I've received my car dock!

**BuddhaBravo** · 02-17-2011, 02:00 PM

I just received my car dock from AT&T. Some notes:

- it has a plastic spacer you can insert into the dock or remove if your phone is in a case.

- though a single microUSB cable plugs into the dock, the other end of it is split into full size USB *and* a standard headphone jack, so the dock will output audio as well.

- It does NOT come with a lighter plug! Just the USB cable. The box says "USB power adapter sold separately. Are they kidding?

**2005CTS** · 02-17-2011, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by BuddhaBravo

I just received my car dock from AT&T. Some notes:

- it has a plastic spacer you can insert into the dock or remove if your phone is in a case.

- though a single microUSB cable plugs into the dock, the other end of it is split into full size USB *and* a standard headphone jack, so the dock will output audio as well.

- It does NOT come with a lighter plug! Just the USB cable. The box says "USB power adapter sold separately. Are they kidding?

Can you post a picture of the USB cable that splits into USB and headphone jack? I am curious to see how this works. Also - how long is the cable? Is it coiled or straight?

Thank you.

**BuddhaBravo** · 02-17-2011, 02:21 PM

The cable, straight, not coiled, is just a bit short of 5 feet long. It also comes with a male-to-male audio cable, also almost 5 feet long, to plug between the jack on the USB cable and your stereo.

**2005CTS** · 02-17-2011, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by BuddhaBravo

The cable, straight, not coiled, is just a bit short of 5 feet long. It also comes with a male-to-male audio cable, also almost 5 feet long, to plug between the jack on the USB cable and your stereo.

So the USB cable has a female 3.5mm headphone jack. That is perfect as I have an aftermarket set up that ties in my current phone into the stock stereo that has a female to RCA cable running into my center console. That means I should be able to plug that directly into that jack and I am good to go.

Wow...that is a perfect set up. (for me anyway). I can not wait to have this set up in my CTS. My car will finally have a navigation system!

**btgrave** · 02-17-2011, 03:06 PM

Awesome!

can you post pictures of the plastic spacer? and maybe an upclose of the actual area where it goes, so we can gauge what cases will fit, etc?

Also, is the suction cup arm detachable from the cradle or is it just one huge piece?

And, yeah well it sucks that it doesn't have a lighter plug, most cars today have usb ports installed standard. At least lighter plugs are cheap.

Thanks!

**2005CTS** · 02-17-2011, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Brown

Awesome!

can you post pictures of the plastic spacer? and maybe an upclose of the actual area where it goes, so we can gauge what cases will fit, etc?

Also, is the suction cup arm detachable from the cradle or is it just one huge piece?

And, yeah well it sucks that it doesn't have a lighter plug, most cars today have usb ports installed standard. At least lighter plugs are cheap.

Thanks!

I just ordered this one on Amazon.com to be delivered on the 21st:

Amazon.com: Kensington K39242US USB Car Charger for All USB-Powered Device (Black): Cell Phones & Accessories

It is a little more than some of the others, but it is shorter and will have a more flush look when not in use.

Man - I am getting excited about how this phone purchase is coming together!!!

**SirGeorgeKillian** · 02-17-2011, 03:27 PM

That will work perfect for me. Since this dock will be taking the place of my GPS there is already power ran that way. I also have an AUX in on my stereo, so I should be able to get this hooked up to the stereo with no problems.
If this thing will let me dock with an Otter Box, I will be in heaven....

**Effington** · 02-17-2011, 03:28 PM

Man, now I want one... will it charge via that USB cable? If so, then that's the way to go. Just get an adapter that changes your lighter outlet to a USB charger. Probably cheaper too.

Can they only be "pre-ordered" from a store? I don't see them available online...

**btgrave** · 02-17-2011, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by 2005CTS

I just ordered this one on Amazon.com to be delivered on the 21st:

Amazon.com: Kensington K39242US USB Car Charger for All USB-Powered Device (Black): Cell Phones & Accessories

It is a little more than some of the others, but it is shorter and will have a more flush look when not in use.

Man - I am getting excited about how this phone purchase is coming together!!!

True, but for those that want to spend as little as possible:
Amazon.com: 2 Port USB Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter Dual Plug for iPod MP3 Players Charger - Color White: Cell Phones & Accessories

$0.47 and it gives 2 usb ports.

I'm just glad my car has usb ports, 2 12volt adapters and aux jacks

I just wish people figured out a new way instead of suction cups for these car holders.

**BuddhaBravo** · 02-17-2011, 03:29 PM

As you can see (kind of) the spacer, on the left, is very, very thin. I can't imagine that removing it would allow for anything more than a thin skin.

The suction mount itself ends in a ball joint that snaps into the back of the cradle and then secures by tightening a threaded ring. It is two pieces.

