Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

OK, I know there are like 5 other DIY Video cable threads, but I promise you this is the easiest/simplest one. I've consolidated all the information necessary as it needn't be more complicated than it ought to be. It requires no cutting, no opening up of the little box, no clipping of pins. For these reasons this hack is the most easily reversible one, should you ever decide to use it as a headphone adapter again.

//according to chronster, the headphone capability should still work with the tape on and transmit audio, but the phone just won't be able to tell that its a headset. Some programs like Audio Booster require the phone to detect a headset to work. If you don't require headset detect, then leaving the tape on should theoretically have no real detrimental effect, but I have yet to test this personally.

Required Items
- HTC USB Multi-Adapter
- 3.5mm AV Cable (iPod or Camcorder)
- Tape

Like many of the other ones you use the included USB adapter with the 2.5, 3.5, PC/AC USB, and headphone USB slots.

http://home.earthlink.net/~pubftp/IMG_0191.jpg

You also need a camcorder/ipod 3.5mm AV cable that comes with the yellow, red, white composite cables. The one I got was 3.50$ on amazon including shipping (http://www.amazon.com/Macally-Audio-...4067245&sr=8-1 thanks to akastixx for finding these!). Of course you might even have one laying around.

http://home.earthlink.net/~pubftp/IMG_0190.jpg

You can use this chart to see if your camcorder/zune/ipod AV cable can work (for those using the camcorder one, you just need to swap the red audio cable with the yellow video cable when you plug it into the TV). For reference the one I have is the iPod Video cable, I don't know whether the right/left is switched for my cable but when I find out I will update you guys. Credit to stroths for finding this picture.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...nouts-zune.jpg

The "Hack"

Now unlike the other 'hacks', all you need to do for this one is use tape! Thats right, just normal ol' scotch tape or electricians tape. I don't have electrician tape lying around, so I had to settle with scotch tape that I double layered. I cut about a 1mm slice and using a precision flathead screwdriver guided it over the 4th pin on the USB. I would probably recommend electricians tape over scotch since, scotch doesn't seem as sturdy, but this sliver of tape has lasted me through a dozen or so plug-ins and plug-outs. Even if it breaks its not too terrible to make a new one.

http://home.earthlink.net/~pubftp/IMG_0192.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~pubftp/IMG_0193.jpg

Credit to pzztgotbagz for this picture and the original hack.
http://home.earthlink.net/~pubftp/attachment.jpeg

Proof of Concept
Here it is in action, looks pretty nice and a job well done for $3.50

http://home.earthlink.net/~pubftp/DSC_1225.jpg

I'm not sure how the HTC one works, but one of the great perks of this one is that you can charge while playing videos on the screen!

By the way a couple notes to add. The screen on the phone is of 4:3 aspect ratio, most HDTVs are 16:10 or 16:9 aspect ratios, meaning if you play videos without adjusting the settings of your HDTV, they are going to look stretched and funky. In the picture displayed above, I haven't made the adjustment yet.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

Thanks Dark, good info and pics 8)

I gave you a "Thanks", but it seems that the site has been having problems with "Thanks" these past few days.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

OP, you f'n rock!!! I love this, cuz I use headphone more than video out so it's a simple 2 minute job whenever i want video out and it doesn't ruin my adaptor. You rock!!!

p.s. the thanks button works, just posts don't show who's thanked them anymore.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

great idea, ive got 5 of those adapters, ill have to try pulling that pin permanently and make a permanent video cable

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

i have a few of the dongles... i just cut the blue wire in one of them... works perfectly.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

Thanks man this really does work, I just had an old wire laying around, everything isn’t crystal clear like the phone screen, but I think that might be because I have an old crappy wire thanks again!!

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

i prefer snipping the blue wire over sticking tape into the plug...

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

i prefer being able to use it either way i want whenever i want :)!

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

Some have gone so far as to put a switch in, but really, headphones still work. The audioboost app doesn't work though so that sucks, but coreplayer has a built in eq so that makes up for it.

I dunno, taking off a piece of tape and putting it back on seems like more trouble than using coreplayer.

Also, if you go to a sprint store and tell them you lost your multimedia adapter, they usually give u a free replacement, so you could have one normal one and one modified one (like i do lol.)

