it the superglue spilled out a bit and immediately fused into the side of the casing causing irreversable damage. The time it took to do all this was only about an hour or so, but sheesh, nothing really accomplished in the end. Although it did function, it just looked so bad I was ashamed to even show it....because being a software engineer for 15 years and VERY experienced in DIY projects, it just wasn't quite good enough for me to claim it. If taken a bit more time and bit more luck, I could have done a decent job on first attempt but really the one I bought on ebay cost less than I get paid an hr. Especially if you factor in the cost of the multi-adapter, soldering iron,solder,glue, decent quality rca cable, TIME, etc.
Like others have mentioned, some of the suggested items and mods simply fail to function or are inferior. I've noticed an audible hiss in the one I made and even more-so in the cheap commercial one that my friend purchased from HongKong. However the one I purchased from that ebay ad the hiss is not nearly as noticeable. It does seem to depend on what system I hook it up to though. Actually, I think if you turn the phone's volume up all the way (then use the tv/stereo volume control to bring it down) it will just about completely eliminate the hiss.

btw- here's a guy that won it for $15 <shipped>!

[ou2mame]

its so not a gamble... you pry open the box... you snip the blue wire.. you close the box... however you want. tape, glue, whatever. plug in an ipod cable, and you're done. very simple. i went to my friends house (she just got a pro), snipped her wire, drank some beers, and left.. it took 5 minutes w/out the glue drying (another 30 seconds). i don't know how you could possibly mess that up.

[dr g]

For me, a significant stumbling block was getting an iPod cable. They are quite expensive locally, and if you have to order one ... well it's not too much of a step from there to ordering a cable you know for sure works.

[Raging Idiot]

yeah I was mistaken when I said no one was mentioning their botched attemps, as I just re-read some posts of all the problems and mistakes. It looks like more failed in making a decent looking/working unit than those that claim to have succeeded. Although, again, this is the internet and there will always be those that say they are better/smarter/faster/look at me/etc...lol

I might have paid a premium but after reviewing it against the one I made and the Hong Kong version it is DEFINITELY better quality all around and even though I dont really need the extra functions it does give a certain level of bragging rights which is always fun...lol...I mean really we dont actually need all the functions of this phone either. I'm getting a second one for my friend who is returning his commercial one.

[hoddy4]

No doubt the guy is making a nice product. He also tries to be helpful. I find the tone in some of these replies that commercial is always better than DIY interesting. Does that mean that the ROMs, etc. being produced through the Kitchen are always inferior to the manufacturer's?

[ou2mame]

the whole time vs money thing is insane. i don't know how anybody can botch cutting one wire. you don't even have to do anything. just snip the wire in two places and close it up, so the wire can't find itself again. that's seriously it. people are paying enough money to fill their gas tank on something they are just too lazy to do themselves. i can't imagine how anybody could lack the ability to cut a wire... that's just astonishing to me. and even if you do, just go to the sprint store and get another, they throw them out left and right. is it really about laziness? that's just sad.

it does kinda bother me that there's people trying to make money off of information that was created strictly to help people. it bothers me more that people are so lazy that they actually buy the products though.

[Raging Idiot]

thats bs about them throwing the adapters out. I went to 3 stores and none had it or claimed to throw them out...lol... Maybe you're one of those with some sort of superpower of effortlessly finding amazing deals or maybe you are lieing (but you'll say with emphasis you are not)...and thats bs about buying some other cheap adapter and making it work by just snipping the 4pin...I tried it on the EXACT one that dumbass said he used...I even bought 3 because it was "such a good deal". And just a reminder, thats bs about the cheap HongKong commercial unit being any better when in fact it is somewhat worse once compared simultaneously...and just for good measure, thats bs that cutting the blue wire will magically grow a switch to allow you to use your normal headphones to talk. It wont grow a switch so its not the same so stop it already.

I had asked this ebay seller a number of questions and received very good and very quick responses. He is giving me a substantial discount on the second one I'm buying, so yeah I'm giving a fair and honest review in his defense. I mentioned this site and he said yeah he reads it and its unfortunate that anyone is upset about this since it is possible someone figured out how he did it from the first few he sold on Craigslist a few months ago. Not a big deal though everyone has choices or else it would be a HongKong monopoly.
I'm not saying his is amazing or anything, just slightly better in quality design & functionality.