Range hack for Zune Car Pack v2

Eximius · 09-12-2008, 02:14 PM

ive seen the hack for the other transmitter, but wanted to know if there was one for the v2 transmitter. i have a Subaru, so the antenna is formed into the rear defroster = horrible reception.

drperry · 11-09-2008, 02:20 AM

I opened mine up tonight... And I can't really seem to find anything that's an obvious antenna...

I wanted to take out the magnet... Wouldn't want that accidentally coming in contact with the Zune, lol.

I'm going to do some tinkering, and hope that I don't fry it, lol

repenttokyo · 12-04-2008, 06:59 PM

Any Updates on this? I too am very interested in the range hack, as I just got my transmitter today and it is TERRIBLE.

Locke · 12-04-2008, 09:19 PM

Doesn't look like any updates so far, nope.

Criztaztrophe · 12-05-2008, 12:04 AM

What does the range hack do? I dont have a transmitter for my Jeep (YET) but I would like to know if there is a direction to head in before I buy some kind of car pack.

Locke · 12-05-2008, 04:49 AM

A range hack extends the range of the transmitter, which is famously small.

Criztaztrophe · 12-05-2008, 04:59 AM

Ahh, cool, thanks.

runtohell121 · 12-05-2008, 05:38 AM

but the down point is.. if you extend it.. other car that hav the same radio station *cough*

almost all fm transmitter are weak in range.

repenttokyo · 12-05-2008, 08:10 PM

my information is obviously not welcome here.

Criztaztrophe · 12-05-2008, 09:19 PM

Im thinking about just getting a new head unit that has the audio jack in it.

runtohell121 · 12-05-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Criztaztrophe

Im thinking about just getting a new head unit that has the audio jack in it.

that's the good idea.. spending too much on fm transmitter=no good.. fm transmitter sound quality can't beat car deck unit

Justananomaly · 12-05-2008, 11:07 PM

lol "head unit",
I'll take two.

Criztaztrophe · 12-06-2008, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justananomaly

lol "head unit",
I'll take two.

Considering you significant other is ready to pop one out (hopefully head first) you can have two by order of the king.

repenttokyo · 12-06-2008, 06:41 AM

my information is obviously not welcome here.

runtohell121 · 12-06-2008, 07:16 AM

don't BMW usually have an aux port

you can probably add an extension of aux port from the head unit of the bmw.. but will cost you $$$.. most of the standard car head unit that comes with the car do have more ports for you to add stuff.

itsnotabigtruck · 12-06-2008, 08:40 PM

Has there been any progress on this front? I've got a car pack and it was unusable when I bought it (haven't tried the latest firmware update yet, but I doubt it made an improvement significant enough to be game-changing).

There are two vectors through which such a hack might be implemented:

- Opening up the car pack unit and modifying it to amp it up (e.g. by removing a resistor or something)
- Hacking the firmware and somehow managing to load it onto the car pack unit

berdon · 12-06-2008, 09:16 PM

It's pretty easy to extend the range of most FM transmitters. Find the antenna wire (if the company wasn't lazy, it's most likely marked), unsolder the wire, solder your own wire (preferably around 32 inches) in place of the old antenna and viola, you're range should be about half a city block.

itsnotabigtruck · 12-07-2008, 12:30 PM

No one has to tear down their Zune car pack, because Microsoft already did it for you for their FCC application. This should provide all the info necessary to locate any viable antenna attach points (no point in opening one up if there isn't any way to complete the hack).

It appears that the aluminum backing is glued on, which sucks pretty seriously (as that means there won't be a clean way to put it back together again).

itsnotabigtruck · 12-16-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by repenttokyo

my information is obviously not welcome here.

I'd like to indicate that your information was certainly appreciated, at least before you nuked it. I'm sorry about the double post thing, though them's the rules - you got the warning because of the 4th post. Just make sure to avoid posting consecutively in a thread until a 24 hour interval has passed between posts. This forum has a multi-quote feature; the button's near the normal quote button. It doesn't quite work right though, so a more functional way is just to open the quote page for several different posts in multiple tabs, then collating the quote blocks into one large post. This way, you can quote multiple posts without risking a warning.

grandrob · 01-06-2009, 10:23 AM

After some searching, I think I found the antenna on the circuit card. So I disassembled the unit went to my car and plugged it in and got the same crappy static then I touched where I thought the antenna was and got a good reception from my stereo. I took the circuit card back to my garage and I soldered in the new antenna and I am happy with the results. THE WARNING, TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND IS FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. I AM NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES. Will post pics as soon as I can. Grandrob

09-12-2008, 02:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Eximius Zewbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Reputation: 10	Range hack for Zune Car Pack v2 ive seen the hack for the other transmitter, but wanted to know if there was one for the v2 transmitter. i have a Subaru, so the antenna is formed into the rear defroster = horrible reception.

