IBolt Car Dock - Incipio NGP Case - Streaming Bluetooth - Vehicle Specific Mount - Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE

Here is my first official thread in the Evo 4G LTE forum. This is a basic guide on how I decided to wire my phone directly into my car to automatically stream music and charge, while making it clean as possible. Here is the list of things I needed in order to complete this installation. My goal was to have nothing to plug in allowing me to just drop the phone in the dock and roll on.
Materials:
Evo 4G LTE (baddest phone out there)
Incipio NGP Case (I give a review over the Diztronics below)(some other cases may work but this was one of the best fits possible)
Wired 12V Accessory Outlet for Automobile (with wire tap connectors and pigtail connectors) (you can also use a fuse jumper which I will explain below)
Belking Single Port Car Charger (which I modified by soldering the second and third pin together to allow full AC charging)
HTC USB cable (I tried to order a flat USB cable from China but the head was to big to fit into the back of the dock)
Vehicle Specific Mount (very sturdy and allows for a clean look)
ARKON APGN-VSM Vehicle Specific Mount Adapter (can be found here Amazon)
IBolt IBPF-33306 (I ordered from here Cell Guru. It took about a week to get to Indianapolis but it was the best price I could find. I ordered it along with an Incipio NGP case for around $40).
Bluetooth Streaming Stereo (You can use the AUX on your stereo but it's another wire to plug in and it is so much cleaner without it)
Instructions:
1.) Stereo Removal and Bluetooth Recommendations:
The first thing I did was take apart my radio unit dash section in my car. I have a 2002 Maxima so it was relatively easy. If you search google for your car Year Make and Model and simply type head unit removal afterwards, you can probably find a tutorial. The general rule with this is the more American and the newer the car, the harder it is to take apart the radio unit dash section. I had already installed a Sony MEXBT2900 stereo in my car which I used to stream Bluetooth all the way back to my HTC Hero. It is really good sound quality for streaming but the sound quality during phone calls is decent as long as you have the windows up and no AC blowing. There are much higher end Bluetooth stereos and I always recommend a Kenwood (was too poor to afford one at the time). I'm pretty good with car audio so if you don't know what you are doing at this point, find a buddy that knows what he is doing or find a local car audio shop to help you out. DO NOT GO TO BEST BUY. The installers there are complete idiots and will mess up you car along with overcharging you. Always try to support your local car shops. You can probably have them run the accessory outlet and install the stereo for around 100 bucks. If you are ballin enough to have a car with stock bluetooth streaming capabilities in your car, you are in luck. All you have to do at this point is run the 12 V Accessory Outlet.
2.) 12 V Accessory Outlet
You don't necessarily have to do this step as you can always run a charger from you current accessory outlet or what the old schoolers call it, cigarette lighter. However I wanted everything to be hidden behind the dash so I decided to run a new one from and existing power circuit. You have two routes you can go with this. Find a circuit that stays on no matter if the car is on or off. Find a circuit that turns on and off with the car. I was lucky enough that my accessory outlet right below my head unit turned on and off with the car which is exactly what I wanted. So I went to Amazon and ordered a 12V Power/Accessory Socket/Outlet. They also sell these in a lot of car stores such as AutoZone and Advanced Auto Parts. Make sure you get a fused one because anytime you run a new power wire in you car, it needs to be fused. I don't know the exact fuse rating needed as I always kind of guess (which is terrible but I'm not an electrician or an engineer). Usually the fuse that comes prewired into the socket is just right. I also ordered some of these and simple Wire Taps off of Amazon. Before going any further I recommend disconnecting the negative terminal from your battery. It will prevent and shorts or bad circuits. It not convenient for testing but it will save you if you mess something up. I got to the back of the current accessory outlet in my car and tapped into the wires. Positive to red, Negative to Black. They may not be colored this way in your Automobile so either try to find a wiring guide online or just do some testing. The cool things about the wire taps I ordered is that the accessory outlet clips directly into the taps and you don't have to strip any wires. You can buy a mountable Accessory Outlet online if it jiggling around behind your dash bothers you, but it really didn't find it necessary. Another option is find a fuse in your fuse box that controls a circuit that turns on and off with the car. Then you buy something called a Fuse Tap and simply slide the fuse into the hook side and then slide the fuse back into it's spot. From there you have created a new circuit but make sure the positive wire clipping onto the tap has a fuse. From this point you simply run the wire and ground the black wire of your accessory port to a ground point in your car (bolt or metal screw on the chassis). A big point here is if you do this and decide to use the AUX route, you could end up with a ground loop (horrible buzzing noise when phone is being charged and AUX is plugged in). It is hit or miss depending on how your automobile is wired. You do not have this problem with streaming bluetooth. So at this point, I ran the accessory outlet behind my stereo (back tucked away) and simply plugged in the charger and ran the charging cable through a convenient point in my stereo harness. This can be a tricky thing as I always recommend not to drill holes in you dash. Now for the fun part.
