Dock station car mount

[shallow runner]

OK, so there isn't a car mount for the commando like I had with my original droid so the only option is to use universal mounts. Also, since the cover to the USB port has an o-ring I feel that constantly opening it will cause fatigue and lead to it failing; and I get my phone wet pretty often so that is an issue. I opened up my desk charger/Cradle and as one would imagine it is a rather simple device.

What I am going to attempt is to take a cradle and either integrate them into an existing universal car mount or I am going to find a way to make the existing cradle hold onto the phone a little better and mount on the dash so I can easily use the GPS function and have it in my LOS.

Has anyone else tried this or done something similar? I am sure either method will be simple but the ladder seems to hold a better chance.

 

[john58ford]

Actualy I was going to build from scratch but no one ever identified the circuit card (I would guess a ripple filter or a auto cut off/current limiter) they thought they saw inside nor told me which side is positive. I dont have a cradle because I like my hard case and want to make one to accomodate it from fiberglass resin and a form(without blowing extra $30 the resin/time isnt free ya know?). Let me know what you discover if you would. I say go for it, if you have a cradle to gut just dont get the polarity flipped. I personally wouldn't modify the original to grip better as I have never liked the look of hacked up plastic... But if you do it that way I suggest a thin black bungee, drill holes into the front and back of the cradle, pop the bottom off, run the bungee through the holes and tie knots inside, should be secure for full inverted flight that way. For the average slow Joe though I have heard the cradle alone holds plenty tight, there was a picture in a thread like this one a few days ago.

Good luck,
John

 

[eltee]

Be careful when you open up the cradle. You undo the 4 phillips head screws, then split the 2-piece plastic case apart. Be VERY careful when doing this, there are two circuit boards inside. One is attached to the mini connector, the other is under the connector for the phone and spans a good portion of the width of the cradle. It is very easy to break that board if you are not careful.

There are no hidden screws, etc. to worry about.

There are a variety of springs inside and some minor moving parts. They are part of the spring loaded connectors on the bottom and the two retention pegs on the sides.

I'm thinking about milling off the rear extended piece that contains the mini connector and its circuit board. There is enough slack in the wires that I think I can reposition the board and connector in a downward position. My goal is to make the back of the cradle totally flat so it can be adapted to an existing GPS or phone mount. I'll relocate the "tail" piece of the cradle/mini plug/circuit board so it can be connected to the power cable but out of the way.

Hopefully I can make it so that the cradle becomes one side of a mount.

 

[callmecolt]

Keep us all posted on your projects. I like your ideas!

 

[SkipShowers]

Is this going to work? When I plug mine into the cradle, the phone goes into the desktop crafle mode and won't come out. How are you going to operate the phone? Just curious because I thought of the same thing, but you'd have to do some rewiring.

 

[buffal0b1ll]

I made a DIY cradle, I'll post it in a new thread. Maybe that can give you some ideas.

 

[shallow runner]

Is this going to work? When I plug mine into the cradle, the phone goes into the desktop crafle mode and won't come out. How are you going to operate the phone? Just curious because I thought of the same thing, but you'd have to do some rewiring.

I hadn't actually considered that. I am wondering if I make it so there is access to the power button on the left side (unlike when in the dock as is) if that would bring it out of dock mode and allow it to function normally while in the dock?

I wish someone would get some good rooting functionality with this phone so mods like that would be possible. Even just to uninstall the app.

Does anyone know if the dock mode is activated by a magnet like with my last phones car dock or is it by being on the charger (as I am sure is the going to be the case)?

 

[BLACKTOOTHGRIN]

Is this going to work? When I plug mine into the cradle, the phone goes into the desktop crafle mode and won't come out. How are you going to operate the phone? Just curious because I thought of the same thing, but you'd have to do some rewiring.

All you have to do is Force Close the Desktop Cradle App.
It won't open again until the phone is re-docked.
Then you can use your phone as you wish.





I too was going to build a mount,
but stumbled upon this universal mount just by chance.
Amazon.com: Arkon SM517 Windshield Mount for 7-Inch Tablets: Electronics

I originally bought it for my Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus,
but it also works perfectly for the Commando as well.
It holds the devise with spring loaded tension.
At first I was hesitant to use it with the Commando because it
has to sit in the mount horizontally to fit.
That means that the gripping feet are on the sides
(only for the Commando, they are top and bottom for my tablet)
I thought it might slip out if you hit a bump.
Not at all.
My Rig is no stranger to bumps either, it's a Jeep.
The spring provides plenty of tension to hold the Commando without issue.
You'd have to be doing some hard core off-roading for it to slip.

The windshield suction cup is tight as hell.
(It comes with an adhesive disc, if you'd rather mount to your dash.)
The mount is fully adjustable, and has 2 adjusting points.
Up/Down/Left/Right/Angled...all of it.
All ports are left uncovered for ease of charging and whatever else you'd need them open for.
For only $12, this thing works great.
The quality FAR EXCEEDS the price point IMHO.