**Effington** · 02-17-2011, 03:32 PM

Does it come with a disc you can stick to your dash if you don't want to suction onto your windshield?

**btgrave** · 02-17-2011, 03:33 PM

Thanks BuddhaBravo!

Hmm......hopefully the otterbox commuter can still fit in there, cause if it can.......I'll just grab that dock and a Tetrax magnet holder so I don't have to put it on my windshield but on the dash instead

**thecavemankevin** · 02-17-2011, 03:35 PM

can it easily rotate to be used in portrait mode? I ask because i have an iphone dock that does this and that's the way i like it. I wont use it for navi as my tom-tom works perfect. For me this or another doc will be used to keep it nice and centralized for mp3 to my stereo and calling.

**2005CTS** · 02-17-2011, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Brown

True, but for those that want to spend as little as possible:
Amazon.com: 2 Port USB Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter Dual Plug for iPod MP3 Players Charger - Color White: Cell Phones & Accessories

$0.47 and it gives 2 usb ports.

I'm just glad my car has usb ports, 2 12volt adapters and aux jacks

I just wish people figured out a new way instead of suction cups for these car holders.

Keep in mind the link you just posted is not shipped by Amazon.com - so the shipping is $2.98 with a 3-5 day delivery window. With Amazon Prime I can get the other one for free in two days. Also - my car (CTS) is all black on the inside...I didn't want something long and white sticking out of the dash.

**btgrave** · 02-17-2011, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by 2005CTS

Keep in mind the link you just posted is not shipped by Amazon.com - so the shipping is $2.98 with a 3-5 day delivery window. With Amazon Prime I can get the other one for free in two days. Also - my car (CTS) is all black on the inside...I didn't want something long and white sticking out of the dash.

ROFL

sorry, but couldn't help but laugh at that line haha.

**2005CTS** · 02-17-2011, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Brown

ROFL

sorry, but couldn't help but laugh at that line haha.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on now. I wasn't trying to be dirty. Let's keep things clean!

**Effington** · 02-17-2011, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by 2005CTS

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on now. I wasn't trying to be dirty. Let's keep things clean!

Where's the fun in that?

**BuddhaBravo** · 02-17-2011, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Effington

Does it come with a disc you can stick to your dash if you don't want to suction onto your windshield?

Yes.

**BuddhaBravo** · 02-17-2011, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Effington

Man, now I want one... will it charge via that USB cable? If so, then that's the way to go. Just get an adapter that changes your lighter outlet to a USB charger. Probably cheaper too.

Can they only be "pre-ordered" from a store? I don't see them available online...

Yes, it does charge from the USB cable.

I ordered this and the multimedia dock from my local AT&T store on Tuesday. This one shipped and, so far, the other one hasn't. Go figure.

**BuddhaBravo** · 02-17-2011, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by thecavemankevin

can it easily rotate to be used in portrait mode? I ask because i have an iphone dock that does this and that's the way i like it. I wont use it for navi as my tom-tom works perfect. For me this or another doc will be used to keep it nice and centralized for mp3 to my stereo and calling.

It rotates freely a full 360 degrees and is secured by a bolt on the back.

**Askia32** · 02-17-2011, 05:10 PM

With the dish that can stick to the dash, can you put it on and take it off? If so I think I'll buy it.

I ask this because I would want to take the dock off so it won't entice any idiots to break into my car.

**BuddhaBravo** · 02-17-2011, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Askia32

With the dish that can stick to the dash, can you put it on and take it off? If so I think I'll buy it.

I ask this because I would want to take the dock off so it won't entice any idiots to break into my car.

No, it looks like it's meant to be stuck to one place and left there. But the suction cup base sticks to the disc. You can remove the dock leaving just the black disc on your dash.

**Askia32** · 02-17-2011, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by BuddhaBravo

No, it looks like it's meant to be stuck to one place and left there. But the suction cup base sticks to the disc. You can remove the dock leaving just the black disc on your dash.

Nice, I will buy it.

**thecavemankevin** · 02-17-2011, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Askia32

With the dish that can stick to the dash, can you put it on and take it off? If so I think I'll buy it.

I ask this because I would want to take the dock off so it won't entice any idiots to break into my car.

for my current iphone doc on the dash i used the little plate. i attached the plate with 4 sets of those small hard/heavy duty plastic velcro things they give with your smart tag/speed pass for tolls to attach them to the windshield. it works great!

**SirGeorgeKillian** · 02-17-2011, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Askia32

With the dish that can stick to the dash, can you put it on and take it off? If so I think I'll buy it.

I ask this because I would want to take the dock off so it won't entice any idiots to break into my car.

So they can steal an empty dock that has a value of 40 bucks? I'd understand smashing out your glass if you left the phone in there, but an empty cradle?