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

I perfer to go and buy 1 :-)

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

Did you get your hands on an "official" one? If you could do a image comparison of the two (DIY method vs prefab) I'd thank you :)

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

If blue wire is pin 4, then this fix works exactly the same way by blocking off the connection to from pin 4 to the phone. If you can still use the headphones for your hack then headphones should work exactly the same way for this one too. For those who want to revert back to full headset functionality, they just need to remove the tape. If you leave the tape on you can still retain partial headset functionality.

Since I'm very lazy, I'd rather just tape up the USB since it takes all but a minute to do. Opening up the box to get to the blue wire and cutting/splicing it seems like too much work for me, hahah. Especially if I ever want to revert again as well.

This fix is really meant for people who don't use the Tv-out function that often and want to temporarily jury-rig their already existing adapter to a tv-out adapter. I personally didn't want to have to buy/get/beg for a new adapter or do anything crazy like break open the box or permanently break the pins. If you're serious about tv-out functionality, I would probably look into the official OEM adapter as I think that's the only one with proper grounding to the audio, though I'm not 100% sure.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

Actually I don't think there's a reason to remove the tape, the modded adapters retain all their features. If you hack the adapter that came with your phone - you DO retain headset AND headphone use so long as you close out the video out program (without choosing NTSC or PAL).

I used tape to cover pin 4 of my adapter, and was able to watch videos on my TV. But also - when I closed out the "video out" program at the PAL/NTSC screen (top right button, then close it in running programs) - I could then successfully connect a wired headset. I used a 2.5mm headset and held a conversation with my roommate.

I think this is great news, so you don't have to add a switch or pay $40 to an ebay scammer who has. The adapter should retain all it's functionality. Hopefully if others can confirm - there's no reason NOT to modify your stock adapter.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

I actually tried OP's idea and it works wonderfully with the 3.5mm camcorder to RCA cables that my father had lying around his house, though the video out is the red while audio was the yellow and white.

I was wondering if that would affect it much since whenever I play an episode of Heroes through this mod, the screen flickers blue in Core Player. Though it doesn't flicker with Youtube, it flickers very noticeably with Core Player.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

I've heard thats an issue with CorePlayer, try using TCPMP. When I used TCPMP to play some videos I didn't notice any blue flickering. The only thing is that the black levels are a bit higher than normal so everything seems brighter than it should. Theres no setting that I know of to change brightness on the TP end except in the player or the TV.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

What is the easiest way to open up the black rectangular section in order to cut the blue wire?

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

I used a box cutter. I wedged it into the middle of the two pieces, then twisted it slightly. After trying to get it to snap back on, it snapped on fine, but it was much easier to remove it a second time so I used super glue to keep it shut.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

Thank you Chronster, your advice worked like a charm. I was able to split it, cut the blue wire and it tested working. It has a decent picture for what its worth. I printed the pinout as reference and used clear tape to seal it around the housing to keep it together.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

word that is goood i just did it an im happy as ever i wish it was that easy to get the fm radio to work lol

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

Thanks sent. I was planning on doing another mod involving cutting the wire, but I was NOT about to do it until i had a second adapter with which to play with. I took your advice and my cables came in the male. Broke out some electrical tape I had (millions of uses) and a trusty razor blade. Within about 2 mins I had perfect audio and video on my TV. No Fuss No Muss. Thanks a bunch. This will come in handy very soon. I may try the other mod if I ever get another adapter from sprint, but this is more than okay for now. SO EASY. Thanks again.

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

so let me get this straight...

step 1, put the tape on the contact
step 2, plug that cable in the round headphone jack port on the dongle
step 3, profit?

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

pretty much, though you forgot the ??? part :P

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

well someone has gone and figured out how to do it without spliceing and cutting or busting pins!! check it out!
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=59236

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

heh, the circle of thanks goes around full circle! this works flawlessly, so does the reg hack only! option http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=59236

ugh, i bought the cables that i recommended and some retractable one just in case, but i only received the retractable ones.

anyway, the video out screen comes up, but i get no video on my tv. i select ntsc, but nothing happens. switching the red and vellow doesn't work either. audio is fine, but it has always been. maybe it's the cables. EDIT: This works on my standard def TV, but not my high def. I even used the option to accept a standard def signal (phone) and no dice. Any suggestions anyone?

Re: Best DIY Video Cable! (Best $3.50 You've Ever Spent!)
 

That's weird that your TV doesn't pick up the composite signal. The input slots on your TV may be broken. Just double check you're on the right channel and plugged in all the right areas. I was able to use it with my HDTV so it may be something wrong with the inputs on your HDTV. The ones you recommended work absolutely perfect though.