2.) Installing the Vehicle Specific Mount
There are infinite amount of mounting options but I wanted to choose a flush/semi-permanent one. I did some research and I found these little pieces of metal called Vehicle Specific Mounts. There are a couple of companies that make these. Pro-Clip, Pro-Fit, Arkon, Tessco, Bracketron, and Pro-fit. My advice is spend and hour and do your research. Think about where you want everything mounted and take in consideration viewing angle and safety. Find a cheap one because they are all basically machined pieces of steel (this may not be possible as the materials aren't expensive but I'm sure the R&D is). I ended up ordering a Pro-Fit NS-50-95 Custom Mount from TSS Radio. They are based out of Chicago and are very fast and responsive to any questions and shipping. They should all come with instruction on how to mount and all the necessary hardware. While you have the radio dash unit taken apart, this is a good time to get this installed. Follow the instructions and make sure everything is secure. Once you have this mounted correctly, you can put everything back together while making sure your charging cable has enough slack. This is a good time to do a test run and make sure your wired charger is getting power to your phone.
3.) ARKON APGN-VSM and IBolt Car Dock
These things go together like pees and carrots. It is a simple 17mm ball mount so the dock fits perfectly onto it. Once you figure that out, you can slide the Arkon Adapter apart. You will see what I mean if you order one. It basically has sliding teeth that allow the adapter to separate into two pieces. Before you separate it though, line it up with the VSM and find how you want to put it together. Slide the dock apart from the adapter now and attach the Arkon adapter to the VSM with the Arkon included hardware. This is very easy as it includes 4 screws and 4 nuts. When you are doing this, make sure the sliding teeth are facing up so when you go to mount the dock, you are sliding it down onto the dock. You will understand if you decide to do this because if you mount it the other way, the mount may slide down and apart over big bumps. Connect the power cable to the back of the dock and you should be good to go. Make sure everything is charging and works properly.
4.) HTC Car App Settings
I wanted it set up to where I would simply get in my car, turn the car on, throw the phone in the dock, and it would connect to my bluetooth and start streaming music. To get into the setting of the car app, just press on the bottom information bar where the battery and signal are displayed. I have my settings in the pictures below. This is the bad ass part of the whole operation. I can have my bluetooth off on my phone and when I plug it into the dock, it starts charging, starts the car app, turns my bluetooth on, and immediately starts streaming my music. When I take it off the dock, it stops playing music, obviously stops charging, and TURNS MY BLUETOOTH off on my phone. Play around with the settings to your liking or go out and find another car dock app. I like the stock one but other have decided to move on to different things.
A big thing I wanted to ask and nobody on this wonderful forum would answer is, will using the dock void my charger mod and revert it back to USB charging? The answer is no. I still have full AC charging through the dock. I'm am so pleased with this setup as it makes driving so much easier considering I drive a manual. My baby has 145K on it and it is still running strong. When it is time for a new car, I will simply buy a new VSM and do this installation all over.
5.) Incipio NGP Case vs. Diztronics TPU Case
I initially ordered the Diztronics because the Incipio wasn't available yet. I jumped on the Incipio as soon as I found it was released and luckily Cell Guru has it for around $13. The main reasons I like the Incipio over the Diztronics is because it is a little thicker, sturdier, grippier, and it covers the buttons. The covering of the buttons isn't an issue at all as all the button work relatively easy and there are no accidental presses of any type. All the ports are protected but accessible and it provides better protection of the camera lens with a little thicker material back there. Also the whole thing is a grippy flat black polymer, and not just the back of it like the Diztronics. I give the Diztronics about 7/10 stars because although it is a great TPU case, it simply lacks some things. I give the Incipio 9/10 and the only reason I didn't give it a perfect is because the covered buttons are just a slight bit harder to push.
This is the basic tutorial of what I've done. I honesty think it is the cleanest way to mount you EVO4G LTE and allow it to charge and play music without any extra plugging in. The pictures I took are with my phone. Sorry I didn't include more but I don't have another camera. Let me know if you have any questions.

