Nexus (and Other Androids) Headset Remote With Media Controls
Intro: Nexus (and Other Androids) Headset Remote With Media Controls
After being inspired by this project to make a remote control for a Nexus One using three resistance values across pins 3 and 4 of the headset plug - 0 ohms for play/pause, 220 ohms for skip back, and 600 ohms for skip forward, I set out to make something similar. Since inline remotes are very common for Apple devices, I looked into modifying one to work with my Galaxy Nexus and came across this project.
Apple remotes have three buttons, volume up, play/pause, and volume down. While play/pause uses the same 0 ohms as Android, volume up and down use complicated signals. Fortunately for me, the method they use didn't look like it would interfere with the resistances for Android, and if it did, I could probably cut the traces.
I bought a cheap iLuv iEA15BLK inline remote from Amazon for $5.48 and cracked it open. It is ideal for this project with three discrete, surface-mount, pushbutton switches with just the right amount of room between them for two 0603 size surface-mount resistors. I ordered both from mouser.com for 5 cents each, not counting shipping. I used CR0603-FX-2200ELF and CR0603-FX-5900ELF.
With the resistors in the right places, the remote now works with my Galaxy Nexus to play/pause, skip forward, and skip back, as demonstrated in the video below. I also use JAYS Headset Control to add volume up and down using multiple taps of play/pause.
I've tested and confirmed it works on the Unlocked Galaxy Nexus, Verizon Galaxy Nexus, and original HTC EVO.
It also works on the Galaxy Note except that the fwd and back buttons actually make the volume go down and up, respectively. So if you build it for the Note, reverse the resistors and use a headset utility, like JAYS, to control fwd and back.
It doesn't work on the Xperia Play, HTC Incredible 2, Samsung Droid Charge, and Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant. It also no longer works on Apple devices...excellent.
Parts:
(1) iLuv iEA15BLK
(1) CR0603-FX-2200ELF
(1) CR0603-FX-5900ELF
Things you will need:
Soldering iron and accessories
Razor blade
Tweezers
Something to hold the circuit board
Magnifying glass (optional, but those resistors are tiny)
UPDATE TIME:
This remote doesn't work with newer Android devices like the Nexus 6, 5X, or 6P. It turns out Google has created a specification: https://source.android.com/devices/accessories/headset/plug-headset-spec that has different resistance values and different functions. The resistor values are now 240 ohm and 470 ohm and they control volume rather than forward and back. The procedure is the same, just use the new resistance values in the correct places.
Spec v1.1 Parts:
(1) CR0603-FX-2400ELF
(1) CR0603-FX-4700ELF
STEP 1: Open It Up
STEP 2: Place Resistors and Solder
It worked best for me to, one resistor at a time, put some solder flux on the pads for the switches, hold the resistor with the tweezers, solder one side, then solder the other side. Then repeat.
Be careful to use the iron sparingly and be quick, you don't want to burn the resistors.
STEP 3: Finishing Touches
You could use a few drops of glue on the tabs, but I didn't and it has stayed together thus far.
Enjoy your, now superior, hacked remote.
Special thanks to Rich Kappmeier for the pinouts and resistor values and David Carne for reverse engineering the, absurdly complicated, Apple remote.
32 Comments
Aristarco 5 years ago
buddhra 5 years ago
nate456789 7 years ago
iLuv iEA15BLK is no longer available. Anyone recommend a suitable replacement?
WongH2 8 years ago
WongH2 8 years ago
anirwan 10 years ago
ajhoward_au 10 years ago
buddhra 10 years ago
Starlet31 11 years ago
I've already mentioned I have a bluetooth headset in my first post, but I don't really like the business of hoping it has enough charge and the occasional cutouts (which all BT headsets suffer from even if they are on the same side as the phone). Wired is more convenient for me. I've decided to have one last go and I'll pick up a Nokia AD-54. I'll try swapping the mic and ground and see what happens. They're as cheap as chips now anyway. I'll clean up the remote on the JVC one and give it away. It's no use to me and I certainly won't be getting on the Apple bandwagon, that's for sure. Sorry to have troubled you.
Starlet31 11 years ago
It comes in white (which I want) and the functions include forward and backward seeking and probably volume. You can also use any earphones you want and it has a clip on the back too. I don't mind it bigger than the sleek stuff about on the market today, I just want something that works! Would switching the mic and ground connections directly in the remote work? I found an image showing the connections for the headset too...
I'm sorry, but multiple presses seems like an annoying "poor man's" solution when it is possible for an android phone to have similar functions to an idevice. I'm also going to search on how the Sony Smart Headset works. Somebody must've opened one by now... But the way it sounds is that your phone was OMTP and you just modded a CTIA remote to work on it. Nothing special there, as I thought this was all about somehow getting an idevice compatible remote to work with a CTIA android device. But please correct me if I'm wrong.
buddhra 11 years ago
The Galaxy Nexus and the iLuv adapter I modified are both CTIA standard. If I was trying to switch from CTIA to OMTP, that would be a simple swap of two wires. No resistors would be needed.
As far as integrating with yours goes, just because it's CTIA standard, that doesn't mean that these resistor combinations will do what you want. It just means that pin 3 is GND and pin 4 is MIC. The iDevices use CTIA also, but my headset adapter obviously does not work with them because they use an entirely different method. Even within Samsung phones, with the Note line, my adapter doesn't control FWD and BACK, it does volume down and up. So there's a lot more to it than just simply CTIA or OMTP.
You may want to consider a bluetooth solution, like this Jabra Play. I have the predecessor, the Clipper and it will give you the controls you want and a wide compatibility across different phones in the future.
Starlet31 11 years ago
If I changed these two resistors with the two mentioned in your instructable, would it make the button visible to the phone? Or do you think swapping the mic and ground wires would work? Or should I do both? I don't want to mess about to much in case I ruin them (cosmetically and functionally, that remote was a pain in the butt to open and will need a little TLC), but I would really like a headset that I can use to answer calls, and use to control my music. I'm hoping that it would be possible to configure it as follows:
Middle button: Play/Pause/Answer/End Calls
+ button: Volume Up/Skip Forward (and if possible forward search a track if held down. Is there an app that allows this?)
- button: Volume Down/Skip Backward (and of course rewind a track if held down)
This is what a bluetooth headset that I have can do, but I rarely use it as it's uncomfortable to wear and its battery doesn't last long. A wired headset gives better sound quality anyway (all without draining your phone's battery) and not even the best bluetooth headset in the world would convince me otherwise. I'm not prepared to pay a lot for a headset that will do all this and in the end will die because of poor materials or crap design.
I would rather modify a cheaper one and not lose as much and just buy another when the first one dies. So, er... if this possible or am I clutching at straws? I chose this headset as a lot of reviews praised the microphone and I've used the mashmallow earphone before so I know how comfy they are. That is something worth spending the time to work with!
buddhra 11 years ago
Without inspecting your circuit further, I can't say for sure about whether replacing your resistors will make it work, but I suspect not. That was not the case for mine. None of the original circuitry was intended to do what this modification does.
Since the middle button is working, you could just use something like Jay's Headset Control App or Headset Button Controller. That wouldn't give you use of the other buttons, but will let you do volume and skip functions. I'm not aware of any apps that will let you customize the extra buttons anyway.
hygnos7 11 years ago
MartiniGM 11 years ago
MartiniGM 11 years ago
Paceman101 11 years ago
did you try this mod on the AKG 451 remote? Interested to know if it was successful or not!
Cheers!
kapnobatai 11 years ago
buddhra 11 years ago
kapnobatai 11 years ago