Pyro's Ghetto Dock!

[PYROTAK]

well im making a ghetto dock with only a usb connection and a power connection.

made outta wood!
yay!

so far its a two piece construction. but i only have pics of the top piece lol.

basically im going to paint these bad boys with at least 20 layers and sand in between so that it gets real smooth and shiney. right now im about at coat 10. will post intermediate painting pics tomorrow!

but here for now are the ghetto inital pics! YAY FOR GHETTONESS. using free scrap wood no less.

[NPswimdude500]

Pyrotak, excellent ghetto quality !!
You might want to consider making one like it, and finishing it with wood finish, that would look almost as good as haku's

[reddshack]

Great ghettoness Pyro! I'm close to making mine. It's coming, I can feel it. Can't wait to see your pictures though.

[andsoitgoes]

That rocks! I think some of these docks are getting really high in quality.

If only some big (or small named!) company could get us a really cool dock - but that's only because I have the technical skill of a yellow monkey

[meowsqueak]

Where can you get a suitable USB plug from? I haven't seen a H120-compatible one anywhere other than the one that it came with. I wish these mini-USB plugs conformed to some sort of standard - I have a different one for every USB device I own

[matt]

it's called USB mini-B, you can find standard-A to mini-B cables over the net, or even in shops if you find some

[PYROTAK]

UPDATE:

in a true ghetto fashion i do not have any wood laquer paint. BUT i did have some vinyl dye lying around

[reddshack]

Looks like it's coming along nicely PYRO.

[Haku]

Where's the switches? where's the LEDs? only joking that's looking very smart, wonder how many people I've influenced by completing my dock. Just realised I haven't had my player for a month yet and I've made a decent dock for it, wonder what I'll do next month

[Pingmeister]

Sorry, not ghetto enough any more! C'mon, add some scratch marks or glue a comb on there or something! MAYBE A PRINGLES CAN!

It looks too nice!!!!!

[PYROTAK]

i wonder how many layers of clear coat i need.
hmmmmm i think 20 more layers will give me the mirror finish im looking for

[ManchesterUnited4Life]

Good work PYRO - how 'bout a VW badge on the front to give it a rebellious streak - maybe even a retro alarm clock a la Flavour Flav!!!

Originally Posted by Haku

wonder how many people I've influenced by completing my dock

Well, me for one - I had started one back on August 3rd, and gave up. My intentions were to make it a play-only dock, but having seen yours, Haku, I've decided to go all-out and make it a Charge and Sync cradle.

I have some crappy pics taken with my sis' P800, so you'll have to wait 'til Monday before I can take some hi-res pics - but by then I'll have been to my local Maplins store, and will have hopefully have completed the thing (BTW, from my guesstimations, it's smaller than the iPod dock; ooh, and it's see-thru!).

I'm beginning to think that maybe a new section should be opened up to cater for all those wishing to start their dock threads :P (hopefully I'll start mine on Monday)

[NYC_Jeff]

Pyro - I have two words for you:

curb feelers

Now THAT would make for one ghetto-a$$ dock!

[mags]

the wrong tools for the job

by crom, I sure do love you guys !!

[CoffeeAndCigs]

if i were to make a dock for my ihp 140, is it done simply by creating a stabile base for the usb and ac plugs to plug into the h140? what if i wish to have the usb connection be optional...how would this work? i was thinking about building one with a stencil design cut through the base and having lcds underneath to illuminate it (which i also would not know how to do). I'm a bit of a novice (only in the electrical work, i have quite a bit of art related experience so the finish on the dock would be my strength) and would appreciate any lamens terms in reponse.

[Haku]

When I made my dock with the ability to connect/disconnect from the computer without physically removing the player from the dock, I used a 4 connection switch on the two data lines, +5v and shielding line but discovered all you really need to do is cut the +5v line and the player will then think it's been disconnected from the PC.
So you should be able to strip back a couple of centimeters of the plastic shielding of the cable near the plug, without cutting any wires, locate the +5v (usually red) wire, cut it and then attach a switch to the two loose ends which would then serve as your connect/disconnect switch.

[PYROTAK]

yup yup, but if you do that, then its not ghetto enough!

[oblongmouth]

I have to state the obvious here Haku, but you are extremely fnuckin' talented to make what looks like a pure top class docking station for your iHP.

I am truly flabbergasted - you should make some extra ones and get some moolah from your gift!
I for one would pay, especially as my electronics knowledge extends as far as switching something on...

[CoffeeAndCigs]

Hey Haku, have you thought about putting together an in-depth tutorial explaining how to make this? Even with your recent explanation on switches, I am afraid I still am very in the dark on this matter - call it slow learning, but I am very interested in doing one, and if I had the know how on the mechanics of the device I think I have the creative skills to do something very interesting with led light...or even just with the surface graphics.