Support AppRadioWorld by shopping via these links...
***Shop Amazon.com*** or ***Shop eBay.com***

Monday, August 12, 2013

WANTED: A Digital AV Adapter Cable Extender To Reduce Wire Clutter


If you use an iPhone 5 to connect to your AppRadio 2 or 3, you have experienced this issue. There are one too many wires running from your dashboard or center console to your phone creating a messy look. There is an HDMI cable and a lightning cable connected to the Apple Digital AV adapter which in-turn connects to the iPhone 5.

Older generation iPhone users don't have this issue. Some Android users may need multiple wires running to and from their phones to make things work but I wanted to discuss issues with the iPhone 5 connection. I am looking for a solution to reduce this wire clutter.

The Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter has a short wire which means you cannot hide the adapter anywhere in the dash close enough to where your phone is mounted. With one of the mounts I've used in the past (Kenu Airframe Vent Mount as pictured above) the adapter sticks our like a sore thumb sometimes even resting over the AppRadio screen.

So this is what I was looking for… An adapter with a longer wire…


Unfortunately, no such adapter exists. This is the only adapter Apple makes and even third-party makers don't make anything like it. There aren't any Lightning cable extenders that will work either.

After much searching, I found a Lightning cable extender on eBay. The description said it would work for video, audio and charging functions. So I purchased it for $15. Sounded too good to be true.

I got the extension cable and tried it but the hunch I had that it wouldn't work was right. It only charged the phone. AppRadio mode did not work. So I returned the cable to the seller.

I tried to see what a cross section of the cable would look like. I searched the web for anyone that may have done a teardown of the adapter out of curiosity. But I couldn't find anything.

So I decided to take the cutter to the wire myself, hoping it will be a bunch of eight cables (since Lightning is an 8-pin port) which I can extend by adding additional wire. On cutting the wire on the adapter I was in for a big surprise.

Now, I'm no hardware expert. So the cross section looked way too complicated with a mesh-type wire along with what seemed like four or five other finer cables that were quite hard to splice. There were reds and blues and greens and whites. This is what the mess looked like…


After connecting as many wires as I could, I only got the charging function to work. Video didn't get transferred through the cable though.

Apple's 30-pin cable, the predecessor to the Lightning cable, had plenty of third-party extension cables available. One such extender, the CableJive DockXtender worked well when I had an iPhone 4S. I had it hooked up to the AppRadio because the cable that came with the head unit wasn't long enough.

So I've almost given up trying to find an extension for the Digital AV adapter. If anyone out there has any ideas on how to get this done please leave a comment below. Meanwhile, the search for the perfect setup continues...

41 comments :

  1. Another reason for me to switch to Galaxy S4 instead of iPhone 5S...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maybe this one could work?: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lightning-Extension-Cable-Apple-iPhone/dp/B00C2PDV98

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That looks exactly like the one I bought on eBay and returned. It doesn't work.

      Delete
    2. This one can work but the quality not good enough.
      The lightning plug are not durable, I replaced two after using 3 months.
      It is difficult to find a male to female lightning cable can support the video and audio. syning data and charging cable are easily to be found

      Delete
  3. I really hope someone here has an answer to this... Was going to install mine next week but never figured this out... :(

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alternatively you can just run it through an air vent like I did.

    https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/253382_10151557738080914_471404923_n.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  5. Also on eBay (not sure how well they work) I've seen Lightning Extension Cables...

    ReplyDelete
  6. http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Pin-Extension-Male-Female-Cable-Cord-for-iPhone-5-iPad-4-mini-iPod-Touch-Black/190872152699?_trksid=p2047675.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D13%26meid%3D552208747157882985%26pid%3D100012%26prg%3D1014%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D200926608241%26


    Tested by myself and works well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It says on the item description that Audio and Video are not supported.

      Delete
    2. bought it. tested it. doesn't work. it doesn't even recognize my iPhone is plugged in.

      Delete
    3. As expected. It's a good thing I didn't buy one. I wish Michael could give us more details on how it works for him. It's really strange.

      Delete
  7. how about this one ? http://ios7.iphone5mod.com/shop/lightning-extension-cable-for-ios-7/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. asked them about it the other day.

      Me: Does this cable work to extend the Lightning Digital AV Adapter and still support video?

      ip5mod: Apologies,it will support any functions that the original cable
      carries, it only serves as an extension.

      Me: so is that a yes or no?

      ip5mod: Apologies ,we have not test it,we cannot guarantee with 100% certaity
      that it will work with the adapter.

      might be worth a try.

      Delete
    2. hm.. could whoever tried it post it under this comment. unfortunatly i dont live in the US so its not as easy for me to get it. that'll be great

      Delete
  8. Guys all of these cables are a simple pass through and will work for all functions. The signal is already decoded from the Apple adapter by the time it hits the extension cable. Don't worry about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can you make a video or post some picture showing this cable working? You could email it to AppRadioWorld. I'm sure they'll post it here.

      Delete
    2. For the signal to get decoded by the adapter it has to pass through the extension cable first. Remember you are connecting the extension cable to the iPhone 5 and then the adapter to the extension cable.