Here are some of my pics:

 

[SkipShowers]

I hadn't actually considered that. I am wondering if I make it so there is access to the power button on the left side (unlike when in the dock as is) if that would bring it out of dock mode and allow it to function normally while in the dock?

I wish someone would get some good rooting functionality with this phone so mods like that would be possible. Even just to uninstall the app.

Does anyone know if the dock mode is activated by a magnet like with my last phones car dock or is it by being on the charger (as I am sure is the going to be the case)?

There are only the two electrical charging connections on the dock. I checked them with a multi-meter and they are just positive and negative connections. I think it's a software function of the phone, so your in the right direction when you say youd have to root the phone.
Looks like we're stuck with plugging the charger into the side.

EDIT: You don't even need to force close the desk cradle. Just start Vlingo inCar and that just stays on and works perfectly while charging your phone.

 

[eltee]

Trying to decide if mounting on the dash, windshield, to the vents or on a cup holder mount will work best with my vehicle.

 

[lgulseth]

There are only the two electrical charging connections on the dock. I checked them with a multi-meter and they are just positive and negative connections. I think it's a software function of the phone, so your in the right direction when you say youd have to root the phone.

Can you provide the +/- spec? Is positive the top contact or bottom with respect to the phone?

Luther

 

[RAYJAY193B]

Here is the one i built, casio docking station , project box from radio shack automotive 2 way tape old mount i had laying around from a xm radio, been using it for over a month now and work great, only thing i had to buy was the docking station and the box from radio shack

 

[jova33]

All you have to do is Force Close the Desktop Cradle App.
It won't open again until the phone is re-docked.
Then you can use your phone as you wish.





I too was going to build a mount,
but stumbled upon this universal mount just by chance.
Amazon.com: Arkon SM517 Windshield Mount for 7-Inch Tablets: Electronics

I originally bought it for my Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus,
but it also works perfectly for the Commando as well.
It holds the devise with spring loaded tension.
At first I was hesitant to use it with the Commando because it
has to sit in the mount horizontally to fit.
That means that the gripping feet are on the sides
(only for the Commando, they are top and bottom for my tablet)
I thought it might slip out if you hit a bump.
Not at all.
My Rig is no stranger to bumps either, it's a Jeep.
The spring provides plenty of tension to hold the Commando without issue.
You'd have to be doing some hard core off-roading for it to slip.

The windshield suction cup is tight as hell.
(It comes with an adhesive disc, if you'd rather mount to your dash.)
The mount is fully adjustable, and has 2 adjusting points.
Up/Down/Left/Right/Angled...all of it.
All ports are left uncovered for ease of charging and whatever else you'd need them open for.
For only $12, this thing works great.
The quality FAR EXCEEDS the price point IMHO.

Here are some of my pics:

Purchased. I'll give my review of it when it comes in.

 

[jova33]

I too was going to build a mount,
but stumbled upon this universal mount just by chance.
Amazon.com: Arkon SM517 Windshield Mount for 7-Inch Tablets: Electronics


Here are some of my pics:

This thing works perfect for the Commando. The docking station will not work with the grips... I tried. It squeeses it for a second, then shoots it out. I was going to take pics, but I didn't get it 'til late today and it was dark out.

I also got Vlingo. The car portion of the app works great as well. Except it flips upside down at times. It'll be orientated correctly, then I'll say "Hey, Vlingo" and it flips upside down.

 

[john58ford]

Odd about the vlingo flipping, I use vlingo car mode in my charging cradle just so I dont have to touch the thing, also great when you wake up in the middle of the night... Hey vlingo.... what time is it? I still have issues with it understanding me while i'm driving though, too much noise I suppose.

 

[jova33]

Odd about the vlingo flipping, I use vlingo car mode in my charging cradle just so I dont have to touch the thing, also great when you wake up in the middle of the night... Hey vlingo.... what time is it? I still have issues with it understanding me while i'm driving though, too much noise I suppose.

You use vlingo inCar while you're sleeping? LOL awesome.

Works pretty good while driving.
"hey vlingo"
"Yes, my lord?"(British accent)
"text wife message I love you"

It'll go through, send the text. then when my wife texts back it'll start to read it, and then the vibrate for my text notification will go off and it'll stop reading.

 

[lodom]

I'd like to build a cradle secure enough for my motorcycle, using the dock contacts to remain rain proof. But I've heard the phone won't charge while using the GPS. True?

 

[john58ford]

The phone on the standard dock is at a neutral state as far as charging while running heavy nav programs. I can use just as much power as you can put in. If you use a charger with a higher mah rating you can achieve charge through the cable connection but the dock has a regulator built in so neutral is as good as it gets in the dock while m navigating on standalone GPS . Carrier provided only is more efficient but not as accurate.