12-04-2008, 09:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Locke Resident Huge Arab Retired Staff Zune Priest Join Date: May 2008 Location: Invicta, Planet Bob Posts: 6,800 Reputation: 1142 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Doesn't look like any updates so far, nope. __________________ \| Invicta's Minister of Citizenship \|

12-05-2008, 12:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Criztaztrophe Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The IL Side of the St.L Posts: 387 Reputation: 177	What does the range hack do? I dont have a transmitter for my Jeep (YET) but I would like to know if there is a direction to head in before I buy some kind of car pack. __________________ Wallpaper Gallery

12-05-2008, 04:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
Locke Resident Huge Arab Retired Staff Zune Priest Join Date: May 2008 Location: Invicta, Planet Bob Posts: 6,800 Reputation: 1142 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	A range hack extends the range of the transmitter, which is famously small. __________________ \| Invicta's Minister of Citizenship \|

12-05-2008, 04:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
Criztaztrophe Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The IL Side of the St.L Posts: 387 Reputation: 177	Ahh, cool, thanks. __________________ Wallpaper Gallery

Advertisement

Sponsors

11-09-2008, 02:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
drperry Squirt Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 14 Reputation: 10	I opened mine up tonight... And I can't really seem to find anything that's an obvious antenna... I wanted to take out the magnet... Wouldn't want that accidentally coming in contact with the Zune, lol. I'm going to do some tinkering, and hope that I don't fry it, lol

12-04-2008, 06:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
repenttokyo Zewbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5 Reputation: 10	Any Updates on this? I too am very interested in the range hack, as I just got my transmitter today and it is TERRIBLE.

12-05-2008, 08:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
repenttokyo Zewbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5 Reputation: 10	my information is obviously not welcome here. Last edited by repenttokyo; 12-16-2008 at 01:11 PM..

12-05-2008, 09:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
Criztaztrophe Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The IL Side of the St.L Posts: 387 Reputation: 177	Im thinking about just getting a new head unit that has the audio jack in it. __________________ Wallpaper Gallery

12-05-2008, 11:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
Justananomaly The Digital Phantom Support Team Premium Member Retired Staff Elite Zuner Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sexyland with putis and taylor Posts: 2,309 Reputation: 831	lol "head unit", I'll take two. __________________ Rules \| RIG Deployer \| UnZoone \| Button Combos \| Media Reset

12-06-2008, 06:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
repenttokyo Zewbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5 Reputation: 10	my information is obviously not welcome here. Last edited by repenttokyo; 12-16-2008 at 01:13 PM..

12-06-2008, 08:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
itsnotabigtruck you lost the game. zB Programmer Moderator Elite Zuner Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,355 Reputation: 866	Has there been any progress on this front? I've got a car pack and it was unusable when I bought it (haven't tried the latest firmware update yet, but I doubt it made an improvement significant enough to be game-changing). There are two vectors through which such a hack might be implemented: - Opening up the car pack unit and modifying it to amp it up (e.g. by removing a resistor or something) - Hacking the firmware and somehow managing to load it onto the car pack unit __________________ signature by vettexl

12-06-2008, 09:16 PM	#17 (permalink)
berdon zB Programmer Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 317 Reputation: 50	It's pretty easy to extend the range of most FM transmitters. Find the antenna wire (if the company wasn't lazy, it's most likely marked), unsolder the wire, solder your own wire (preferably around 32 inches) in place of the old antenna and viola, you're range should be about half a city block. __________________

12-07-2008, 12:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
itsnotabigtruck you lost the game. zB Programmer Moderator Elite Zuner Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,355 Reputation: 866	No one has to tear down their Zune car pack, because Microsoft already did it for you for their FCC application. This should provide all the info necessary to locate any viable antenna attach points (no point in opening one up if there isn't any way to complete the hack). It appears that the aluminum backing is glued on, which sucks pretty seriously (as that means there won't be a clean way to put it back together again). __________________ signature by vettexl

01-06-2009, 10:23 AM	#20 (permalink)
grandrob Zewbie Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1 Reputation: 10	After some searching, I think I found the antenna on the circuit card. So I disassembled the unit went to my car and plugged it in and got the same crappy static then I touched where I thought the antenna was and got a good reception from my stereo. I took the circuit card back to my garage and I soldered in the new antenna and I am happy with the results. THE WARNING, TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND IS FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. I AM NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES. Will post pics as soon as I can. Grandrob