I highly recommend 'car home ultra' app from the market. Its free and sooo much better than HTC app
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

jamfreak said:
I highly recommend 'car home ultra' app from the market. Its free and sooo much better than HTC app
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed...the HTC version isn't bad but Ultra is so much more customizable.

Very cool!
Sent from my EVO using xda premium

Isn't that a 30 day free trial? I just dled it and it says free 30 trial
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Related

Micro USB permanent car charger

I am looking for a permanent car charger cable to install into my car.
It needs to be a 15' to 20' long with a straight cord for a hidden cable run.
I would like to hook it up to the cars wiring under the dash, run it under the windshield pillar trim to between the headliner and roof then drop out above the rear view mirror. I would then plug it into my car dock this just makes a cleaner look.
I have searched around the net but no luck yet.
Any help would be appreciated.
I haven't seen that, but what you may need to do this this. I did something like it a few years ago with a radar detector
get this or something like it
http://cgi.ebay.com/Belkin-Mini-Uni...Accessories&hash=item3a66d9f61b#ht_643wt_1396
and then a usb cord for the length you want, and attach the power and ground to the cig lighter adapter you can take it apart if you need just make sure you get the + and - right and leave the fuse in there. then tape it up nice with electrical tape and wire it in to the fuse panel to turn on with the ignition. its really not as getto as it sounds.
i just use that adapter and plug it in my back seat lighter and run the cord up by the front seat
I Would just use a cigarette lighter adapter: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...082602&p_id=6765&seq=1&format=3#specification
hidden under the dash, and then plug in one of these:http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10303&cs_id=1030307&p_id=5138&seq=1&format=2
Everything you need to put a 12v cigarette lighter socket under the dash is available at an auto-parts store for <$10.
Why don't you just connect to the wiring that is connecting to the cigarette lighter adapter?
That way it would be 5V, and then you can connect that to a project box, and install a fuse in there, and then put the wiring from that to the usb cable.
I did this about 10 years ago, when I directly connected the radar detector, and lights under the seats controlled by buttons. Was fairly easy to do, depending on how much room you have to work with connecting the wiring.
nejohnson said:
I Would just use a cigarette lighter adapter: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...082602&p_id=6765&seq=1&format=3#specification
hidden under the dash, and then plug in one of these:http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10303&cs_id=1030307&p_id=5138&seq=1&format=2
Everything you need to put a 12v cigarette lighter socket under the dash is available at an auto-parts store for <$10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much this is close enough to what I was looking for, I will make it work!
KMac Tilt said:
Thank you very much this is close enough to what I was looking for, I will make it work!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
buy a 12v socket too, get something like this, should be cheap on ebay, then just snip off the male end and stripe the cable so you can tap your car's 12v socket wiring
http://www.google.com/products/cata...sa=X&ei=9Xg6ToTpGeuksQLKluEk&ved=0CI8BEPMCMAc
Just as an FYI, as I see what you are going to do and it is a far better alternative.
A 10'+ cable will not give you full charging voltage at the end of that run. The cable is too long for the small amount of voltage running through it. While it WILL still charge, it will be at a fairly slower rate.
There is a thread in the EVO forums where I was asking cause it was something I noticed and someone who seemed to know what they were talking about when it came to electricity, replied.
I would link it, but been up all night and am getting tired.
Lord Delmar said:
Just as an FYI, as I see what you are going to do and it is a far better alternative.
A 10'+ cable will not give you full charging voltage at the end of that run. The cable is too long for the small amount of voltage running through it. While it WILL still charge, it will be at a fairly slower rate.
There is a thread in the EVO forums where I was asking cause it was something I noticed and someone who seemed to know what they were talking about when it came to electricity, replied.
I would link it, but been up all night and am getting tired.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as far as I know USB cable can go up to 5m or about 16ft, this length has more to do with data transmission signal quality issue, for straight charging there's no signal at all, so shouldn't be a problem. When you get a chance please post your link, so i can study this some more
went google found this...
http://www.otdl.com/VDROOP.PDF
Here is the thread...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=844055
Here is my post within that thread, its post 23, but my question is answered around 25.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9402352&postcount=23
Have you checked with 12 Volt Designs, they offer a couple of options that may work for you.
I would post a link, but I am still new to this forum
This is such a good idea!
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
Get a 2amp 2 usb car lighter charger from Amazon and 15 or 20' micro usb cable from monoprice.com... Exactly my setup with a exo gear Exomount for my evo to windshield mount.
Sent from my HTC Evo 3D
I got tired of multiple cigarette lighter adapters a while back. I bought a 5A 12V to 5V converter on eBay, and wired it to switched power. It powers my phone, GPS, and Bluetooth audio gateway all from the one little box.

