The modding of an iPod dock-connected Bluetooth audio transmitter

Post Reply
User avatar
headcrash
Site Admin
Posts: 169
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:40 am
Location: The sea of meatballs
Gopher: gopher.deadnet.se
IRC: Headcrash @ irc.libera.chat
Jabber: headcrash@og.im
Contact:

The modding of an iPod dock-connected Bluetooth audio transmitter

Post by headcrash »

So, me being me, I bought an el-cheapo bluetooth audio transmitter that plugs into the dock connector of old iPods. I didn't feel like spending over $100 on a name brand actually good one, so instead I went the $20 route, which ended up in the position I am now.
I got annoyed with the terrible fit and finish before I could even take a picture of the thing before I ripped it apart. But it looks like this, and it sticks out even further from the device than you might think!
261237420_max.jpg
261237420_max.jpg (32.83 KiB) Viewed 11080 times
So I couldn't live with that awfulness, so apart it came, which exposed a pretty large, very sparse PCB that could have been half the size. But here we are..
IMG_3179.jpeg
IMG_3179.jpeg (374.98 KiB) Viewed 11080 times
As you can see, it sticks out very far from the iPod, which completely runs the feel, look and portability. This needs to be fixed! So, the goal is to desolder the dock-connector from the board, and build up some mechanical structure to go from the connector to the back of the iPod, where the PCB can be mounted on the back, to essentially fold it together. There is a fair amount of metal to solder things to on the sticky-outy dock-connector, so my thinking is to solder up a mechanical structure of some type to span the gap, solder wires between the two and then encase the whole thing in epoxy or other suitable goop.
Here is the rough idea.. The PCB does fit quite well on the back of the device.
IMG_3180.jpeg
IMG_3180.jpeg (388.06 KiB) Viewed 11080 times
Everything is a smoke machine if you operate it wrong enough.
fsck.life
deadnet.se
User avatar
82mhz
Posts: 67
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2024 11:39 am
Location: Germany
IRC: _82mhz on libera
Mastodon: @82mhz@oldbytes.space
Contact:

Re: The modding of an iPod dock-connected Bluetooth audio transmitter

Post by 82mhz »

I there enough room inside the iPod to put the PCB inside, if you remove the connector? I assume the only connections it needs are the power and audio lines... And you would end up with an iPod with integrated Bluetooth.

Connectivity might be an issue though through the metal case...
User avatar
headcrash
Site Admin
Posts: 169
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:40 am
Location: The sea of meatballs
Gopher: gopher.deadnet.se
IRC: Headcrash @ irc.libera.chat
Jabber: headcrash@og.im
Contact:

Re: The modding of an iPod dock-connected Bluetooth audio transmitter

Post by headcrash »

Yes, that idea did cross my mind. That iPod is flash-modded with a CompactFlash card in place of the original Microdrive, so there is some room because the CF card is slightly thinner. But indeed the connectivity would be an issue. Not only is the casing aluminium, but there are metal ends under the plastic, and the drive is on the back of the PCB, which has a ground plane. So there really isn't any way to get the signal through. It would have been slick otherwise!
Everything is a smoke machine if you operate it wrong enough.
fsck.life
deadnet.se
User avatar
82mhz
Posts: 67
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2024 11:39 am
Location: Germany
IRC: _82mhz on libera
Mastodon: @82mhz@oldbytes.space
Contact:

Re: The modding of an iPod dock-connected Bluetooth audio transmitter

Post by 82mhz »

Damn you Steve Jobs for making your stylish music players into a faraday's cage!! :evil:
User avatar
headcrash
Site Admin
Posts: 169
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:40 am
Location: The sea of meatballs
Gopher: gopher.deadnet.se
IRC: Headcrash @ irc.libera.chat
Jabber: headcrash@og.im
Contact:

Re: The modding of an iPod dock-connected Bluetooth audio transmitter

Post by headcrash »

lol yeah! It would have been far better is it was some cheap plastic thing! Like a Zune! :D
Everything is a smoke machine if you operate it wrong enough.
fsck.life
deadnet.se
User avatar
nathanpc
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2024 3:50 pm
Location: Portugal
IRC: nathanpc @ irc.libera.chat
Mastodon: @nathanpc@fosstodon.org
Contact:

Re: The modding of an iPod dock-connected Bluetooth audio transmitter

Post by nathanpc »

Dankpods posted about something similar back in 2020. Now it’s your turn! Haha
User avatar
headcrash
Site Admin
Posts: 169
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2024 9:40 am
Location: The sea of meatballs
Gopher: gopher.deadnet.se
IRC: Headcrash @ irc.libera.chat
Jabber: headcrash@og.im
Contact:

Re: The modding of an iPod dock-connected Bluetooth audio transmitter

Post by headcrash »

Haha, indeed!
I did start this project, got bored, and not super eager to get it done because the BT Tx doesn't sound all thaaaaat amazing and you can't control the volume of it since it's using the dock line-out.. So it's been put on the back burner for now. :P
Everything is a smoke machine if you operate it wrong enough.
fsck.life
deadnet.se
Post Reply