Video Cable on Ebay

[dr g]

Originally Posted by PolloLoco

You're aptly named. I suspect you're calling ME a dumbass- and it's great to be called names because you're too incompetent to break a freaking wire. I bought an EBAY adapter for about $3, broke a pin and mated it with a $1 video cable and created a video cable. Morons like you argued that I was lying about the prices so I linked the EBAY auction, cited the exact make and model of cable - and even the store in Manchester, CT where I purchased it.

Since you failed at using this method, AS WELL as cutting the wire of your initial adapter - I'm sure you'll question my success. So when I get home, I'll take pictures of the TWO adapters I made - as well as screen shots of the results.

Seriously, there must be something badly wrong with you to have repeatedly failed such a simple task - and then go off ranting on a forum like this.

Back on topic - I have no problem with purchasing the newer cables this gentleman has offered, due to the functionality he's added. Almost no one has been able to add a switch to the modded HTC adapter, much less multiple outputs. I had a problem with people using the info here, and selling it directly for bloated prices - with nothing added in the process.

Actually you can do a perfect job on that ebay adaptor and have it not work. I don't know why. But honestly it's not worth my time (and many others') to order yet another one of them just to find out if it might work. Could be my cable, I did not have an iPod cable, but people swear you can use normal camcorder cables, which I tried about four different ones. Ultimately it was taking too long to figure out, so ordering the Brando cable for $16 made sense rather than ordering or paying exorbitant local prices for an iPod cable which was not sure to work. And I'm very happy I did.

BTW the "added functionality" of the DIY eBay adaptor is BS. The "multiple outputs" is nothing, just the idea that you could plug in an extusb video cable and a 3.5mm video cable into the adaptor, the same way you can plug in an extUSB headphone and a 3.5mm headphone (and even a 2.5mm headphone) and have multiple simultaneous headphones.

Ultimately, not everyone wants to modify their stock adaptor or use an adaptor-based solution, that's the long and short of it. I'm perfectly capable of modifying it and putting in an appropriately-sized switch (the knob is ridiculous). But I just don't want to. I want that adaptor in its stock form and I like the option to just have the cable and the TP with no adaptor. What's so hard to understand and accept about that?

[ou2mame]

you can't use a "normal" camcorder cable, especially if it only has mono audio. you need a STEREO 1/8th jack cable. the ipod video cable has a different wiring setup than normal cables, which is why everyone says IPOD cables. STEREO IPOD CABLE. by cutting the blue wire, i don't think i've lost any functionality of the dongle itself. headphones still work, charging still works. i mean, sure, i don't have the 2.5 jack doing anything for me, but realistically, who would want that? if you are going to split the video, you should be doing it properly, which would be using an actual splitter on the cables itself. there's a reason why there's audio feedback with the "modified" dongle being sold on ebay. you can go to any dollar store and get the ipod video cable for a dollar. i have a real ipod cable and i see no difference between the two. i bought the dollar store one to test for a friend to make sure it worked fine compared to the real cable, and i saw absolutely no difference. its not high res output, just 640x480, so cable quality shouldn't really matter.

[dr g]

Originally Posted by ou2mame

you can go to any dollar store and get the ipod video cable for a dollar.

No, you can't. I actually wasted some time looking when I saw that posted by either you or someone else. So no, it's not that simple or cheap for everyone. The time I spent looking literally was not worth it.

BTW MANY people have reported using normal camcorder cables, if you have been following the threads at all. Believe me, if you are having problems, you follow them a lot closer than if yours works. I haven't seen a 3.5mm camcorder cable ... ever ... with only mono audio.

Originally Posted by ou2mame

i don't think i've lost any functionality of the dongle itself. headphones still work, charging still works. i mean, sure, i don't have the 2.5 jack doing anything for me, but realistically, who would want that?

You don't think you've lost any functionality of the dongle but you have lost some of the functionality of the dongle? *facepalm* Come on ...

