Alpine cradle small grill holes, whats in there?

[sidd]

Hi fellows,
I was wondering about the small grill holes on front of the Alpine cradle since I am using it. today I have finally opened it and that was a dissapointment, there was nothing attached to that grill as I was thinking it could be a microphone or a speaker. Have a look.
Cheers
Sidd

[Surgle]

Ha!
Thank you for doing that. It was something I'd wondered too! :D
My question to you now is....


...did your cradle still work when you put it back together? lol

[sidd]

Yeh mate, it is working absolutely fine.
Cheers
Sidd

[Server]

are there some adjustable elements? I am thinking, why my 4500mA battery does not work with it max capacity... It can not charge fully. :(

[sidd]

No Server, there were not any adjustable switches or jumper at all. This is just a simple 2 PCB cradle as you can see in the picture, 2 PCB (printed Circuit Board) one for phone and other for battery (indivisually).
Try to check your FULLY CHARGED battery with a voltage checking machine (Multi meter) and see if the mentioned "mAh & VDC" are giving the correct output, if not and if you have bought it recently, then try to talk to the seller.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=46455&criteria=multi%20meter&doy=23m4

:idea: GoodLuck :idea:
Sidd

[Server]

pins 2 ad 3 via wich charge is going reports me 0v... :(
My multimeter can not see any voltage on them at all!!!
Both battery somehow senses precence of the phone(so, in phone it works)...

Is this possible with this multimeter: http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/dt830b.htm

[sidd]

If the phone is detecting the batteries that means obviously the batteries has got voltage in them, seems like you are not using the right setting on your multimeter, try to check any normal AA (normal household) battery and see if the multimeter is showing anything.
GoodLuck
Sidd

[Server]

Yes, on normal battery and even on Siemens SX1's battery voltage shows.
But no voltage on Qtek battery. Using pin 2 and 3, 20V DCV setting on the multimeter.

[mtbsoft]

I got a serial cradle some time back to permit me to sync. to Virtual PC (since the Connectix version didn't support USB). I was also curious so I looked - on the serial cradle, there IS a microphone behind the grill. I've not been able to do much with it but it is there.

[sidd]

Hi server sorry for the late reply mate.
Ok The problem is I haven't got any multimeter with me at the moment, I might go to some electric shop to try one. I will let you know as soon as I got something.
Cheers
Sidd

[viffer]

sidd,

Do you know if the spare battery slot actually charges a battery if you put one in?

Kind regards.

[sidd]

Yes it absolutely does charge the battery, it also indicate by an ORANGE light where written "Aux Battery", and turns GREEN once fully charge.
Sidd

[viffer]

Bu$$er. Mine must be broken. It has never worked, never lit Aux light, any colour. Is there any selection I might have missed, or is it most likely a duff cradle, would you say?

Kind regards,

viffer

[mtbsoft]

The second slot will only charge if you have the power supply plugged in, it won't work off the USB alone. I have three cradles (two USB, one serial) - they all behave the same.

[viffer]

sidd/mtbsoft

All working now thanks. I had been using a gash multi-voltage power supply from Tandy. When I brought the original O2 power pack down from the bedroom and swapped it, everything worked fine.

Thanks all.

[sidd]

anytime mate,
good luck

[ianpac]

Those grills are for a microphone but this is not included in the standard cradle supplied with the phone. You have to order the special cradle from an O2 supplier. The spare jack socket at the rear is also designed to connect to external stereo speakers but again is missing in the standard cradle. Considering the price of the XDA it is sad to think they removed these minor items so that we would need to order another cradle at $60 if we wanted to use our XDAs as desktop music players. They saved a dollar in costs and removed much of the funtionality of the cradle.....

[christopherwoods]

Bit shit that, ain't it. :/

[tomsimmons]

Those grills are for a microphone but this is not included in the standard cradle supplied with the phone. You have to order the special cradle from an O2 supplier. The spare jack socket at the rear is also designed to connect to external stereo speakers but again is missing in the standard cradle. Considering the price of the XDA it is sad to think they removed these minor items so that we would need to order another cradle at $60 if we wanted to use our XDAs as desktop music players. They saved a dollar in costs and removed much of the funtionality of the cradle.....

Now this might be pushing it but, it seems we have some chaps here that aren't to daft when it comes to electronics?! So what I'm thinking if someone has the cradle that does have the mic etc in it, then we could have a butchers at theirs, and retro fit ours?

[tomsimmons]

I got a serial cradle some time back to permit me to sync. to Virtual PC (since the Connectix version didn't support USB). I was also curious so I looked - on the serial cradle, there IS a microphone behind the grill. I've not been able to do much with it but it is there.

I don't suppose you fancy taking the base off again?

I wonder if you could compare the insides of you serial cradle that has the mic with the insides of a USB that doesn't.

The reason I ask is I'm wondering if we'd find that everything is there for the mic/speaker on the USB version, just the mic is missing. If that was a case its easy to get hold of a mic and add it in yourself.

This has all suddenly reminded me of a article I saw when I first got my XDA, some chap saying that he was doing hands free at his desk using the cradle.

Tom