Zune Cable Question

[saab900]

So Ive got a bit of experience with automotive wiring under my belt over the past year and my old idea for zunes popped back up.

This guy got the closest I can find
http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22113

Where he got stuck is the switched power trigger that the zune needs to receive to send audio out of its bottom cradle instead of the headphone jack. Has anyone figured out how this works or can any body tell me how much voltage the zune would need to trigger the audio out of the bottom? My thought is I could bench test it with 12 volts but Im not willing to risk pumping 12 volts into my zune and fryin it.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Alex

[ZuFi]

Moved to appropriate board.

[Alex]

Thread re-opened by request.

[saab900]

Appreciate it! If any one has anymore info on this I would really appreciate it!!!

EDIT: Posted on the official Zune forums too, hopefully we might be able to find some insight there!

[NSILMike]

Originally Posted by saab900

So Ive got a bit of experience with automotive wiring under my belt over the past year and my old idea for zunes popped back up.

This guy got the closest I can find
http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22113

Where he got stuck is the switched power trigger that the zune needs to receive to send audio out of its bottom cradle instead of the headphone jack. Has anyone figured out how this works or can any body tell me how much voltage the zune would need to trigger the audio out of the bottom? My thought is I could bench test it with 12 volts but Im not willing to risk pumping 12 volts into my zune and fryin it.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Alex

I'm not quite sure what exactly you want to do... But this may help.
Zune uses USB to communicate to the PC. USB port power is 5VDC, 500mA max. If you put 12V onto a power pin, I suspect you will create damage.
I've never seen details of the zune port pin out, so in addition to the 4 std USB signals, I don't know the details of the other pins. There may or may not be a trigger pin or a trigger data command that says to send data out on the bottom pins... but there doesn't necessarily even need to be one. It's easy enough to turn that on or off, or just let it always be on... if the zune is in a dock the signal can be used, and if not, so what?
And yes, despite the other post, the differences between iPod and Zune pinouts could be significant.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by NSILMike

I've never seen details of the zune port pin out, so in addition to the 4 std USB signals, I don't know the details of the other pins. There may or may not be a trigger pin or a trigger data command that says to send data out on the bottom pins... but there doesn't necessarily even need to be one. It's easy enough to turn that on or off, or just let it always be on... if the zune is in a dock the signal can be used, and if not, so what?

http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11079
I seem to recall there being a diagram somewhere too. These have also changed to some degree in the Zune HD, as I know my old dock designed for a 30 will accept anything before the HD, but not the HD itself.

[saab900]

I had a wierd problem with my HD in my Altec lansing dock where it will play but not charge. My goal in the end is to turn the usb cord into a charging aux out. I figured out last night that all the usb stuff is 5 volts. But as the guy said in the post he linked he couldnt get any audio to come out of what he believed were the two cables that carry the audio because either these wires are not wires that carry the signal (although he did get static) OR the problem (a proven problem for making this work) is that the Zune needs some sort of trigger to know something is connected to it and send audio out the bottom. It reminds me of when I had to build a wiring harness for my car and I could not get the fuel pump to work because I was sending power to it when what I was supposed to be doing was running a realy that would ground the wire and when the ECU recieved the ground signal kick on the fuel pump.

[NSILMike]

Originally Posted by Locke

http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11079
I seem to recall there being a diagram somewhere too. These have also changed to some degree in the Zune HD, as I know my old dock designed for a 30 will accept anything before the HD, but not the HD itself.

They didn't change, they use more pins in the HD for the newer features...which is why you can use old docks with HDs, and vice versa. you just don't get access to the new stuff with an old zune or an old dock.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by NSILMike

They didn't change, they use more pins in the HD for the newer features...which is why you can use old docks with HDs, and vice versa. you just don't get access to the new stuff with an old zune or an old dock.

I can't use my old dock with my Zune HD. I just said that. It charges, but does not play sound. I'm assuming sound isn't a new feature.

[NSILMike]

Originally Posted by Locke

I can't use my old dock with my Zune HD. I just said that. It charges, but does not play sound. I'm assuming sound isn't a new feature.

My 80 dock works for my HD...

[saab900]

I think that Microsoft rushed the HD's out cause they are kinda iffy on stuff like that, but side track aside has anyone figured out how to trigger the Zune through the USB cable?