And I for one would want 2.5mm jack functionality. I actually prefer a single-ear, wired solution, which is most common as a 2.5mm cell-phone accessory. You've just convinced me I did the right thing by not modifying my stock adaptor.

[Hafrust]

Lots of rage in here....it's only a cable people.

[Raging Idiot]

Bleh...more rhetoric. Let me put my gerbil IQ to the best of my Raging Idiot abilities.

Cut to the logic. Just the facts maam.

Multiple people have failed with the 2 in 1 mini adapter which you (PolloLoco) claim to work. In fact, I think you are the only one that says it works. I had used a link you provided to the one you said would work. Do you still have the link you are willing to post back up for the world to see? Put up or shut up.

Multiple people have given good feedback to the Super-Multi-adapter (switch version) sold on ebay.

The switch mechanism on the device is there so you don't have to buy a separate adapter, or find a separate adapter, or whatever. I thought that was self-evident. It's just a simple splitter, not rocket science. That's all it is.
So yes, it can be claimed to have all the functions it has, as no other adapter has all those functions...indeed, they also don't all come with a detachable rca cable that you can use for other things. I've found zero feedback or quality problems in hooking up one or multiple tvs when using this adapter. I haven't seen another adapter or adapter mod yet that will allow you to still talk on all of the 3 ports...2.5, 3.5, and USB like this one.

Multiple people have failed at making a "perfect" DIY solution on the first attempt. Mine was not a failure, just a rather bad visual imperfection from some spillover from the glue...I'm willing to bet it happens on the vast majority that try this. Also, some have claimed other problems such as some sort of "tv-out confusion" which the phone locks up, and other situations with breaking the case.

I come here only after feeling slightly misled by advertisments from people claiming $16 with free shipping for a certain cable, which isn't true, probably just a mistake, but still misleading...and then misled again by the 2in1 mini adapter mod, which doesn't work...and then misled again about the cutting the blue wire is all that is needed and everything works great. It does not all just work great...there is an unfortunate side effect of this...
You lose the ability to use your headphones and can not talk with it anymore. Maybe not a big deal to some, but really I prefer having the adapter for this rather than the TV/out function, so to have both is really the ideal.
Also, you still have to get the correct type of RCA cable for everything to work.
Someone here said the Lyra Video Jukebox cable would work...I happen to have one and can tell you it is terrible.
I know everyone is just wanting to help out and some really like the "thanks" etc but really... in the end the best solution for me was the all in one adapter that I and others have tried and approved. That guy is quite sharp and I asked about any future projects and apparently he's working on something that will really blow this away anyway...I'm not giving it away but he mentioned it would be done in 1-2 weeks so stay tuned...and be nice!

[dr g]

Originally Posted by Raging Idiot

I come here only after feeling slightly misled by advertisments from people claiming $16 with free shipping for a certain cable, which isn't true, probably just a mistake, but still misleading...

I double-checked the Brando price since I know for a fact I purchased at $16 w/free shipping. Lo and behold they've added a $3 shipping fee. That kind of sucks, but it's still a good deal compared to other solutions.

I wonder if they lost money shipping it to me lol

EDIT: Ah this explains it ... it was a limited-time Free shipping offer. http://gizmodo.com/5074753/dealzmodo...groovy-gadgets

[PolloLoco]

Here's the pictures of the two cables I made for the Touch Pro.

The first I made via the pzztgotbagz method. The thread is the following:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=42674
It involves splicing the wiring from a composite cable and a 2.5mm adapter cable. It wasn't easy, and I'd say it took about an hour of work and 8 dollars worth of ingredients. It ended up looking really nice when I added a short section of shrink tubing to the electric tape I used. It was the first cabling job I'd ever done, and I needed to borrow some wire strippers.

The second I made out of a 3.5 mm adapter which is a variation in the following thread:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=46608
I took a 3.5mm adapter I already had and broke pin 4. I then added a $1 (I swear to God) ipod/camcorder cable from the Telstar brand, purchased from "Dollar Dreams" in West Hartford Connecticut. The whole process took 5 minutes and cost me about 4-5 dollars in ingredients.