[REQUEST] Car Dock AUDIO without dock.

Alright, yes I know how to use the search function and I can launch the Car Dock application itself just fine with the previously mentioned shortcut, however I need to switch the mode itself apparently (i.e. with the steering wheel icon onscreen).
I own a Car Dock but I want to be able to use the included cable that supports both charging and audio output in one cord. THAT only works in Dock Mode (in fact it doesnt even charge when plugged directly in, let alone route the audio to the 3.5mm jack.
I have to say that so far the thought put into the Motorola accessories like this dock blow away the HTC options and this Micro-USB to combo USB/3.5mm is exactly what I need but sometimes I just want to be able to only plug in ONE cord.
Any thoughts?
Im not sure what you are asking -- I disabled the Car Dock application by telling Tasker to open by default when plugged in.. I get MEDIA audio through the audio plug from the car dock.
Like I said, along with the car dock there is a combo cord, Micro USB to plug into the phone and USB on the other end for power as well as a female headphone jack. This cord usually plugs into the back of the dock which just extends it to the Micro-USB plug in the cradle that you set the phone into. I want to use the cord only, plugged directly into the phone.
Unfortunately the phone only routes audio out through the Micro-USB port when its in car dock mode, this is separate from the car dock app running and is denoted by the steering wheel icon in the top bar of the screen. Its switched into this mode by the previously mentioned magnets in the car dock, I need a way to switch it on some other way.
The cord is convenient because you only have to plug ONE thing in and you have both power and audio. Make sense?
starcastic said:
The cord is convenient because you only have to plug ONE thing in and you have both power and audio. Make sense?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Believe me, convenience makes sense to me.. I took the HD dock, and modified it so that it could be mounted to a ProClip swivel mount.. Part of that involved opening up the actual dock.. There is an IC inside the dock mount, if I recall - and I suspect that may be doing some playing around with the USB/audio split function. I did not see any magnets in there. The phone knows the difference between the HD Dock and the Car Dock - so I suspect the IC is giving it some of its info to determine that. I am not sure if magnets are being used this time around.
Does anyone know if the remote that comes with the web-dock combo will work while the phone is in the car dock? It would be a great feature and a lot safer to change songs while you are driving.
When I first got my Photon I had a problem getting the phone to seat properly in the dock using the Sprint case with holster. The case was hitting the raised area around the connectors because the hole in the case wasn't big enough, so I took a small file and carefully enlarged the hole so it could seat properly. I said all of that to say this; The phone appeared to be seated enough to be docked but was off just enough to not get a good connection. If there was anything magnet related it would have been in the dock enough to have been activated. There is definitely something in the dock that is being monitored to put it in Car Mode. If I get a chance today I'll do some testing to try and determine what is going on.
Sent from my MB855 using XDA Premium App
Been offline while doing some other things or I'd have replied earlier but yeah, the magnet idea was just a guess based on other reports here, I've not had a chance to disassemble mine to see whats goin' on in there.
I have to say I'm not a huge fan of the fit and finish on the dock as it relates to the way the integrated connector mates with the phone, it has an odd angle on it and even then doesnt seat all the way. Thats both with and without my slim case, both with and without the included. I dont have the bulky chrome Dell-looking Sprint case but its SUPPOSED to accept that one if you remove the spacer insert in the dock.

