Add INTERNAL Bluetooth Capability To Your iPod 4G

Step 7 Testing

Before you close the case, turn on the iPod and play a song. Turn on the Bluetooth adapter and verify that you get the blinking blue light.

If all went well, you should now be hearing the song through your wireless headphones.
I am using Sony Ericsson's HBH-DS200 bluetooth headphone receiver module but you can use any A2DP-compliant stereo headset such as the Motorola S9, etc.

Close the case and enjoy.

SUCCESS!! I introduce to you the world's first stereo Bluetooth-Enabled iPod.

Note: Once you close the case you really don't need to use the switch on the Jabra Bluetooth anymore unless you're planning on pairing another set of headphones. If you turn off your wireless headphones, the Bluetooth module will go into standby/sleep mode. According to Jabra, the tiny stock battery is good for up to 250 hrs of standby time. Hooked up directly to the iPod battery, I imagine you'd get over 500 hours standby (that's over 20 days!).

Comments

[sushiwill]

everything installed and blinking (no smoke - whew), but I have no idea how to actually pair my headphones with the internal Jabra. Should they automatically pair?

[deaukema]

could anyone help me? I can't find the c22 pad :S

[cdubnbird]

could you add an AM/FM radio receiver in there? i have a mini could i put a flash card in, bluetooth, and AM/FM all in? as far as the push button would adding an electronic switch wired to the area on the ipod next to the audio jack with i think three ports, ya know for changing songs using the headphones and what not, anyways could you just turn it on using those ports?

[kerry63]

Do you think the Jabra A120S would pair with another A120S, and act as a transmitter and receiver? So you could listen to music over your car stereos head unit with no wires.

[futbolfreak129]

i like this... i can easily tell that it is not going to work with my currently broken mini, but i will consider trying this when i get a new ipod (bigger than mini)

[Whatnot]

Clever and clean, except that of course the battery is draining more quickly, and the BT antenna is communicating a bit one sided, forwards, since it's encased in the metal of the back. But all in all still a good hack, and the proof is in the pudding, if it works it works. And you could use this hack for most any portable device with audio!

[fstedie]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, the battery is draining more quickly, but not as much as you'd think. Besides, in my case since I don't have the HD anymore, I'm still way better than stock on battery life.

By the way, I've also used the hack to send audio directly to my custom iPod boombox and works great!

[wecannotbesaved]

Couldn't one just throw a tiny switch in there to power on/off the bluetooth module?

[fstedie]

You can and I will. However, I want it to look OEM!

[wecannotbesaved]

haha, makes sense. I'll try it

[locofocos]

wait, u took out the hard drive? Then where does the ipod get the data from? Maybe streaming from something?

[fstedie]

HD was replaced with a compact flash card. see my other instructables for details.

[larskflem]

great project, thanks for sharing

[Calvinator]

Whoa, you go guy!! I assume this can communicate w any Bluetooth device. Car stereo, voice-activated refrigerator, brain-scanning garage door opener, etc.

[fstedie]

yes, if I had a BT enabled head unit in my car it would eliminate the need to hard wire the iPod or the use of an FM modulator/transmitter.