Both cables work great, and the picture is clearer than comes out in the pictures. Both have the same functionality as the commercial video cables, in that I can charge while watching something on the TV.

I'm not surprised that Raging Idiot wasn't able to get this to work - because of his overall incompetence. Any reader of this thread will see that he automatically assumes that if it didn't work for him, it must not for anyone else. However, read through both threads and see the number of successes for both processes. Despite what the Idiot says - more were successful than not.

That said, I'm definitely surprised and disappointed that dr. g wasn't able to get this going, though I had tried to walk him through it. For that reason alone, I'd back off from this option as a definite, can't-miss fix.

[dr g]

Yeah there's not much to breaking the 4 pin, in fact if I were modifying the stock adaptor, I'd do the 4 pin mod rather than the blue wire mod. But the adaptor I got (the second one in your pics) just didn't work for me.

I think you're being unnecessarily harsh on RI, his point is a valid one, and indeed the same as mine. DIY isn't the best solution for *everyone*, and once prices come down and availability goes up on commercial cables, DIY will be eclipsed.

[PolloLoco]

Originally Posted by dr g

Yeah there's not much to breaking the 4 pin, in fact if I were modifying the stock adaptor, I'd do the 4 pin mod rather than the blue wire mod. But the adaptor I got (the second one in your pics) just didn't work for me.

I think you're being unnecessarily harsh on RI, his point is a valid one, and indeed the same as mine. DIY isn't the best solution for *everyone*, and once prices come down and availability goes up on commercial cables, DIY will be eclipsed.

Your point RI would be correct - IF the Idiot hadn't started the namecalling by calling me a dumbass because he wasn't able to get any of his to work right, either aesthetically or functionally. I have zero respect for him as a result.

I kind of agree with you about commercial cables - but honestly, the ones that ebay vendor is now producing are quite tantalizing in the sense that they add a switch to retain headphone functionality. I no longer need a video cable obviously, but I can see that being a good option for someone. I personally had fun making the two cables I did - and I saved a lot of money in the process, in comparison to the expansys prices at the time.

[Raging Idiot]

Originally Posted by dr g

Yeah there's not much to breaking the 4 pin, in fact if I were modifying the stock adaptor, I'd do the 4 pin mod rather than the blue wire mod. But the adaptor I got (the second one in your pics) just didn't work for me.

I think you're being unnecessarily harsh on RI, his point is a valid one, and indeed the same as mine. DIY isn't the best solution for *everyone*, and once prices come down and availability goes up on commercial cables, DIY will be eclipsed.

Yep...

Anyway, so anyone that would like to purchase his adapter can go to the link he provides here:

Originally Posted by PolloLoco

It has to be EXTusb.

Here's a current auction for the same adapter, from the same vendor.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HTC-Touch-Diamond-Tilt-mini-USB-3-5mm-Stereo-Adapter_W0QQitemZ250333026626QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPD A_Accessories?hash=item250333026626&_trksid=p3911. c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3 A1318

I should note that I tried to cut into the seam first like others did for the one that came with the phone. But it was way too thick. So I decided to go the harder route of breaking pin #4. Once that's done (10 minutes tops) you're done so long as you've got the right camcorder or ipod cable.

Another reason you may not want to consider breaking the adapter that came with your phone, is that it's much more expensive to replace. It's called the "Multifunction Audio Cable YC A200" and the cheapest price I've found it for has been $15. So I decided to use my $4 EBAY adapter instead.

Btw - you can get the regular Multi-Adapters cheaper than $15 on Ebay now...at around $13..
but for about $19 more you basically get that and the RCA cable and the TV-out ability. Of course the video splitting ability might also be beneficial to some like it was for me...and at least you don't have to chase down adapters, which I personally lose track of quite regularly. :P