Anyone selling their docks or know a cheap place to get them?

Like the title says, if anyone is selling theirs or knows a good price for it, let me know!
Walk into a Verizon Store. I just purchased the mobile cradles for my RZnd and my wifes TB for a whomping $40. I know if you purchase three accessories, you get a discount. The vehicle Cradle for the RZnd is actually quite nice. The power attaches to the cradle and a static connector is built into that. Just doc the phone and plug in the headphone jack and your off. I KNOW this is not a desk dock but it can be used as one. The desk dock was NOT that expensive.. I think $20...
I went in the store and the the $50 dollar deck for 20. The warehouse mispriced the deck @ $30 + a $10 dollar discount I got 8). I'm not too sure if they corrected the prices, so it's worth a shot.
For anyone in the same boat as me, check this out:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19697970#post19697970
What exactly do docks do besides be another charger?
I'm living on a yellow submarine
I have had two of the car docks now and both did not work properly causing a drain instead of the charge on my phone. For example, when playing Pandora with the screen always on and set to 4g, the battery dropped by 10 - 15 % in 30 mins of use. When I plugged it directly to the car charger under the same conditions I got a positive charge going from 60% to 100% in 30 Mins. Same results on 3g. Either the store got a bad batch or something is wrong with my phone. Taking both back tomorrow.
Desktop Dock a must have accessory
Got mine at the Verizon Store when I picked up my Rezound on opening day (Nov. 14th). Glad I did as it now appears to be a scarce item to find. Some helpful hints should you find one, you can change the 3 default apps in "dock mode" by accessing the link through the "Clock" app. You cannot remove or change the default music app in dock mode. It is a must have accessory if you have a Rezound, and is designed to work with standard or extended battery attached. Good luck in your hunt!
Does it still fit with a tpu or silicone case on it? Also anyone tried using this as a car dock with a usb connection to the car stereo? My car stereo has a usb hookup and I would like to use that for charging and music(less wires) but my stereo seems to have a problem with docks between it and the device, my ipod wont work with its standard dock but works fine with just the wire.
In regards to using the desktop dock with a case on the phone, I would have to say probably not. The phone sits pretty snuggly in the dock, and if there was a case on it, it would possibly not fit correctly/deep enough in the dock tray to properly seat the power connection. As for using the desktop dock in a car, I guess it would be possible with a usb/car charger connection and some velcro to mount it. However, since the phone sits in the dock at an angle, it would depend on your dashboard layout to obtain the best viewing angle while driving/in sunlight. If you manage it, post some pics!
Great the car dock drains the battery and the desk dock would require me removing my case every time. Awesome. Nothing ever just works, except the phone, the phone is awesome.
I'm feeling like the accessories are lacking because this is a verizon exclusive.
HTC need to step the accessories game up like motorola has. We need docks with hdmi output. We need powered car docks. We should have easy options to dock this thing next to a tv and use it like a netbook with a bluetooth keyboard without a tangle mess of adapters.

