Nice iPhone 3GS dock for less than $15

The Insten DAPPIPODCR10 dock is a nice, full-featured dock that's available very inexpensively on ebay. I paid less than $13 for mine - with free shipping! (Search for item # 370237537729) The dock comes with a remote control, an audio/video cable, a USB-to-USB cable (for charging) and more.

This dock isn't perfect- the remote will control volume, but nothing more. (I'm using an iPhone 3GS - YMMV.) Also, the infamous "not designed for iPhone" message comes up when you cradle a 3GS, but you can click "No" (so you don't go into flight mode) and it still works. The audio DOES work, and, with this easy little mod, the cradle will charge your iPhone while its docked. All for less than $15!

To do this mod, you'll need...
a small Phillips screwdriver
sidecuts (wire cutters)
some electrical tape
a soldering iron
some solder
a package of 100K ohm 1/4 watt resistors from Radio Shack
(and of course, the Insten cradle.)

Step 1 Disassembly/Prep

Start by removing the stick-on feet from the bottom of the cradle. Put them on a piece of wax paper so you can easily reuse them.

With the feet removed, the four screws (that hold the case together) will be exposed. Remove them.

Pull off the bottom cover, flip it over and use it as a nice little tray for the screws so they don't get lost.

Cut a couple of small pieces of electrical tape and stick them (in two layers) right above the 4 solder points for the USB connector as shown in the picture. (That picture was taken after one of the resistors was already soldered in place. The one I took before soldering that resistor came out blurry, so I had to use this one.)

Comments

[bababooey18]

Or you could just plug an AC adapter into the back where the plug is. I was hoping this was a workaround for the "This accessory not supported" message. Oh well.