      If the extension cable doesn't carry video function from the iPhone it cannot be decoded by the adapter.

      Delete
  9. If I find myself in my car doing another video then I will. Otherwise I already know it works so Im not doing a video specifically just to prove it to others. You can check my profile at avic411 if you feel my credibility is in question though. I and several others are using these cables and have posted about them.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just posted about this, hopefully the experts chime in to confirm my initial findings. http://avic411.com/index.php?/topic/37241-lightening-extension-cable-only-provides-power-iphone-5-hide-bulky-hdmi-adapter/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just saw it. Let's see what we can come up with!

      Delete
  11. What about this one?: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281088760380
    The description and Q&A at the bottom even says it works with Lightening HDMI adapters

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As Ive previously stated, yes.

      Delete
    2. There is one problem with it, the following thread said the lightening connector is short/stumpy and comes out easily.

      http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=17749716&posted=1#post17749716

      Delete
  12. http://r.ebay.com/23RpJX
    Confirmed working by VBLUE42:

    http://avic411.com/index.php?/topic/37241-lightening-extension-cable-only-provides-power-iphone-5-hide-bulky-hdmi-adapter/?p=270214

    The seller needs to clarify his description of:
    "Support Data Sync and charging only! Video & Audio are not supported!"
    I think he is obviously confusing 30 pin Analog audio/video out. (lightening is pure digital only no matter how you slice it)

    Looks good, slimmer.

    White:
    http://r.ebay.com/23RpJX

    Black:
    http://r.ebay.com/RxGcbX

    I'm going to get the black one.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I ordered one on eBay couple of days ago. Should get it on Monday. I had bought one before but if didn't work. Could be I got a defective one back then.

    I will update everyone ASAP.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just got my eBay black cable today.
    http://r.ebay.com/RxGcbX

    I hooked up my HDMI adapter to my TV and iPhone plus added extension at home.
    IT DOSEN'T WORK! I repeat it DOES NOT WORK. :-(

    When I remove the extension HDMI works great, so it for sure isn't' working.

    I extended the regular lightning cable to my laptop, and iTunes syncs fine. (and charges the phone)

    It's strange that the extension doesn't allow HDMI to work when data works. I wonder what's missing/special?

    It sucks that the same eBay seller sells both white and black cables with the same price and description yet the black one doesn't work.

    I'm waiting for my dx.com $4 cable to arrive next and will post results. If it doesn't work I'll have to order the other eBay white one.

    ReplyDelete
  15. !!SOLVED!!

    I just got my extension cable of iphone5mod.com and IT WORKS great. It has an applelike design, doesn't give an error message on ios7 and with 10 dollars it costs less than the ones on ebay. here's the link:

    http://ios7.iphone5mod.com/shop/lightning-extension-cable-for-ios-7/

    !!SOLVED!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Confirmed, worked for me too

      Delete
    2. I got this same cable and it doesnt work for me. If i plug it into the short cable from the adapter, it doesnt work, but interestingly enough if i use it to extend the cable coming from the back of the radio, it works just fine. I need it to extend the short cable. UGH

      Delete
  16. My neighbor is an electrical engineer and he made a prototype cable for me. The YouTube link is at the end. He going to start selling them for 15 bucks but he guarantees that they will work on ios6 and upcoming ios7.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHSSKigWDZM&sns=em

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice... Tell your neighbor (or maybe even you can do it) to email this website as to how we can buy this cable. Maybe they'll write a post about it.

      Delete
    2. We want it in BLACK though. :-)

      This $5.60 cable DOES work! (all good, no tax, free shipping)
      http://dx.com/p/8pin-lightning-male-to-female-extension-cable-for-iphone-5-white-207205

      I even used Plast-Dip to turn it from white to black. (still works / feels great)
      http://appradioworld.17289.n7.nabble.com/Tired-of-those-WHITE-Apple-cables-adapters-Plasti-Dip-them-BLACK-tp264.html

      I'd still like to get a higher quality CableJive version though once it's out though.

      Delete
  17. I would like for him to make an extension cable for me, I would gladly pay for it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I was wondering if this cable would work with the apple Lightning to VGA Adapter.... I would think it would be the same. Ask your neighbor what he thinks.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I just received my cable from imod.co and can confirm it works. I just ordered 3 more for backups.

    http://imod.co/shop/lightning-extension-cable-for-ios-7/

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi, can you confirm if the 'male' part of the cable is similar to the original apple one as I hoped to use something like this with my brodit holder? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  21. In case anyone is still looking, try this:

    http://www.cablejive.com/products/dockXtender.html

    ReplyDelete
  22. http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Extension-Through-dockXtender-CableJive/product-reviews/B00GP08858
    This is the item U wanted

    ReplyDelete
  23. The Apple Pencil comes with a lightning female/female adapter which may help. Would solve the problem is a male/male lightning cable exists.

    ReplyDelete

All comments will be screened for spam. Allow up to 24 hours for comments to show up.

NO SPAM PLEASE!