Car mounts w/aux out

Presently using an SG4 with the I-Bolt x-pro dock to mount, charge and stream audio to my car stereo. Anything out there similar for the LG G3? Would hate to give it up as its the best system for nav/streaming/charging I've seen.
Check this thread out: http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49499#/forumsite/21065/topics/49499
I have the exact setup in my Xterra and it and cost $20. Popping the phone in and out takes about two seconds (excluding connecting any cables) and the mount is very sturdy. I use Tasker on my Android to launch my music app when I plug into my head unit with a 3.5 mm TRS cable). Actually I have a whole set of Tasker 'tasks' which automate a bunch of stuff related to my car...
buy a thin wireless charger and wireless charging case and tape it to the mount of your choice. If radio does not have bluetooth then buy a bluetooth reciver to fm-transmitter. Just slip the phone in and out of the mount. no wires need to be plugged in or out.

Nexus 6 wireless car setup. Wireless charge, bluetooth media & phone

My goal is Clean & Convenient Nexus 6 as a BRAIN for my Acura MDX 2007
Ideally would like to built housing dock that looks like factory made with no visible cable but for now I'll settle with this setup.
Map, Music, Phone calls, One handed, portrait & landscape, charging ALL WIRELESS.
(Dream for the future: Remote starter, NFC unlock door, cooking & laundry )
Here I post my video (more detail Video is coming)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he0E6I42KmY
Stuff I used:
I have use kinivo for one year and a half. I have to say this is pretty reliable product.
ravpower & tack form holder are new.
charger (rav power) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H9B7ALK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
tackform (suction car holder), http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MR8BJZI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
kinivo bluetooth handsfree for phone & music. http://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-BTC450...s=kinivo&pebp=1421616171854&peasin=B009NLTW60
Nice setup mate, thanks for sharing. I'll be looking into BTC450 as well.
jlskd said:
Here I setup my acura mdx 2007 with wireless charger (rav power), tackform (suction car holder), kinivo bluetooth handsfree for phone & music.
I have use kinivo for one year and a half. I have to say this is pretty reliable product.
ravpower & tack form holder are new.
Here I post my video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he0E6I42KmY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can the Rav Power charger keep up with power usage while using GPS navigation?
Didn't have trip long enough to test. So far navigation on short trip still add couple percent to battery.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
I can't seem to find the same version of the tackform mount. And how did you attach the charging pad, was it just the suction and holding force that the mount uses?
ErylFlynn said:
I can't seem to find the same version of the tackform mount. And how did you attach the charging pad, was it just the suction and holding force that the mount uses?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check in the description of his video on YouTube. He has links for his set up.
This is pretty awesome, and while it's a bit pricey for a car dock solution, it IS a car dock solution and one that meets my requirements (not having to plug in a power cord every time).
Any way of getting the car mode to launch? Perhaps an NFC tag or something?
The charging pad is actually glued to tackform.
I'm also using ringke fusion case, it is a bit tight/shallow with the case on.
When I got extra time I'm going to try make better video so it can show more details.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
It is a bit pricier than what I want but tackform built quality also pretty good for $20.
The other one that I also consider is exo mount, I have the old version, the clamp. It work with small device. But with nexus 6 it's a little wobbly.
The new version is for one handed but I don't think it's going to work.
I'm sorry not sure about car mode, NFC. Have to do my research again.
For now I'm just going to set up tasker app so screen would stay on while wirelessly charging. Still learning.
Oh also looking for angle head micro usb so it wouldn't sticking out like that.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

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